Antidepressant Selection for Patients with Seizure Disorders and Substance Abuse

Introduction to Safe Antidepressant Options

• The World Health Organization recommends fluoxetine as a safe option for adolescents with depression, with a low seizure risk of 0.0-0.4%, although close monitoring is required 1

Pre-Treatment Considerations

• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends ensuring antiepileptic medications are optimized before starting any antidepressant 2