Date:  Sun Apr 29, 2001  8:46 pm

Hi, my name is Becky.  My son is 5 and has cystic fibrosis and has been
suffering depression and behavior problems as a result of worsened health over
the past year and a half or so.  As a result he was put on Paxil, and later
switched to Celexa.  Both of these made him rip out his hair in chunks
(trichotillomania) which was very frightening.

He's currently taking Risperdal (an anti-psychotic, even though he's not) which
has had a dramatic effect on his behavior.

I should add that I had SSRI problems in the past when I took them (I've taken
Zoloft and Meridia), namely cuticle picking and chewing, self-injury, etc.  So
we should've been clued in and not given it to Ricky in the first place -- but
there you are.

I'm glad to find this group...

Becky

Date:  Sun Apr 29, 2001  9:26 pm

Response:
Welcome to the group! I do not feel any doc should put any child on these
meds. I had serious reactions to these meds and my heart aches to think a
child could go through what i as an adult did. Are you thinking of taking him
off meds. My friends little boy also has this. These drugs from what i
understand weaken the immune system and from what i understand about C.F
that is not good. If this were my child i would seriously think of getting him 
off meds. The slow and right way. 

Kim