Posted by KarmaFairy on December 18, 2003, at 23:26:34
In reply to Re: UK Has Banned Medication for Depressed Children? » KarmaFairy, posted by Simcha on December 18, 2003, at 22:51:15
You say that parents are not educated about mental health and medications, but perhaps if they were they would be even LESS likely to agree to such treatment. Some of these medications have side-effects that are worse than the ailments they treat. If weight gain, acne, and somnolence don't depress a child, I wonder what would? I am not saying that all medications should be banned, but perhaps it's time we acknowledge that there are often better ways. Not all heartburn is indicative of acid reflux disease. Likewise, a child's sadness is not necessarily a product of poor brain chemistry.
One can successfully treat high blood pressure with pills, but most often diet and exercise can prevent and reverse such a condition. The policy will be a huge loss to a few...but for the most part, they'll just look for the new magic pill.
poster:KarmaFairy
thread:291460
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/291483.html