Can antidepressant medications cause ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in children?

Generally, antidepressant medications do not directly cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in children. If any unusual symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Antidepressants primarily work by regulating neurotransmitters and are used to improve psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Common side effects include drowsiness, weight gain, and dry mouth, but there is no direct evidence that these medications trigger ALS. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease whose causes are mostly associated with genetic factors, exposure to toxins, and immune responses, rather than the mechanisms of action of antidepressants.

Although long-term use of certain psychiatric medications may be weakly associated with a slight increase in ALS risk, given the extremely low overall prevalence of ALS, the actual increase in risk remains minimal. The vast majority of children taking antidepressants do not need to worry excessively about developing ALS.

Parents should strictly follow medical guidance, appropriately manage medication dosage and duration, regularly bring their child for follow-up evaluations, and monitor changes in condition and physical responses to ensure safe medication use.