The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically I

Better Living Through Chemicals 237

dry mouth, weight gain, sedation, lightheadedness, and

constipation.

IRRITABILITY AND OBSESSIVENESS

If irritability or obsessiveness is significantly interfering
with your child’s functioning at home or school, or with
his ability to participate in Plan B discussions, medication
may help. Irritability and obsessiveness in children have
most often been treated with a group of medications
called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI anti-
depressants), which include agents such as fluoxetine
(Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalo-
pram (Celexa), and fluvoxamine (Luvox). However, as of
this writing, the use of these medications has become
controversial owing to findings that these agents can cause
increased suicidal thinking in some children (a fact that
some of the manufacturers of these agents were appar-
ently not completely forthcoming in disclosing). Other
side effects include nausea, weight loss or weight gain,
anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, and sweating.