Depressed?

[85t5mcss]

Question for a friend.

His son was put on Zoloft (sp?), some sort of anti-depressant drug, because the doctor that he should be happier. He looked at all the paperwork and it doesn't say a thing about depression. I assume he can still go shooting with Dad, right? Only thing I was able to find was clinically diagnosed depression stipulations. Does being put on that particular med get classified as depression or must it be written out as a diagnosis.

Myself, I don't get it. The kid is fine. Broke up with his girlfriend but that is normal teenage stuff. Why all the meds to fix everything? But, that's a whole nother thread in and of itself.

Long story in a short version. Can he still shoot? Shouldn't prevent him from getting his LTCH next year, would it? Would it need disclosed since it was an evaluation from a head doctor?

 

[Mgderf]

Nothing is anyones fault anymore, and there's no need to concern yourself with daily trivialities.

Our "enlightened" society has an answer for all your shortcomings. Just sumbit.

 

[Scutter01]

Medically speaking, "happy" is not the opposite of "depressed". I sure hope the doctor had a better diagnosis than that.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Does not sound like he needs meds to me, just needs to go shootin and hang with some friends.

 

[littletommy]

When I was in high school, a friend of mine died in a car accident. He was a great guy, and everyone liked him, it sucked that he died. There was an announcement over the PA the he had died, everyone was sad, and that was it.

Now when a school kid get's killed, if it's a car accident, whatever, our society feels a team of counselors must be sent in to help kids "deal" with it. That is where our society has failed. They/we have created a generation of crybaby pussies who just can't deal with anything negative happening, and unfortunately, doctors have been on the front line in helping to sedate the masses.

Your friend needs to get his son off of that crap and find a sensible doctor. Worry about going shooting after he gets off the drugs.

 

[Fedempl]

Zoloft is not just used for depression, my son was on it for his ADHD, and he shoots better than I do, don't tell him, I will deny I ever siad that...

 

[85t5mcss]

Does not sound like he needs meds to me, just needs to go shootin and hang with some friends.

My thoughts exactly. Friends make you happy. When I was young we all went through this stuff, you moved on. We didn't get meds for trivial stuff such as this. Go out and have fun. Arrrgh, what happened to us?

I'll see if he will let me look at the paperwork. If it doesn't specify "Depression" then I see no problems. Lots of meds are prescribed for various reasons. And, it was a regular family doc, not a shrink, psycho, or any type of specialist.

Zoloft is not just used for depression, my son was on it for his ADHD, and he shoots better than I do, don't tell him, I will deny I ever siad that...

Isn't ADD and ADHD deal breakers, too. Guess I better research it a little more. As technologically challenged as I am, I will have better luck than he does.

 

[Mcglockin7]

I would get a second opinion about that medication. I've seen some bad things happen to someone very close to me as a result of Zoloft.

 

[85t5mcss]

I would get a second opinion about that medication. I've seen some bad things happen to someone very close to me as a result of Zoloft.

I'll pass that along. Thanks. Would you mind being more specific in a PM?

And I'm stuck. I cannot find anything that disallows him to still shoot. The closest I came to it was mental incompetency. Looking at the legal definition I did not find anything on ADHD, ADD, or depression.

 

[IndyIN]

Question for a friend.

His son was put on Zoloft (sp?), some sort of anti-depressant drug, because the doctor that he should be happier. He looked at all the paperwork and it doesn't say a thing about depression. I assume he can still go shooting with Dad, right? Only thing I was able to find was clinically diagnosed depression stipulations. Does being put on that particular med get classified as depression or must it be written out as a diagnosis.

Myself, I don't get it. The kid is fine. Broke up with his girlfriend but that is normal teenage stuff. Why all the meds to fix everything? But, that's a whole nother thread in and of itself.

Long story in a short version. Can he still shoot? Shouldn't prevent him from getting his LTCH next year, would it? Would it need disclosed since it was an evaluation from a head doctor?

You sure you have the whole story? Doctors don't just summons you to their office, you schedule an appointment because you have a problem. Sitting down with the father and talking about what's going on would be a good start. If he has some issues he's working through, worry about the LTCH later. My

 

[85t5mcss]

That's just it, don't think there is any issues. And they went to do for routine checkup stuff (allergy related). The kid is fine and society would have agreed 20 years ago.

I informed him that he may want a second opinion and I think that is what he's gonna do.

And as far as worrying about LTCH later, why? Always be concerned with it, that way it's not a problem later.

 

[rhart]

If you dont trust your Doctor you should get a new one. Its Zoloft man, not Purple Microdot. If you trust your Doctor and he suggests your kid is depressed, you follow his direction. Here's a news flash. Kids dont always share everything with thier parents. Now I know that some Doctors are a little script happy, they get spiffed for it. However, this goes back to the trust thing.
There is no reason being on Zoloft should prevent him from doing anything.

 

[hooky]

Just an FYI

http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=517
From the Pfizer medication guide.

ZOLOFT and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.

Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.

Antidepressants for children: Explore the pros and cons - MayoClinic.com

What antidepressants can children take?

Fluoxetine FDA approved
Your child's doctor or qualified mental health professional can prescribe any antidepressant on the market. However, the FDA has officially approved only one antidepressant for the treatment of depression in children — fluoxetine (Prozac). In addition to Prozac, escitalopram (Lexapro) is approved for the treatment of depression in adolescents age 12 and older.

Off-label options
Doctors can use their medical judgment to prescribe other antidepressants for children. This practice, called off-label use, is a common, and perfectly legal, practice for many types of medications for both children and adults. Fluoxetine is also FDA approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children, as are the antidepressants sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox) and clomipramine (Anafranil).

NIMH · Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers

My ex put our son on this stuff without my knowledge or consent. I had to take her to court to get him taken off of it. It turned him into friggin zombie. He wouldn't eat, didn't want to do anything. But in her mind, at least he wasn't sad. He wasn't ever really happy either.

I would suggest that your friend do some research for himself and get more medical opinions before doing this.

 

[spasmo]

Isn't ADD and ADHD deal breakers, too.

For what? To own a gun or get an LTCH?

 

[CindyE]

Zoloft can be very effective if taken in the right dose. It is used as an anti-depressant, but also for some forms of anxiety, particularly social anxiety. I've taken it for over a year, after seeing a psych for anxiety issues. He can't prescribe meds, so he advised me to contact my GP about getting a prescription. It's not an instant fix, but it does help some of the more physical anxiety symptoms. For years, something seemed wrong, but I never knew what. I'd get dizzy and light-headed often out in public. I just thought anxiety meant being nervous.
I am an otherwise healthy person, i eat right, don't like to take prescription or OTC drugs. I prefer taking the natural approach. But i decided that stress and anxiety were probably going to shorten my life, and maybe meds would be worth a try.
I've not had any psych problems from Zoloft. It caused me some digestive issues and body aches when i first got on it, which is normal. If someone has any mental disturbances while on it, it's either not the right med for them, or they need to change the dosage.
I felt a lot like some of you, before anxiety became such an issue in my life. I used to make jokes about meds.

 

[85t5mcss]

If you dont trust your Doctor you should get a new one. Its Zoloft man, not Purple Microdot. If you trust your Doctor and he suggests your kid is depressed, you follow his direction. Here's a news flash. Kids dont always share everything with thier parents. Now I know that some Doctors are a little script happy, they get spiffed for it. However, this goes back to the trust thing.
There is no reason being on Zoloft should prevent him from doing anything.

Um, this is not me, my doctor or my son. Actually, I don't even have a son. It is for a tech challenged friend who is struggling to get the info he needs before talking with their family doctor. But thanks for sharing.

For what? To own a gun or get an LTCH?

LTCH.

 

[Mackey]

Your friend needs another professional opinion. Not the musings of a bunch of gun nuts on a gun forum.

Personally though (another gun nut opinion) we as a society are over medicated. But just because you've never suffered clinical depression or anxiety, please don't make the mistake of thinking that they don't exist. Someone mentioned to the effect that 20 years ago people would just have delt with it. Yeah. You know people have been shooting themselves in the heads for years too ... way before 1992. There's got to be more to the story. Again. your friend needs to go to another professional, not google, not INGO.
Best wishes to the kid in question and the parent trying to do the right thing.

 

[85t5mcss]

Don't get me wrong, he is talking with the doctor and all that good stuff. Not just a bunch of gun nuts (although he is one of those, too). He just wanted to get some more ammo to talk to the doctor about-pros and cons of what is out there. I found a ton of side effects that he wasn't aware of other than the short list he got from the pharmacy (I assume he picked it up). But, he is getting it all figured out and if he doesn't get the warm fuzzy feeling from the doc, then he is going elsewhere.

 

[IndyIN]

Don't get me wrong, he is talking with the doctor and all that good stuff. Not just a bunch of gun nuts (although he is one of those, too). He just wanted to get some more ammo to talk to the doctor about-pros and cons of what is out there. I found a ton of side effects that he wasn't aware of other than the short list he got from the pharmacy (I assume he picked it up). But, he is getting it all figured out and if he doesn't get the warm fuzzy feeling from the doc, then he is going elsewhere.

Um, this is not me, my doctor or my son. Actually, I don't even have a son. It is for a tech challenged friend who is struggling to get the info he needs before talking with their family doctor. But thanks for sharing.

I'm not sure he needs any ammo... He is the parent, he get's to decide for his son. Your friend can say no at any time.

With all due respect, you're the one the put this out on the message board to discuss... don't get all jerky (e.g. But thanks for sharing) when people offer their opinions. The you and your references were hardly the meat of that post.

 

[85t5mcss]

I'm not sure he needs any ammo... He is the parent, he get's to decide for his son. Your friend can say no at any time.

With all due respect, you're the one the put this out on the message board to discuss... don't get all jerky (e.g. But thanks for sharing) when people offer their opinions. The you and your references were hardly the meat of that post.

So me thanking someone for their opinion only means I am a jerk? Not sure how you came to that conclusion.

And I agree he doesn't need any "ammo". But, is there anything wrong with helping someone get the information that they are looking for so that they can have an intelligent, thoughtful conversation to base their decision on vs. listening solely to the doctor's advice? Getting extra information "ammo" allows him to ask more specific and intelligent questions. Which is why this was posted on a public forum. Granted, it should be moved to the "Break Room" now, but it hasn't been, yet.

Now, if it'll just die and whither away to make room for more gun talk. BTW, I did receive a couple of PMs with very well-thought opinions and they were appreciated. I also understand why they were sent by PM and I'm OK with it. Very insightful knowledge gained and I'm sure he can have a professional conversation with their doctor and can agree on a better course of action if needed.