Prozac and Autism/OCD

On behalf of b/f:
Backround - 5 year old, really bad "behavior" lately - not listening, not caring about consequenses.
He has been screaming for the potty in every public place that he thinks would have one - he is almost trained but still in pull-ups. When he is taken to the potty, he screams no. When he returns, the same thing starts over.
He also is almost obscessed with opening and closing doors.

Anyway - BM called pediatric neurologist and discussed the behavior issues. She prescribed 5 mg of prozac over the phone.

So, concerns are: 1 - is there any behavior modification that could have been tried before medication?
2- what are the side effects of prozac at a young age? how long will he be on it?


A very big TIA!!!

Message edited 6/8/2010 6:07:11 PM.

Re: Prozac and Autism/OCD

There is wholistic stuff go to luckyvitamins.com and ABA for Autism. We use Applied Behavior Analysis and we redirect my son as well as use there methods to distract him.

Good Luck.

Re: Prozac and Autism/OCD

Also get a secound oppionion. My daughter was Diagnosied ADD/ADHD severe. Six months later she didnt even get a diagnoises of either. She is borderline not enough for a diagnoises.

Good thing we got that secound oppionion. We got her tutoring, Counsling and structure. Rewards Etc and slightly changed her eating.

Autism is different but I dont know if I would go that route with out trying everything else.

Re: Prozac and Autism/OCD

Do you have a parent trainer working with you at home? If not, you can request that the district provide you with one to analyze why these behaviors are occurring and come up with a plan to work on them. Does he display these behaviors is school too? Could you speak with his teacher to see how they are dealt with there? I'm an ABA therapist and some of the students I work with have been on various medications to help control behaviors. Most of the parents chose to use the medications only after other techniques were used with limited success.

Re: Prozac and Autism/OCD

From what I understand a neurologist is not the person to go to for an autism diagnosis, you want a psychologist who specializes in autism diagnosis. In addition, I would not see a neurologist for OCD.

I was diagnosed with OCD at 8. There is talk therapy and behavior modifications that can be made to help your child work through their obsessions. I would not try prozac first...that would be my last resort.