The treatment of anxiety in children may utilize medication, therapy or a combination of the two. Medication treatment for anxiety in children often includes antidepressant medication, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These drugs are often started at low doses and gradually increased. Tricyclics, anti-anxiety medications and beta-blockers may be used to treat anxiety in children as well.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
As reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the only SSRIs approved for children are Zoloft, or sertraline, Prozac, or fluoxetine, and Luvox, or fluvoxamine. These three drugs are approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in children. In "Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology," Robert Weis reported research indicating that SSRIs can improve symptoms of anxiety in children. He described a study of children ages 7 to 12 with obsessive-compulsive disorder that found that children who did a combination of therapeutic treatment and medication with Zoloft made the greatest improvements in symptoms.
Tricyclics
Tricyclics are an older type of antidepressant that can also be helpful in treating anxiety. However, they do have more significant side effects than SSRIs, so they may not be used as readily. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that tricyclic antidepressants include Tofranil or imipramine for treating panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and Anfranil or clomipramine for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. Weis reported research findings that the Anfranil can help treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children.
Anti-Anxiety Medication
The most commonly used anti-anxiety medications are benzodiazepines. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, these drugs work well to alleviate anxiety and have minimal side effects. The use of these with children may be limited because tolerance to the drug requires higher doses to get the same effect. Children can experience withdrawal symptoms when taken off the drug, and removal of the drug often leads to a return of symptoms. Common benzodiazepines include Klonipin, or clonazepam, Ativan, or lorazepam, and Xanax, or alprazolam.
Beta-Blockers
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that beta-blockers, such as Inderal, or propanolol, can be used to treat anxiety by impacting the physical effects of anxiety, such as shaking and a racing heart.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Questions and Answers on Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: May, 2007
- "Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology"; Robert Weis; 2008
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
- The Health Center: Modern Medication Reference for Anxiety Disorder in Children
