Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

What are the dangers of taking Pristiq with trazodone for 15 year-old boy

My 15-year-old son is suicidal he’s depressed on he’s been in the psych ward he went back to regular high school he’s struggling he’s depressed he’s just I don’t care attitude and I was wondering if the Pristiq in the trazodone might be causing this or if there are side effects to him taking this. He doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
When someone is truly suicidal and not just saying it to get the attention he needs, all bets are off for us amateurs.  At that point, medication is necessary because a quick fix is necessary to stabilize the person before he does commit suicide.  Normally, none of these drugs are particularly good for a 15 year old and were never approved for use for them, as the brain is not yet fully developed.  But some do get to a point where only medication is going to work quickly enough to stop the deterioration in mood.  As for your feeling it's not working, you don't say how long he's been on the meds -- they can take 4-6 weeks to start working, but the side effects start right away.  If your son was depressed enough to be suicidal before starting medication, then it's hard to see how the medication could be causing it unless you see changes in behavior and mood since he started them that is different in kind and intensity from what he was feeling before starting them.  It can take time and trial and error to find a drug that works.  As for this combination, trazadone is very sedating, while Pristiq is known for being stimulating.  Because both affect serotonin, there can be some people who suffer from too much targeting of the same neurotransmitter with different drugs.  Trazadone is so sedating it's often used for its side effect to help people sleep.  The main thing is, if it's not working, or if he's too sedated, then these might not be the best drugs, or the combination might not be the right thing for him.  These are things to talk to his psychiatrist about-- if his psychiatrist isn't told he's not having the desired benefit, and very often patients don't tell their docs, then he can't respond to it.  But be careful about abrupt changes -- these drugs can be hard to stop taking and sometimes you get a doctor who doesn't pay heed to this.  Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Depression Community

Top Mood Disorders Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
15 signs that it’s more than just the blues
Discover the common symptoms of and treatment options for depression.
We've got five strategies to foster happiness in your everyday life.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.