Zoloft prescribed for my 4 year old grandson

[jerico1210]

My 4 year old grandson was taken to a baby doctor recently by his mother  because he cries when taken to pre school and the doctor said that he had seperation anxiety. He has never been with any other care givers his entire life. When his mom took a job part time she left him in a day care and he just went hysterical,simply because he never was with anyone except him mom and older 11 year old sister. When this didnt work out for the mom she had her 11 year old take care of him on the weekends she worked. She only works those days Now he is in pre school and this is happening again. He has been going to pre school this year and he has had problems with his mom leaveing him there. The school had her stay with him for some weeks and then gradually had the mom leave the room for a short period of time and return in the room . Therefor reassureing him she wasnt leaving him.  Now since several weeks have gone by he still has at times  a problem with her leaving . but then the school told her that he does quiet down shortly after that.   Just recently she took him to this baby doctor who took over for her regular baby doctor who recently retired. After the mom explained everything to this dr. she recommended 20 ml. of Zoloft to be given to him mixed in 4 oz. of pop or juice. I asked his mom to get another opinion and or get counceling. She was reculant at first but her husband told her to try this approach first and see what happens..  His mom takes a anti-depressant for headaches and said to me "Well I take them and im not suciedal. and dont have side affects. and also added this is hard on me and also my son. The school did not recommend him to be put on drugs like they might with adhd kids
To be honest with you I have never heard of a child this young being on this drug and i feel its not only dangerous,but that he might end up on anti-depressants the rest of his days.

. So far his mom is holding of, and is to see a counsler her self this week first befor her son

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

All you and his mother have to do is take him to school every day and drop him off. His crying needn't be paid any attention. The important thing is that he attend school each day. The rest will take care of itself. I think you are all paying way too much attention to the crying. It's OK if he cries. it's not hurting anything.

[jerico1210]

Thanks for your help. I printed this out  and will give it to the mother. I hope it will help her to understand. Although I have my doubts.  I know she will question your being a doctor since this is on a web site.
I offered to take him one day last week to school , but she declined. Im only hopeing and praying that this counsler she is to see monday dont suggest giving this little boy this drug. I dont know if a counsler can suggest something like that to a mom because the mom already has the drug in her home.  When she went to pick up the prescription in her home town drug store she discovered that it was or must of been the wrong liquid since it was suppose to be flavored and when she smelled it it didnt smell good.  She took it back and the pharmasist said that once open they couldnt take it back. The mom then called the doctor who in turn had to call several drug stores in the bigger where town the doctor is and  where the mom took the boy after the dr. called several drug stores they finally found it at a Wallgreen.  So the mom does have this Zoloft which is 20 mil.
These are the directions on the bottle 1mil by mouth for 7 days,then 2 mil for 7 days and then 3 mil by mouth for 14 days        The bottle containes 21 doses and the child was to be seen by this horrible doctor in a month.  I think this is real dumb on the doctors part for prescribing this drug and not suggesting counseling or some other alternitive to the mom. I might be wrong but my guess is that if her regular dr. had seen him befor retireing she might not of suggested this drug
Thanks so much again for your help.  I could use a small miracle here for my little grandson

[jerico1210]

Thanks for your comment. The mom dont stay with him any more and the teachers have said that he calms down after she leaves. Even his mother told me this also. But just this morning I went over to my daughter-in-laws house where he lives and he was crying and didnt want to go to school. I tried to comfort him and tell him like I did previously that when he gets to school the teachers will play games or read stories to the class. He agreed,but still continued to cry off and on. I also told my grandson that if he dosent cry in school I would buy him some little toy. So tonight when I spoke with him he said that he didnt cry in school. His mom thinks I shouldent reward him with any thing since he cries befor going and when she first drop's him off. Am I wrong in telling him this? I'm thinking like I told his mom that this will take some time until he regains his trust in her.  And that she shouldnt give him this potent drug Zoloft. After all hes only 4 years old and his brain is still developing. After all she made him the way he is by not takeing him out in the public when he was younger and getting him used to people.  This is her last child and I know it can be hard not to favor a child. But I also feel that this sometimes more often than not does harm. How can I possibly be of help?
Thanks
Delores

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This sort of situation can be managed perfectly well without the use of medication. As is evident by his doing well once his mother departs, there really is no need of medication. The situation should continue to be handled via behavioral methods. It'sbest for mother to hand him over to the staff and then leave right away. There is no need staying around - it only exacerbates the situation.