My DS will begin SSRI treatment tomorrow. Psychiatrist said give it a 1-2 weeks to adjust to the serotonin effects, and four to assess efficacy on anxiety/mood. I imagine the same timeframe would be appropriate for a dosage increase.
I don't think it specifically causes an increase in anxiety/depression but can be activating (could present as agitation) so the result may look similar.
Different-but-related (and exciting) note: DS' new physician said that there are now saliva tests to identify specific genes (he gave a very complicated explanation) that can help prescribers make better decisions about which medications to prescribe. They don't currently do this unless a child has "failed" several meds (which means the med didn't work properly) but it is really promising. Their clinic sends DNA sample to Mayo Clinic--this isn't quackery! They can also now measure blood levels of SSRI, SNRI, etc., a commonplace practice in neurology but cutting edge for psychiatry. Different bodies metabolize medication differently and there are complex mechanism-of-action considerations.
I know that is just a little bit OT, but I was so encouraged that I wanted to share with you. This physician is convinced--and was convincing--that there is a huge genetic component in ASD/ADHD and that targeting the right neurobiological component for treatment is the key for optimizing treatment.
A link:
http://genetics.testcatalog.org/show/HTTO
