Treating anxiety in children
Anxiety varies from mild to severe, however, the good news is that it is treatable, especially in children. Here are the most common treatment options for children with anxiety:
Medication
Treatment for anxiety might include medication. Your healthcare provider will recommend prescription medications like SSRIs [5], although they are usually reserved for more serious cases of anxiety or in situations when using the two together seems appropriate.
According to a 2018 study and research review, prescription medications like SSRIs are commonly a first-line pharmacotherapy treatment for pediatric anxiety.
SSRIs they may be prescribed include:
- fluoxetine [6] (Prozac)
- citalopram [7] (Celexa)
- escitalopram [8] (Lexapro)
- sertraline [9] (Zoloft)
- paroxetine [10] (Paxil)