To not give my teen DD medication

If medication could dramatically improve her quality of life then why wouldn’t you do anything you possible could to help her achieve that regardless of what the illness or problem is?

My dd found her ssri extremely helpful at managing her asd related anxiety and phobia I feel she needs to decide.

I would do as there would be a biological need.

Why is it disgusting @whippy1981

I would consider a parent who withheld, say, painkillers or antibiotics, at a time of need, to be cruel and abusive.

Medication for an invisible illness shouldn't be treated differently.

But she would be tested for something and be shown the results of those tests and have routine (daily) testing to show when it was needed.

What such tests exist for this medication? How often are they conducted? Do the meds raise of lower something? What is being measured? What units are they being measured in?

Comparing two different things.

Unfortunately this is an all-too-common attitude when it comes to medication for mental health conditions and it leads to so many people struggling when they don't have to.

It's awful.

Would you.

Would you also not take painkillers if you broke a leg, or antibiotics if you had a severe infection?

You can't seriously be on the internet encouraging someone to deny their child potentially life-saving medication.

If she had a physical illness like diabetes would you refuse medication in case she became‘dependent’ on it ?

FWIW - I was very reluctant to put my ADHD DS on medication when recommended by his psychiatrist. She pointed out that parents are often afraid- and that just because you start them on meds doesn't mean you have to keep them on meds. We agreed to trying it out for 6 months.

It was a revelation. In DS's case he is not a different child- he is the child he really is, when all the white noise of ADHD and anxiety is not at the front of his brain getting in the way. It's been life changing and life affirming.

Many high-functioning autistic girls "cope brilliantly" - until they don't and go into autistic burnout, leaving them incapable of doing even the most basic of tasks.

Please don't dismiss how difficult it will be for your DD to "cope".

How disgusting a comment.

And yes as others have said.. she is coping brilliantly. But as I'm sure you know, girls are excellent maskers. How much of her doing brilliantly is her masking? It's a rhetorical question and one that's impossible to answer but take heed from some of the other posters here who speak From experience.

Are you a member of the private FB group 'autistic girls' network' ? I found it about 4 years ago and it's been a brilliant source of information and support. You'd get some more additional advice / support and first hand experiences on there. Your situation will absolutely have been discussed / asked on there before.

Intrusive thoughts are horrible. Sometimes meds are needed whatever. Sometimes you need meds to take the edge off in order to be able to fully work on your therapy. I think listen to the CAMHS expert, talk to them about your concerns, but ultimately as your daughter is 15 it is her decision (as she'll be gillick competent). Be careful to not let your fears sway your daughters decision too much. She may already be keener than you think but be giving a neutral opinion as she's picked up on your worries, or she may have her own worries (maybe some overlap, maybe they don't) but she should have the option to speak to her consultant openly about those. I'd also say it's better to try medication now than it is to wait until things start going wrong.

How do you know it won't be really positive for her until she tries it?

If it did turn out to be really positive, would you still prefer she didn't have it?

I am a teacher of teens and young adults in a high needs environment. I believe that other things should be tried before medication and it should be looked at on a case by case basis and under guidance of professionals.
However , there are huge benefits of medication and I have how much medication can improve young people’s lives and these can be of significant benefit to the young people’s long term outcomes, and massively outweigh the side effects.
There are many young people I work with who would benefit but as their parents won’t agree they are left to struggle.
If I were you, and as it’s been advised by the professionals I would trial and meds for 6 months and after that time, your dd can weigh up the benefits vs side effects and decide if they feel their quality of life has improved.

If the side effects out weighs the benefits than she can stop taking them.

She has a medical problem and if is she reliant on medication to control her symptoms then I don’t see what the problem is? Millions of people in the UK take medications for their medical problems.

Also at 15 and doing well academically I don’t really think this is your decision.

Medication was life changing for my 14yrold ASD/ADHD son. He can now access so many areas of life that were beyond him beforehand.

Her managing is akin to endurance training. She should not have to manage and that is why medications are prescribed.

I do understand your concerns and I would have the same concerns - it is however a bit of a rock and a hard place because she is under a lot more pressure than her NT peers and throw hormones, exams and moving up to sixth form and uni into the mix I would be very concerned that the wheels might come off without measured intervention

I agree that medication isn't needed as the meds will not do anything. Ask the therapist on what basis she is needing medication and for what illness and also what impact it will have scientifically on her illness. There is no need as it isn't biological in my eyes. Many will disagree but that is their choice.

Non-compliance with prescribed medication is the thin end of a not very pleasant wedge in mental health. It is literally why we can section people, deprive them of their liberty, and force them to receive treatment.

I would try solely on the fact she is having intrusive thoughts, whilst we all like to hope we will be there to help forever, I would give her any opportunity to help as much as possible to hopefully be as independent in the world as she can be.

Obviously, do your research and get a number of specialist opinions. I would leave any treatment until after GCSE's now as getting the dosage right and watching for side affects will take time.

Medicating the child you have is good advice.

For the previous poster's father's experience, this is very different and more up to date.

Medication gives my auDHD brain peace. Antidepressants for when the anxiety tips into depression, beta blockers for anxiety as and when needed during periods of mental wellness. Thanks to ADHD meds, those periods of wellness are a lot more extended than they used to be.

I'm 55. If I'd had these meds as a teenager, my life would have turned out very differently. For the better. Much, much better.

Have you heard of BRAINs? It’s a tool to help you make medical decisions. I have found it really helpful.

www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity/your-antenatal-care/brain/

Would you not bother with medication for a physical illness or is it just mental health you ignore?