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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be terrified - please help me.

376 replies

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:13

Dd, 15, has started taking sertraline after being prescribed it by a private psychiatrist. She took an overdose last year and school refused towards the end of last year.

She is now behaving erratically- running into classrooms at school shouting that she’s going to kill herself, but then laughing - her teachers think she seems very hyper and ‘excited.’ She’s running off when teachers challenge her or swearing at them. She was never like that before this year.

At the weekend she went for a walk and texted a charity helpline, saying she had no bed and was going to jump on the train tracks. We had taken her bed apart because a new double bed was coming on Monday. There was a spare bed upstairs for her. Dd knew this. The police arrived and I was able to show them dd’s location - she had tracking on her phone. They quickly assessed that she had a safe home and did, in fact, have a suitable bed. This was a reaction to being told off because she had bullied a student at school.

She was put in isolation at school for a nasty incident towards another student. She can sometimes be loving and calm. At other times she is very very high and erratic. School had to send her home today. She struggles to attend lessons. I don’t know where to go from here and feel utterly desperate.

OP posts:
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:46

I also wondered if it could be bipolar.

OP posts:
DespairingHomeowner · 07/10/2021 17:48

Anti depressants can trigger manic reactions in some people

If you have concerns that she may be bipolar then pursue that with your psychiatrist

I hope things work out for you

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:49

Thank you x

OP posts:
myadhdusername · 07/10/2021 17:51

ADHD?!

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:52

This isn’t just poor behaviour, is it? It’s definitely a mental health issue.

OP posts:
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:52

She is on the autism/ADHD pathway

OP posts:
RevolvingPivot · 07/10/2021 17:53

I've been on Sertraline years. How you worded the first line you sounded as though you think it's down to the medication. It doesn't sound like she has anxiety. Most anxious people don't draw attention to themselves for fun. Maybe it's ADHD or PTSD?

1FootInTheRave · 07/10/2021 17:53

How long has she been taking sertraline? Initial side effects can be horrendous.

I'd push for urgent medication review.

Fluoxetine had a horrendous effect on my ds within 2 weeks of taking it. He had to stop (under dr instruction) it was that bad.

Hope she, and you, get some help.

Embroidery · 07/10/2021 17:54

Dont take any more of the meds until you see the doctor.
It's a reaction to the medication. Quite a serious one.

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:54

I’m on sertraline too. I know it affects different people in different ways. I don’t know what’s causing it. She doesn’t have PTSD.

OP posts:
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 17:55

She started in August but increased the dose in sept.

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 07/10/2021 17:57

Sertraline can trigger mania l think.

H0Tcarrots · 07/10/2021 17:59

I know you mentioned bipolar disorder and i thought possibly it could be the same thing. In some people (my brother included) the manic phase can present as anxiety. If this is what is happening sertraline is probably not a good choice.

But really either way, this is not working out and I hope you are able to get some help tomorrow

SpiderinaWingMirror · 07/10/2021 18:00

I think review her meds. But does she HAVE to go to school?

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:01

She’s year 11 and supposed to be doing GCSES this year. I would love to pull her out but I’m not sure what the alternative is - she legally has to go at the moment.

OP posts:
indecisivewoman81 · 07/10/2021 18:02

Could she be taking anything else as well?

Colin56 · 07/10/2021 18:02

@Embroidery

Dont take any more of the meds until you see the doctor. It's a reaction to the medication. Quite a serious one.
No, you cannot stop this drug straight off. Do NOT do this.
Annoyedandirritated · 07/10/2021 18:03

SSRIs like sertraline can cause increase in bipolar symptoms such as elation, mania etc. Could be that she’s developing bipolar disorder and needs a different medication

BonnesVacances · 07/10/2021 18:04

DD is under a top Harley St psychiatrist and he says medication is inappropriate for mania/anxiety because it makes it worse. It's the hardest mood disorder to treat for that reason as medication exacerbates it.

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:04

No I’ll reduce the dose like the psychiatrist suggested but I won’t stop abruptly. I’ll do nothing without medical advice. I know she has smoked weed previously. She isn’t going out at the moment and has no access to money so I’m confident that she isn’t taking anything else.

OP posts:
Annoyedandirritated · 07/10/2021 18:04

We don’t prescribe them to patients with bipolar disorder for this reason

steppingcarefully · 07/10/2021 18:10

This sounds very much like the behaviour a friends child has exhibited and was diagnosed with hypermania.

impressivelycunty · 07/10/2021 18:11

"DD is under a top Harley St psychiatrist and he says medication is inappropriate for mania/anxiety because it makes it worse"

I'm staggered by a psychiatrist saying this - don't know about mania, but anxiety is very well treated by medication eg mirtazepine and can be critical in reducing panic attacks.

Littleduck83 · 07/10/2021 18:12

Make an appointment with your GP too, might be worth getting a second opinion other than the current psychiatrist.

If you are concerned that she is imminently about to harm herself / is suicidal then take her straight to A&E, they should keep her in until she has had a full assessment by the mental health team.

ilovebagpuss · 07/10/2021 18:14

My DD has Fluoxetine I thought this was the first SSRI of choice for under 16? It may be worth asking to move over to this instead of Setraline although I know they can both have side effects.
My DD was also assessed as having an emerging mood disorder such as bi polar but her moods were turned inward and nothing like your DD at school. There was definitely some manic and high behaviour. Will she talk to you about how she feels and what made her call the police etc?
My DD has a mood stabiliser medication which has helped her immensely but she was very eloquent in describing all of her issues to the psychiatrist and psychotherapist which allowed them to try the medication.
I hope you get some help it is terrifyingly until you have something to support your DD.

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