Sorry long post but this is a tragedy.
This 14 year old child was apparently taking a powerful antidepressant medication ESCITALOPRAM, which is not recommended for treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in children under 12 years.
In my view, the body & brain of a 14 year old is really not much different from that of a 12 year old. Every person is different.
I hope this medication had been prescribed after careful assessment by a psychiatrist experienced in adolescent mental health.
It is known to be associated with increased suicidal ideation, increased aggression/anger/violence and acting on aggressive impulses, particularly when medication is started or the dosage changed.
If you want to see the evidence of please read on. I am a retired medical practitioner and my opinion is backed up with relevant links below. I’ve picked out the points that I feel may be pertinent to this case.
A 14-year-old girl from Mississippi accused of killing her mother allegedly invited a friend over her house to see her mother's dead body.
krcrtv.com
1) From the above article
“ Cotton said investigators learned Carly had been on prescription medications, including Lexapro, leading up to the murder. He added Carley allegedly changed the medication she was taking about a week before the shootings”
2) Next is this
“ Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Lexapro and other antidepressant medicines increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in people 24 years of age and younger, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.”
“ Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings or if you or your child develop suicidal thoughts or actions.
- attempts to commit suicide
- acting aggressive, being angry or violent
- acting on dangerous impulses
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood”
It is not known if Lexapro is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age with MDD ( Major Depressive Order)
3) Next this
Escitalopram is the purified functional isomer contained in citalopram. Escitalopram is now prescribed in 26 countries. In the United States, the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved selective serotonin reuptake inhibiter (SSRI) for adolescents ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Choosing a medication for an adolescent is a complex decision.
MOO