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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be utterly furious with the GP for putting my DSD on sedatives?

250 replies

goldenteapot · 20/02/2015 17:25

She is 16 and finding her GCSEs very stressful - but she is fine the rest of the time, and happy with her hobbies etc.

She sees her mother every other weekend (with whom she has a difficult relationship) and her mother has taken her to the GP about the stress, to see if he could advise about taking exams in a separate room etc. or refer her to CBT.

He has put her on sedatives, twice a day (beta blockers) with no end in sight.

She now thinks she is 'mentally ill' and needs daily sedation. I just want to cry. I hate being a step mother and having no control over this sort of thing. She is so young and vulnerable and I feel that this could be the start of her unravelling. She is spaced out - with no offer of counselling.

AIBU to be furious? What can I do?

OP posts:
Finola1step · 20/02/2015 17:27

What does her Dad think?

OhFlippityBolax · 20/02/2015 17:27

Beta blockers aren't sedatives. They're very good for controlling anxiety. I went on them at the same age for a different reason and was fine on them

And if she suffers from stress and anxiety she is mentally ill

BeyondDoesBootcamp · 20/02/2015 17:29

My dsd has got an infected cut, aibu to be annoyed at a doctor for cleaning it and giving antibiotics?

Mental health is real. YABU.

TurnOverTheTv · 20/02/2015 17:29

Beta blockers aren't sedatives at all.

gamerchick · 20/02/2015 17:30

No they aren't sedatives. In fact you don't get any kind of buzz from them.

Sure they're beta blockers?

YouBetterWerk · 20/02/2015 17:30

Oh Golden that is very sad Flowers We are far too over prescribed I feel, particularly young people. Talking therapies and relaxation techniques would surely be more long term coping mechanisms.
I myself was prescribed anti-depressants at 15 and didn't get off them until last year (11 years later!) I didn't even need them for 10 of those years, just got addicted, went to Uni and slipped the net.

I have no advice I'm afraid, I'm sure more qualified MNeters will be over shortly.

CheeseandGherkins · 20/02/2015 17:30

Beta blockers aren't sedatives.

OhFlippityBolax · 20/02/2015 17:30

Does the drug name end in alol or pam?

AGirlCalledBoB · 20/02/2015 17:31

I don't see why you would be furious at the GP. Your sd was taken there by her mother and she spoke to him. He then made a choice to put her on medication.

She is also now 16 not a child, and had a choice in going to the doctors, what she said to the doctor, and taking the prescription.

Your Sd needs to learn to take control of her own medical needs and what she is feeling.

I would suggest her dad advises her to talk to the school to see if they could offer any support and look into counselling services if she feels she needs them.

LineRunner · 20/02/2015 17:33

Is it Propranolol? It is a beta blocker often prescribed for anxiety (but can have some unwelcome side effects).

Could her dad explore some counselling through the school?

Original poster
goldenteapot · 20/02/2015 17:34

No they aren't sedatives but the effect is not dissimilar... she has just been sleeping and is totally spacey.

I'm not saying that mental health isn't real - I work in the sector which makes me even crosser to be honest - but she needs to learn coping techniques to cope with stress, not be medicated to this degree! I don't even think GPs should be ALLOWED to medicate to this degree in such a young person.

I was on these drugs for a while in my late teens and found it incredibly hard getting off them - it took me weeks of panic attacks and having to work out how to live with panic attacks through intensive therapy. So I know I have issues about it. But those issues are based on my own lived experience!

OP posts:
flippinada · 20/02/2015 17:35

Your poor DSD. I can understand your frustration and upset.

Can I ask though, are you sure that she has been prescribed beta-blockers indefinitely? That sounds very odd. The reason I say this is because they are usually prescribed for a set period of time to help someone over a stressful event.

Is it possible she has misunderstood what the doctor said? I'm not accusing her of lying at all but sometimes if you are stressed, upset or under pressure then things can be misinterpreted.

Original poster
goldenteapot · 20/02/2015 17:35

She is already getting counselling through the school but it's very vague... She was hoping for a referral for CBT.

Her mother thinks she is 'crazy' and 'weird' and is not helping the matter at all.

Yes it's propanolol.

OP posts:
HatieKokpins · 20/02/2015 17:35

What has she been given?

Jollyphonics · 20/02/2015 17:35

Beta blockers aren't sedatives. They block beta adrenaline receptors, thereby suppressing the "fight or flight" response that we're programmed to have in times of stress. It's fine to have this response if you're being chased by someone, or escaping a burning building, but it's an inconvenient response to other stressful situations, such as public performances or taking exams.

Some people can feel tired as a side effect of beta blockers, in which case it's best to only take them at night.

They aren't habit-forming, and they don't have a cumulative effect, so as soon as you stop them the effects are gone.

They're basically used to help people deal with the physical effects of stress -palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation etc. Perfectly safe in your step daughter's situation. However, I agree that a letter to the teachers may help, and consideration of different exam settings.

CheeseandGherkins · 20/02/2015 17:36

Beta blockers don't do that, they are not similar to sedative in any way.

Cocolepew · 20/02/2015 17:36

I had beta blockers for anxiety and the gp told me they were regularly given to exam age teens and in no way additive. I was able to stop them once the thing causing my anxiety stopped.

HicDraconis · 20/02/2015 17:37

Beta blockers aren't sedatives. They damp down the fear/fight/flight response to adrenaline. Many people get put on a low dose to help them cope with extreme fear for a short term (like driving tests, exams). The end is in sight - it's when the exams finish.

Was it her usual GP that saw her? Could her father take her back, explain the situation and ask why beta blockers, why not CBT, can someone talk through the decision making with her again? The dose may need adjusting if she's spaced out too.

Incidentally - she is mentally unwell. That's what stress and extreme fear are. There's absolutely nothing shameful about it. She doesn't need daily sedation and isn't on sedatives so that does need explaining to her.

Original poster
goldenteapot · 20/02/2015 17:37

She's been given a six month prescription.

OP posts:
OhFlippityBolax · 20/02/2015 17:38

She really isn't heavily medicated AT all. Propananol is a very common first line drug for anxiety and very safe.

Perhaps if you work in the field you can direct her to appropriate support and teach her things like mindfulness that can be practiced at home
Or get her some of the breathing apps for her phone

WorraLiberty · 20/02/2015 17:38

What does her dad think about it?

Jollyphonics · 20/02/2015 17:39

The waiting list for CBT isusually so long she'll have finished her exams by the time she gets seen I'm afraid.

OhFlippityBolax · 20/02/2015 17:39

Six months will take her to the end of.the exam period so seems reasonable

CheeseandGherkins · 20/02/2015 17:40

I'm really not sure why you're concerning yourself with what medication your step daughter was prescribed by her GP, it's really a bit odd that your consider this heavy medicating as it just isn't.

stormtreader · 20/02/2015 17:41

If shes been under raging stress and anxiety and now its suddenly lessened/gone, its no wonder shes a bit spacey and sleepy, the relief from all that must be overwhelming - I always used to sleep for a week after my exams were finished!

Having been on ADs, is it possible that the GP actually said she could have them for as long as she felt she needed them? Indefinitely isnt the same as forever, it just means theres no concrete end date.