Help! Medication for very anxious teen?

[mineofuselessinformation]

As above really, dc2 has struggled massively with anxiety for over six months. Has had some counselling but not totally engaged with it. Has struggled going to sixth form throughout, now retaking yr12.
Attendance below 50%, but really wants to go (just can't cope with getting up and getting dressed etc on bad days).
I finally persuaded them to go back to GP (different surgery), who signposted to local well-being service. Wait time at least six weeks to be seen. DC not happy with this and feeling very knocked-back.
DC would like to see if medication helps, but didn't get anywhere as GP said no medications help anxiety (completely untrue as far as I know).
What do we do? We've got til the end of this term to sort it or education is down the toilet....
Sorry that's long.

I have beta blockers which have changed my life by preventing the physical symptoms from crippling me. They aren't a medication to take lightly though. Other than that it's antidepressants which are a bit hit and miss to find one that helps and he can tolerate.

My DS2 went on Sertraline at 16 for severe anxiety. He has ASD so it was perhaps slightly easier as we had a contact with a paediatrician anyway, but it was CAMHS who first prescribed... he's 21 now and still on it at a high dose as he also has OCD.
I know they are reluctant to prescribe to teens, esp under 18 due to a heightened suicide risk with certain medications but they DO prescribe them.
If the wellbeing service is anyting like the one here, it isn't much help sadly.

I would go back and back again and beg for a referral to camhs and really lay it on the line how difficult things are. It is an unfair battle that younger people have to fight so hard for help . I has definitely saved my son's life!

My two are HFA and are both on lowish doses of sertraline for GAD and the youngest also has OCD.

It's transformed both their lives tbh. Eldest is doing well at university and the youngest is making friends and really gaining confidence. It's been amazing watching them gain independence and some normality. Ds1 even goes nightclubbing and travels to different countries.

GP is talking bullshit. SSRIs are routinely prescribed for anxiety and always have been. You have to keep an eye out for suicidal ideation in youngsters, but there is no reason to deprive people of treatment which can help them during a crucial time.

If you can afford it, try to get your dc to see a private psychiatrist who will be willing to prescribe.

If not, then find some literature to support prescribing for a teen and go back to the GP.

My 11 year old is on Sertraline. It had to be prescribed by a psychiatrist iinitially then prescribing was handed over to our GP. It took the best part of a year to get the first prescription (appointments are as rare as panda farts). You might have more joy because your child is older and the GP can prescribe if willing (big if).

That sounds a bit more hopeful.
Would it be productive to speak to another doctor without dc there?

Yep DD2 prescribed Sertraline at 14 by psychiatrist for clinical depression, with GAD and OCD symptoms. Changed her (and our) lives!

Your GP was absolutely correct not to prescribe. Antidepressant prescribing in under-18s is strictly specialist-only due to the increased risks in this age group. The risks and downsides outweigh the benefits in many cases. If you don't feel that the wellbeing service is sufficient, then I suggest you politely ask your GP for a referral to CAMHS, but CAMHS reject most referrals in my experience, so your GP may know (from their many years of training and experience, which you appear to have no respect for) that your son may not be accepted by CAMHS.

I'm sorry your son is struggling, and by all means ask for a referral to CAMHS, but don't disrespect your GP's expertise because they haven't given you the answer that you, a layperson, expect.

Well thank goodness!
After calling and asking for the senior doctor (not in), then the practice manager (not available), an appointment was found for this afternoon.
The GP was completely different and really listened. Dc has a prescription for fluoxetine, which is apparently very helpful for people of their age.
I really hope this is the start of the road to recovery.

@RightOcciputAnterior well said.

Oh, and I should have said:
 to all of you who replied and are suffering yourself, or have dcs who suffer. It's very easy to stand on the periphery and make judgments, but it's not until you are in this position yourself you can truly judge how crippling anxiety can be, so I'm glad of your support.

There should be a in there - not sure what is going on with emoticons!

@mineofuselessinformation If your son is under 18, then your GP really shouldn't have initiated an SSRI without specialist input. (I appreciate you say he's retaking year 12, so it occurs to me he may actually be 18, in which case it's less clear-cut.) I don't really think you should be celebrating if that's the case!

I'm sorry if my earlier response caused you offence, but as a GP I am sick and tired of patients who totally disrespect my years of experience and training and come into a consultation with me demanding X, Y and Z. I am always happy to design a management plan which takes into account the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations, but that doesn't always mean doing exactly what they want. A good GP gives their patients what they need, not what they want.

I am guessing from your response, @wtf2015, that you're a GP as well. There are a few of us on MN. So nice to encounter like-minded doctors on threads like this!

RightOcciputAnterior - OP's ds is retaking y12, it's entirely possible that he has turned 18.

^^ sorry RightOcciputAnterior part of your post didn't show on my screen until after I replied.

@andro Yep, I have just twigged that it's already November, so a Year 13-aged child may indeed be 18! Still, my broader point stands. Whether the son has just turned 18 or not, OP should have consulted her GP for their expert opinion.

RightOcciputAnterior - I agree with you, I was only pointing out the timescale (then the rest of your post showed up afterwards ).

Mental health issues are tricky in adults, in children/adolescents they're an absolute minefield - my GP couldn't refer my ds for specialist paediatric psychiatric and psychological help fast enough, he was very clear that children's specialists were needed.

Just bumping this up there (and hoping that those with an axe to grind have gone elsewhere).
Things are still far from perfect, but with a lot of support college attendance is improving and dc2's mood seems to be lighter.
Hopefully we are getting there.

My 3 DC have had to cope with more grief and trauma than your average adult would in a life time.
We have dealt with attempted suicide anorexia self harm depression and utter despair.
I DC repeated year 12 scraped A levels to get to uni. 2nd year completely broke them.
Finally agreed to councilling as felt ready found someone they click with they discussed coming off all medication to learn to feel again learn to cope learn to live. We are 4 months in prob good 5 years down the line and the last 2 months have turned a corner.
So have to say not sure medication is the way forward learning to feel and manage those feelings maybe best way forward ?