You may be the parent of a child who is struggling with a mental health condition and is starting to think about the medication path. Or, you may know other parents who are in that situation. It’s obviously a serious consideration. I wanted to share a few perspectives.
I have had the privilege of evaluating and treating thousands of kids and teenagers in my career. I get a front row seat to the emotional challenges and ills of so many of our kids. My perspective on the use of psychiatric medications has evolved considerably. I have become more and more conservative with prescribing the longer I practice.
What does that mean?
· Not being in a rush to start psychiatric medications
· Sometimes, never starting them in the first place - by providing other solutions to the presenting problem
· If I do prescribe, then to do it in a very cautious and patient manner utilizing a unique approach of microdosing to prevent or at least lower risks of serious side effects
· Help our patients to get off psychiatric medications at the right point - encouraging patients to lower dosages and have a plan to get off their medications when appropriate to do so.
I can remember that when my first child was born, my perspective changed drastically. I always knew the seriousness and enormous responsibility of prescribing psychiatric medications, but the level of seriousness and responsibility increased significantly. I understood for the first time what it was like to make decisions as a parent and to appreciate the burden of these decisions.
Psychiatric medications certainly do have a role to play in helping many kids and teenagers, but it is very important to understand that those same medications can be harmful and cause many long-term problems. Psychiatric medications are not any different from any other medication. They have potentially serious side effects, and also tend to have a lot of potential nuisance side effects that can be just as problematic. They also can lead to long-term impacts beyond the ones typically listed.
The decision to put a child or teenager on a psychiatric medication requires thoughtfulness and deliberation. I train our psychiatric team to utilize this very conservative approach regardless of what the problem is. The entire process requires a deliberate cautious approach that seeks to achieve holistic well-being and stability.
Mohab Hanna, MD is Board Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is the founder of MedPsych Behavioral Health with offices in Ramsey, Old Tappan, Montclair and a NEW LOCATION in Ridgewood/Glen Rock. Dr. Hanna specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, depression and ADHD. MedPsych provides psychiatry, psychotherapy, autism and ADHD testing, and other services with in-person and virtual appointments available. For more information, please visit www.medpsychhealth.com or email us at newpatient@medpsychnj.com.
545 Island Road, Suite 2B & 3D, Ramsey, NJ 07446
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MedPsych Behavioral Health provides psychiatry, psychotherapy and testing services to children, teens, and adults. MedPsych has offices in Ramsey, Glen Rock, Old Tappan, and Montclair and offers in-person and tele-based services. For more information visit www.medpsychhealth.com, email team@medpsychhealth.com or call (551) 271-1506.
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