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There are multiple options for depression treatment, but the choice you make for your child’s treatment can feel particularly important.

While research shows antidepressants are frequently effective in treating major depression and anxiety inchildren and teens,it’s essential to understand the pros and cons and how they work in younger bodies. This article will help you discern whether or not antidepressants are right for your child.

What to Do if Your Child Is Anxious or Depressed

Before your child starts on an antidepressant, their doctor will want to conduct a physical exam and take their medical history to rule out any medical condition that may be causing their symptoms.

If these exams turn out fine, your child may then be referred to a mental health professional for a formal evaluation. This evaluation will gather important information such as family history, behaviors you notice in your child, and any risk factors there might be for them to hurt themselves.

Understanding all of these factors will help you and your mental health professional decide on the best course of action for your child, which may or may not include antidepressants.

How to Tell If Your Child Shows Symptoms of Depression

Getting Your Child Started on Antidepressants

If you and yourphysiciandecide that an antidepressant is necessary, your child will start on the lowest possible dose. This may have to be adjusted if it’s not helping your child’s symptoms.

The risk for suicidal thoughts and/or behavior is greatest during the first couple months of starting an antidepressant, as well as if the dose is increased or decreased, so be particularly observant of your child’s behavior during these times. Your mental health professional will also want to monitor your child fairly closely as well.

Antidepressants Approved for Children

Of the five major classes of antidepressants,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) andserotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medication for children and adolescents with anxiety and depression.

The 5 Types of Antidepressants

Antidepressants for Depression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered the first-line medication option for young people with depression.

Antidepressants for Anxiety

Serious Side Effects

The most serious potential side effect of antidepressant use in people up to age 25 is their potential to increase the risk ofsuicidal thoughtsand behaviors. Though this side effect is rare, in 2004, the FDA issued a black box warning about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors in youth who take antidepressants.

If left untreated, depression can lead to a host of serious consequences, including attempted and completed suicide, addiction, and self-injury. This is why it is important to weigh the pros and cons of antidepressants. If your child has moderate to severe depression, the benefit of using an antidepressant will usually outweigh the risks of potential side effects.

Signs of Suicidal Thoughts in Children

Warning signs ofsuicidal thoughtsmay not be very obvious, which is why you need to watch your child closely when she first starts on an antidepressant or whenever her dosage is changed. Warning signs may include:

If you see any of these signs in your child, particularly if they are new or noticeably worse than before, be sure to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Conclusion

In general,antidepressantsare safe and effective to treat depression and anxiety in children and teenagers, especially when combined with psychotherapy. Also, keep in mind that antidepressant use is often temporary and may just be needed for a short time. If your child has mild depression, psychotherapy may be all they need to help their symptoms improve.

However, if the depression is severe or not responding to psychotherapy, an antidepressant may be needed to help your child live the best and most fulfilling life they can. If you have concerns and questions, be sure to discuss them with a mental health professional.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Teng, T., Zhang, Z., Yin, B., Guo, T., Wang, X., Hu, J., Ran, X., Dai, Q., & Zhou, X.Effect of antidepressants on functioning and quality of life outcomes in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022.Translational Psychiatry,12(1), 1–9.American Psychological Association.Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts American Psychological Association Guideline Development Panel for the treatment of depressive disorders. Published February 16, 2019.Nischal A, Tripathi A, Nischal A, Trivedi JK.Suicide and antidepressants: what current evidence indicates.Mens Sana Monogr. 2012;10(1):33–44. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.87287Walkup JT.Antidepressant efficacy for depression in children and adolescents: industry- and NIMH-funded studies.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(5):430–437. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16091059Krebs G, Heyman I.Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.Arch Dis Child. 2015;100(5):495–499. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934Friedman RA.Antidepressants’ black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-1668. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480Dilillo D, Mauri S, Mantegazza C, Fabiano V, Mameli C, Zuccotti GV.Suicide in pediatrics: epidemiology, risk factors, warning signs and the role of the pediatrician in detecting them.Ital J Pediatr. 2015;41:49. doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0153-3Mullen S.Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.Ment Health Clin. 2018;8(6):275–283. doi:10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Teng, T., Zhang, Z., Yin, B., Guo, T., Wang, X., Hu, J., Ran, X., Dai, Q., & Zhou, X.Effect of antidepressants on functioning and quality of life outcomes in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022.Translational Psychiatry,12(1), 1–9.American Psychological Association.Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts American Psychological Association Guideline Development Panel for the treatment of depressive disorders. Published February 16, 2019.Nischal A, Tripathi A, Nischal A, Trivedi JK.Suicide and antidepressants: what current evidence indicates.Mens Sana Monogr. 2012;10(1):33–44. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.87287Walkup JT.Antidepressant efficacy for depression in children and adolescents: industry- and NIMH-funded studies.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(5):430–437. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16091059Krebs G, Heyman I.Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.Arch Dis Child. 2015;100(5):495–499. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934Friedman RA.Antidepressants’ black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-1668. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480Dilillo D, Mauri S, Mantegazza C, Fabiano V, Mameli C, Zuccotti GV.Suicide in pediatrics: epidemiology, risk factors, warning signs and the role of the pediatrician in detecting them.Ital J Pediatr. 2015;41:49. doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0153-3Mullen S.Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.Ment Health Clin. 2018;8(6):275–283. doi:10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Teng, T., Zhang, Z., Yin, B., Guo, T., Wang, X., Hu, J., Ran, X., Dai, Q., & Zhou, X.Effect of antidepressants on functioning and quality of life outcomes in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022.Translational Psychiatry,12(1), 1–9.American Psychological Association.Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts American Psychological Association Guideline Development Panel for the treatment of depressive disorders. Published February 16, 2019.Nischal A, Tripathi A, Nischal A, Trivedi JK.Suicide and antidepressants: what current evidence indicates.Mens Sana Monogr. 2012;10(1):33–44. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.87287Walkup JT.Antidepressant efficacy for depression in children and adolescents: industry- and NIMH-funded studies.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(5):430–437. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16091059Krebs G, Heyman I.Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.Arch Dis Child. 2015;100(5):495–499. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934Friedman RA.Antidepressants’ black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-1668. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480Dilillo D, Mauri S, Mantegazza C, Fabiano V, Mameli C, Zuccotti GV.Suicide in pediatrics: epidemiology, risk factors, warning signs and the role of the pediatrician in detecting them.Ital J Pediatr. 2015;41:49. doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0153-3Mullen S.Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.Ment Health Clin. 2018;8(6):275–283. doi:10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275

Teng, T., Zhang, Z., Yin, B., Guo, T., Wang, X., Hu, J., Ran, X., Dai, Q., & Zhou, X.Effect of antidepressants on functioning and quality of life outcomes in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022.Translational Psychiatry,12(1), 1–9.

American Psychological Association.Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts American Psychological Association Guideline Development Panel for the treatment of depressive disorders. Published February 16, 2019.

Nischal A, Tripathi A, Nischal A, Trivedi JK.Suicide and antidepressants: what current evidence indicates.Mens Sana Monogr. 2012;10(1):33–44. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.87287

Walkup JT.Antidepressant efficacy for depression in children and adolescents: industry- and NIMH-funded studies.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(5):430–437. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16091059

Krebs G, Heyman I.Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.Arch Dis Child. 2015;100(5):495–499. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934

Friedman RA.Antidepressants’ black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-1668. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480

Dilillo D, Mauri S, Mantegazza C, Fabiano V, Mameli C, Zuccotti GV.Suicide in pediatrics: epidemiology, risk factors, warning signs and the role of the pediatrician in detecting them.Ital J Pediatr. 2015;41:49. doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0153-3

Mullen S.Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.Ment Health Clin. 2018;8(6):275–283. doi:10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275

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