| Unfortunately, children also suffer from anxiety | | | | children suffering from anxiety disorders without |
| disorders. Unlike adults, the treatment options | | | | medication, intense cases might require medication. |
| available for children suffering from anxiety | | | | In such cases, medication that has been |
| disorders are very limited. This is especially true in | | | | successful used to treat anxiety disorders in |
| case of anti-anxiety medication. | | | | children is available. |
| Somehow, anti-anxiety medication is not | | | | In case a child is not compatible with any of the |
| compatible with children. The same medication | | | | medication commonly prescribed for adults, |
| that is successfully used to treat anxiety | | | | doctors could prescribe drugs such as selective |
| disorders in adults is not precribed for children | | | | serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. |
| suffering from the same problems. | | | | 2. Commonly Prescribed Drugs |
| 1. Prescribed Only if Necessary | | | | In cases where drugs have to prescribed for a |
| The National Institue of Mental Health has | | | | child, the National Institute of Mental Health has |
| cautioned physicians to exercise great care in | | | | recommended the use of the following drugs that |
| prescribing anti-anxiety medication for children. As | | | | have proved to be very effective as anti-anxiety |
| far as possible, other types of therapy should be | | | | medication for children. |
| tried, and usually, doctors prescribe such safer | | | | Anafranil is used in cases of children aged ten and |
| theraphies instead of anti-anxiety medication for | | | | above to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. |
| children. If medication is absolutely necessary, the | | | | Luvox, an SSRI, is used in treating obsessive |
| doctor is required to carefully weigh the pros and | | | | compulsive disorder in cases of children aged eight |
| cons of the treatment. | | | | and above. |
| It should be borne in mind that children don't | | | | Tofranil is used for six-year-olds, usually for the |
| respond to anti-anxiety medication as well as | | | | problem of bed wetting. |
| adults. This is because the bodies of young | | | | Zoloft, an SSRI, has been successfully used in |
| children are contantly growing and developing and, | | | | cases of children aged six and above to treat |
| therefore, react in different ways to medication. | | | | obsessive compulsive disorder. |
| Even in cases where medication is prescribed for | | | | If a child does not respond favorably to |
| children, the dosage will be different. If addictive | | | | anti-anxiety medication, doctors will have to design |
| drugs are prescribed, doctors usually monitor the | | | | the best blend of medication that will be of help |
| young patient carefully for as long as he or she is | | | | to the child. In many cases, medication is used |
| under medication. Usually, doctors urge younger | | | | only to provide relief from symptoms and to help |
| patients to take other types of therapy, such as | | | | the child tackle his or her problems by taking |
| psychotherapy, which is much more safer. | | | | some other form of therapy. |
| Although most doctors prefer to treat young | | | | |