Question:
Female, 18, deletion, Arkansas:
She has diabetes, one kidney does 25%, now even more increased anxiety.
The first time we are trying anything for anxiety.
The Dr is giving her Lexapro- the generic.
Is there a certain one recommended? Also, is there a buildup or psychosis danger?
Nurse Lynn’s Response:
Thank you for your question. Mental health can be very challenging and complex for those with PWS and the people who support them. It is important that your psychiatrist has familiarized themselves with PWS. Prior to starting any medication, it is important that you identify anything that could be contributing to her increased anxiety. In some situations, making environmental changes and having behavior plans in place can help. Another thing that can be helpful is making sure that she can identify when she is feeling anxious and how to utilize her coping skills. Define the goals for the medication and keep track of those “behaviors” that you are looking to target. This will be helpful to know if the medication is working for her. Lexapro is an SSRI and is metabolized primarily by the liver. The key is to start at a very low dose. “start low and go slow”. SSRI’s can activate the mood, which is a hyperarousal event characterized by impulsivity, restlessness and/or insomnia. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the brand. Many times, the insurance company dictates if a brand or generic form will be covered.
Follow this link for additional resources: Psychiatric-information-for-psychiatrists-_C-2018.pdf (pwsausa.org)
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Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
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Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.