Depression | ADHD Information

My Son Tyler age 8, takes Adderall xr and zoloft and clonidine for his adhd, they started him on the zoloft for anger and depression.  He has been on the zoloft for 4 or 5 months and he isn't as angry anymore but I think he is more depressed.  He breaks my heart by saying he doesn't want to have adhd anymore.  He doesn't smile like he used to when he was a little boy.  Recently he started lying a lot.  Do you think it could be the Adderall that is making the depression worse?  I don't want him to be angry all the time, he was out of control with his anger, but I don't want him to be sad.  I have asked him how he feels most of the time and he always says sad.  Does any body have any advice? 

I have heard some really bad stories about Zoloft and children/adolescents.  It has been linked to teenage suicide in some of these stories. 

I would not put my child on this drug personally.

 

Check out this link http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=zoloft+and+suici de&meta=

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No I havent had your experience but, I went through a period  where my Step Son  was so depressed  he didnt want gifts at XMAS or his BDAY  and was sullen and withdrawn and doing poorly in school...It was soo, soo painful  too see a 8 then 9 yr old I loved  say I dont really want anything or say  yes  white socks would be nice  when I tried to joke about it. NO 8 yr old wants socks for XMAS OMG!  He spent a bit of time in therapy in his case it   was a Father who abandoned him right when his Mom and I were divorcing  and a second StepFather  after me all in the course  of 18 mo... gee, I wonder why he felt worthless and unsafe in the world? I'd of run his Father over  and backed over  him to do it again  if I had seen him in the street at the time. My ex can be  petty  and  he let her know  when she  drew blood( BIG MISTAKE) but, in the end he walked away from his Son. I jsut dont know how people like that can look in the mirror long enough to shave.

     All Drs arent created equal. Maybe there is a better one in your area if the one you are using now isnt  getting you results. I dont know if you just see a family  Dr or  not but  a Pschitrist  with expertise in kids  might be an answer if you arent seeing one now.  God, I wish there was  a  magic  word or pill to give people like you. Seeing children you love suffer is heartbreaking my heart and prayers go out to you.

Parenting with pills destroyed my family...please go to www.ParentingWithPills.com   I think these drugs act differently with each kid. Mine was horribly aggressive and never smiled on Adderall. I took him off the Adderall and am considering going back to the Concerta. I tried to go without for the last 3 weeks and he's just getting more and more frustrated, he's asking for his medsDepression is a typical side-effect of AD/HD for many reasons:

Theres nothing worse than having the potential to do something, and not being able to follow through. I have always felt lazy; I knew what needed to be done but couldn't concentrate enough to do it. This is a typical reason why people with AD/HD have depression - when you are not able to do things you know you can and want to do, you fall into a hopeless state.

As far as Adderall, it has halped me a great deal with my depression. I was put on Prozac for depression, and it did nothing for me. Because I believe my depression was a result of my own understanding of not being able to accomplish my goals I heald so dear, the prozac didn't help.

Because Adderall has helped me focus and motivate myslef, I no longer have a reason to be depressed. I am now able to be the person I have always wanted to be!
Some of my research has indicated that the antidepressants are the most dangerous when they are given to a child that is bipolar, which is also a risk in adults.  This is exactly what happened to both our daughters.  Our GP put the 13 year old on Prozac (which I questioned).  Within a couple of weeks, she was cutting and suicidal and we had to have her hospitalized.  She turned out to be bipolar I and is now on mood stabilizers and no antidepressants.  Our 24 year old went into hypomania when she was put on antidepressants.  She turned out to be bipolar II.  The addition of a mood stabilizer seems to be bringing her back to a more even level.  Because of this, I believe that children should never be given an antidepressant by anyone other than a child psychiatrist.  It should probably be done in a hospital environment so that they can be closely monitored. 

Tylersmommy:

I hope you can gradually get him off the anti-depressants.  As parents we were given the option of putting our son on anti-depressants for various behavioral problems he had but it was out of the question.  I have heard horror stories about children being on anti-depressants and I just couldn't do that to my son.  I don't think doctors realize how serious those things are. 

Why don't you contact a Mr. Tom Daly, Author of "Unlocking The Gifted Student Inside your ADHD Child" at (858) 551-8416 or email him at ADHDSolution@aol.com.  I think he has made great strides with his own child. 

Best of luck to you and your son!