When I (34M) was 4 years old my parents took me to a psychiatrist who put me on Prozac to help control my behavior. I took it because I was told to. I weaned off in my early 20s and have been off it ever since. I don’t have much of a relationship with my parents today and my mental health is terrible.
AMA.
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Oh wow! What are the things you struggle with mentally now?
I’m so sorry. I just wanted to give you a hug, from a mom who was told to medicate her child at that age, and adamantly refused. In the end, I left his father and the majority of his behaviour issues ended within weeks. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through, and if you ever need a mom to talk to, I’m here for you.
So sorry to hear that! The F* how the hell ist this even possible?! Talking from a medically perspective..are from the US?
Would you try a different antidepressant today for your symptoms or do you feel too traumatized by the experience?
It does improve, I promise. A lot of learning about how to self-regulate and things, but we get there, eventually.
Did you have any sexual side effects from the drugs
What kind of person are your parents ?
This is insane and I’m so sorry to hear you had to go through this.
How in the hell is a pediatrician ethically allowed to prescribe an SSRI to a 4 year old child?
I guess the lesson here is to never underestimate the power of Big Pharma’s influence.
This is just so sad to hear about, I’m really sorry for what happened to you. But like…what made them do that to you?For how long were you on the meds? Have they ever apologized to you? How are you now?(I just hope you’re doing great)
Hi OP! I don’t think I have a question for you, but I want to say I relate to this– I was also put on some type of mystery antidepressant when I was 3/4 in 2000! It was bizarre, and scary, so thank you for talking about this. Because I thought it was just me.
Sorry for the decision your parents took!
If you ever felt being paranoid about the risks of the medication…see NYT article on the risks of prescription drugs used on kids – this was was for ADHD.
>Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?
>https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/magazine/adhd-medication-treatment-research.html?unlocked_article_code=1._U4.k0GT.jyJmm2jGNh9q
Or
>https://archive.is/fuRhn
>5 Takeaways From New Research About A.D.H.D.
>https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/magazine/adhd-children-research-takeaways.html
Still marvel at people who decide to injest drugs in this country, without learning about longterm studies.
Pharmaceutical companies use people in the US for all their studies, after making them pay x10 times more, then turn around and offer the same drug to rest of the world at a fraction of the cost in the US.
Unreal!
Was it common to kids be on prozac back in the 90s?
That’s horrible! I hope you can heal from your trauma.
I think you are putting too much hate on the pills and now you are an adult and responsible for your own mental health. (Not saying you arent being responsible- kudos for seeing a therapist- i mean- this is no longer up to your parents- you are in charge now) You are possibly suffering needlessly due to something that your parents chose for you when you weren’t allowed to choose for yourself. There are MANY different antidepressants out there that also help with anxiety. You don’t ever have to take Prozac again. This time, if you want to stop taking the meds after trying them you can- your parents no longer have that control. The pills arent/werent the issue- give them another chance
So sorry you were put through that. A multi-part: do you feel that your childhood trauma surrounding pharmaceuticals is preventing you from trying present-day antidepressants that actually could help what you describe as terrible mental health?
In other words: do you now:
(I ask because lexapro is now so generally approved for even transient periods of depression e.g. postpartum, so many people who didn’t go through this trauma might otherwise consider it to help with what they consider to be terrible mental health)
So sorry again.
I was put on Ritalin when I was in the 3rd grade thanks to my teacher and a couple of psychiatrists. From then until my freshman year I was basically a guinea pig for big pharma thanks to psychiatrists and my parents believing their b.s. I haven’t taken pills since. I think it sucks what people will do to make others blend into society and what they consider normal.
Have you grappled in therapy with the possibility that the same mental health challenges you experience now are the same ones that your parents and doctors recognized in you as a child? That antidepressants could have been a completely reasonable thing to try for a child who was miserable and unable to function well enough to grow?