Rachelfran,
I'm not pro or con one medication or the other. I can only tell you about my own families reaction to Zoloft. My son was 15 when they put him on it. He has been on many medications. Zoloft was a last ditch effort to find a compatable SSRI. It made him suicidal. He was in jail at the time, and said all he could think about was hanging himself. He even figured out how to rig a sheet up and jump off his bunk. He had been on it for 3 months. The psychiatrist had found out I had taken it for 12 months with success and sometimes parents and children have similar chemical makeups that allow certain SSRI's to work. In this case it did not.
Oddly enough I had been on it for 12 months with no problems. The first few days I took it I had increased euphoric feelings and swear I was the happiest person on the planet. It came to mind that I then KNEW why people did drugs. One pill and I was set for the day and you could not beat me with a stick and make me say a bad word. 15 months into taking the medication I started 'fabricating' my plan to hang myself. I would think about it and then dismiss it thinking it was CRAZY thoughts. I eventually told my therapist who called my MD and I tapered off then quit.
After 3 weeks you should know whether it's going to help her or not. There are different SSRI's out there that may work for her. Finding which one is a toss of the dice. Literally! We tried over 65 medications in my sons life, and now at 17 he refuses to take medications. I can't say I blame him. Instead he's thrown himself into working and school. He was NEVER good in school. He tried, but just too much stimulation. Now as a 17 year old kid - he's in an adult ed class 2 times a week and going through the work like fire. We always knew he was intelligent - but at some point I had to let go of MY dreams for him - which were not huge - just graduate high school, go on to college. Get a good job.
And it's gone from that to - I hope he won't go back to jail, I hope he goes to school 2 days a week, I hope he gets along at whatever odd jobs he is finding to pay his restitution and probation and court costs....and I hope he finds happiness for himself.
We know what is best for our child and sometimes we get so caught up in making THAT point to them we don't hear what they are saying about what they want. And belive you me - being a big funky DJ rapper who writes lyrics at a coffee house during the day and installs stereos on the weekends while raking in the cash and having a house nicer than mine, a nicer car, a nicer bank account - and all on his delusional thoughts - was not my idea of letting go - but detaching was a way to start healing, and the world will soon kick your kiester if you think at 16, with 2 felony charges, no job, no education and no means of support - is going to be your way of life.
I let go and now I actually get calls - "What do you think I should do." = It's not much but I'll take it.
Get yourself a book called Tough Love - and find Suz's list from here on detaching - it's phenominal - most of us have it pasted in our minds or on the fridge - I think it should be renamed....
Conduct Disorders parents Modern Day Guide to Survival of a difficult child.
But it's in the archives under Detachment.
Hugs
Star