The number of children diagnosed with clinical depression is growing: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that 5 percent of children have major depression, one type of depression disorder. Using antidepressant medication is one treatment option, though parents should weigh the pros and cons of the medications they give their children. While medications can ease the symptoms, parents should also consider therapy to treat the underlying cause of the depression.
SSRIs
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are the first choice of anti-depression medication for juvenile depression. SSRIs work by preventing the brain from reuptaking serotonin; the brain thus uses that extra serotonin, which can improve the patient's mood. The medication is not instantaneous, and can take between four and six weeks to ease symptoms. The NIMH notes that fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine and citalopram are the different SSRI options.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in 2004 that children taking SSRIs have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts; in 2006, the FDA extended that warning to include patients up to the age of 25. The NIHM notes that Prozac is the only SSRI recommended by the FDA for children ages 8 and up; the other SSRIs are prescribed off-label for juvenile patients. In 2003, the FDA recommended that Paxil not be prescribed to children who have major depression.
Venlafaxine
Another anti-depression medication option for juvenile depression is venlafaxine. Drugs.com defines venlafaxine as a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SSNRI. SSNRIs work similarly to SSRIs, but they also increase the level of norepinephrine in the brain, another neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation. The NIMH notes that venlafaxine is not approved by the FDA for juvenile depression treatment, so it is prescribed off-label.
Other Options
Michael G. Conner, Psy.D, author of the article "Understanding and Dealing with Depression (ages 6 to 12 years old)," notes that there are two other anti-depression medications: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic anti-depressants. Phenelzine is a type of MAOI, while imipramine and amitriptyline are examples of tricyclic anti-depressants. Both MAOIs and tricyclic anti-depressants are older forms of anti-depressant medications that increase the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. The NIMH notes that psychiatrists prefer to prescribe SSRIs over these two types of medications due to fewer side effects.
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