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Pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents
Agent Initial daily dose Suggested dose titration based upon response Maintenance daily dose range Selected characteristics*
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)*
Fluoxetine

Children: 5 to 10 mg

Adolescents: 10 mg
After 7 days increase daily dose to 20 mg; then after 4 and 8 weeks increase daily dose by 20 mg, if needed 10 to 80 mg
  • Prolonged half-life.
  • Metabolized by and inhibits CYP2D6.
Fluvoxamine 25 to 50 mg at bedtime Increase daily dose by 25 mg (child) or 25 to 50 mg (adolescent) after a minimum of 7 days, if needed 50 to 300 mg
  • Girls generally require lower maintenance doses than boys.
  • Give with meals and bedtime in divided doses to minimize side effects.
  • Metabolized by CYP1A2 and 2D6.
  • Inhibits CYP1A2 and 2C19.
Sertraline 12.5 to 25 mg Increase daily dose by 12.5 mg (child) or 25 to 50 mg (adolescent) after a minimum of 7 days, if needed 50 to 200 mg
  • Diarrhea more frequent than other SSRIs.
  • Metabolized by CYP2D6.
  • Inhibits CYP2D6 with larger doses.
Paroxetine 5 to 10 mg Increase daily dose by 5 mg (child) or 10 mg (adolescent) after a minimum of 7 days, if needed 10 to 60 mg
  • Short half-life.
  • Mild anticholinergic side effects.
  • Metabolized by and inhibits CYP2D6.
  • Weight gain.
Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)*
Venlafaxine extended-release (ER) 37.5 mg Increase daily dose by 37.5 mg (child) or 75 mg (adolescent) after a minimum of 7 days, if needed 75 to 225 mg
  • Dose-related increase in diastolic blood pressure and/or heart rate may be seen.
  • Some children may experience weight loss.
  • Metabolized by CYPs 2D6 and 3A4.
  • Prolongation of Qt interval.
Duloxetine 30 mg Increase daily dose by 30 mg after a minimum of 14 days, if needed

30 to 60 mg

Some patients may benefit from a higher daily dose, increased by 30 mg increments every 2 to 4 weeks, to maximum of 120 mg per day

  • Some children may experience dose-related gastrointestinal-related adverse effects (eg, nausea and abdominal pain), and weight loss. Palpitations and increased pulse were observed more frequently than with placebo in a pediatric GAD trial.

  • Use with strong inhibitors (eg, fluvoxamine) or inducers (eg, carbamazepine, rifampin) of CYP1A2 should in general be avoided.

  • Strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine, paroxetine, tipranavir) can increase duloxetine concentrations by up to 60%.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)
Clomipramine Children ≥10 years old and adolescents: 25 mg Increase daily dose by 25 mg after a minimum of 7 days, if needed; give in divided doses with meals and bedtime 25 to 250 mg (2 to 6 mg/kg per day); doses >2.5 mg/kg per day should be used cautiously Applies to clomipramine and imipramine:
  • Cardiovascular screening including ECG recommended prior to initiating treatment.
  • Anticholinergic side effects may limit usefulness in children.
  • Drowsiness, irritability and vomiting may be seen.
  • Give in divided doses with meals and at bedtime to minimize side effects.
  • Metabolized by CYPs 1A2, 2C19 and 3A4.
Imipramine 10 to 25 mg Increase daily dose by 25 mg after a minimum of 7 days, if needed; give in divided doses with meals and bedtime 10 to 300 mg (2 to 6 mg/kg per day); doses >2.5 mg/kg per day should be used cautiously
Benzodiazepines
Clonazepam 0.25 to 0.5 mg   1 to 6 mg Applies to clonazepam and lorazepam:
  • Drowsiness, irritability and oppositional behavior may be seen
  • Subject to abuse, addiction and diversion
Lorazepam 0.25 to 0.5 mg   0.25 to 8 mg
Clinicians should be aware of the potential for activating side effects of antidepressants in younger children and regulatory warnings of potential for an increased risk of suicidality in children. With the exception of duloxetine, antidepressants are not approved by the US Food & Drug Administration for treatment of anxiety disorders in children. Recommended doses are those shown to have been effective in randomized controlled trials of children with various anxiety disorders and clinical experience. All doses shown are for oral administration. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is reviewed separately in UpToDate.
ECG: electrocardiogram; GI: gastrointestinal; GAD: generalized anxiety disorder.
* Common generally mild adverse effects of SSRIs and SNRIs seen in children treated for anxiety disorders may include headache, anorexia, vomiting, sleep disturbance and somnolence.
¶ Dose- related ECG changes have been reported in children and close monitoring is necessary with larger doses. According to the product information approved in the United States, doses >2.5 mg/kg per day are not recommended in children.
Courtesy of authors with additional data from:
  1. Katzman MA, Bleau P, Blier P, et al. Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry 2014; 14 Suppl 1:S1.
  2. Rynn M, Puliafico A, Heleniak C, et al. Advances in pharmacotherapy for pediatric anxiety disorders. Depress Anxiety 2011; 28:76.
  3. Martin A, Scahill L, Kratochvil C. Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Oxford University Press, New York 2010. p.480.
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