Is Effexor Safe In Children?

Is Effexor Safe In Children?

QUESTION:

Dear Dr. Heller,

I would like to know if Effexor is safe to use in children under the age of eighteen.  It is being recommended to us to help my eight year old son and I’m not convinced it is safe to use at his age.

 

ANSWER:

It is not FDA approved for individuals under 18.  This is a persistent problem in treating children however, as there simply aren’t many studies in children.  It is not known to be safe, and it’s not known to be dangerous.  This is a topic you need to discuss with the physician.