Urgent advice

[nevernevernot]

Namechanged

14yr old DS stopped taking his anti d's (200mg sertaline) 4 days ago and has just told me. Pretending to take and then disposing.

Agreed to start dose again tomorrow and I will call psychiatrist in the morn.

Just wanted to know if 4 days missed is a manageable withdrawal or are we back to square one? It's taken years to get him level - with other drugs too (which he's been taking) and only just upped the sertraline dose by 50mg 2 weeks ago.

I will call for advice tomorrow but desperate for reassurance tonight. Thanks.

Just bumping as I'm so worried

call the non emergency number = I think it's 111

They are only able to say to consult with psychiatrist in the morning and to call back if any worrying symptoms - or any concerns.

I just wondered if there were any psychiatrists or professionals on here. It's hard to decipher the info from internet.

It is manageable, I ran out of the same dosage a couple of weeks ago and went 4 days without.
Felt a bit sick and shaky but knew it was withdrawal and that would get better.
I have been on 200mg of sertraline for donkey's years, every time I think I don't need it I am rapidly reminded why I have to take them. My GP points out if I had diabetes I would take the meds, same thing just more to do with mental health.
Please tell DS to keep taking them, it does help. There are lots of us about who manage to have good lives (20 years married, two kids and a successful career).

Good luck to both of you

Is 200mg a high dose? He will probably be fine. I've stopped a different ADs for a few days but was fine when I began taking it again. The chemical build up in your system I believe so he should be ok, don't panic!

Hope someone medical can give more reassuring advice.

@DocusDiplo 200mg is maximum dose for sertraline not within a clinical setting.
I have been on a little higher but that was under direct psychiatric supervision

Thank you both - he had enough of feeling numb - which I get totally.

He's sick of feeling like this and having to have therapy and take tablets. This has been going on for years.

I really thought we'd finally turned a corner. We've had a very up and down month but since the upped dose we'd seen such an improvement - I was starting to unclench. I just want him to be ok and stay with us and be happy.

This is so hard.

And I don't know how many times I've said that over the last 4 years 'I thought we'd turned a corner' and how many times I reprimand myself for saying it.

Push it OP with everyone as camhs are useless and NHS are just as bad with mental health, my friend was massively let down by them at that age and wouldn't like to see someone in the Same situation

Also please monitor at all times, if he seems better don't take it until you've had weeks with professional assistance

Hi @nevernevernot, how are you this morning?

It can be so tough, I have no idea how my husband has put up with me for so long! It is a constant battle and as DS gets older he will find there are longer periods when it is easier to fight.

It is such a good thing that he is getting treatment at this age, I went through utter hell just being told I was depressed until the full extent of my mental health problems were established when I was 33.

If you need anything please PM, I will try to help as best I can.

Thanks balloons - that's so kind.

CAMHS are actually brilliant here and he's had amazing help, has been in a very good therapy program, a fantastic psychiatrist- we pretty much have access to them all the time.

I will call the therapist and psychiatrist this morn and one of them will always see him or me straight away.

I can't believe he's done this. Was saving them to take them all together - which is devastating (this is not a new thing).

We lock away all meds and only give him his designated dose each time.

He was so upset last night. Just stuck in this awful cycle. And yet, seemed really good this last week.

We're praying that once past these awful teen years 12-16ish things might be better? Thought I know this will be a lifelong thing.