Antidepressants for children and teens
Which antidepressants can children take?
The FDA has approved certain antidepressants for use in children and teenagers for different types of diagnoses. Antidepressants come with a medication guide that advises parents and caregivers about risks and precautions. Be sure to carefully read the medication guide and package insert, and discuss any questions with the prescribing physician and your pharmacist.
| Medication* | Age (in years) | Diagnosis |
|---|---|---|
| *Many of these drugs are also available in generic form. Recommended initial dose and maximum dose vary by age. | ||
| Clomipramine (Anafranil) | 10 and older | Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) |
| Duloxetine (Cymbalta) | 7 and older | Generalized anxiety disorder |
| Escitalopram (Lexapro) | 12 and older | Major depressive disorder |
| Fluoxetine (Prozac) | 8 and older | Major depressive disorder |
| 7 and older | OCD | |
| Fluvoxamine | 8 and older | OCD |
| Olanzapine and fluoxetine, combination drug (Symbyax) | 10 and older | Bipolar depression |
| Sertraline (Zoloft) | 6 and older | OCD |
Antidepressants can also be used for other conditions. The antidepressant imipramine (Tofranil) is approved by the FDA to treat daytime or nighttime involuntary urination (childhood enuresis) in children 6 years of age and older.
Physicians may use their medical judgment to prescribe other antidepressants for children for what's called off-label use. This is a clinically common practice for many types of medications for both children and adults.
