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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 18:15

My experience of CAMHS is not great - they decided she had autism and didn’t even refer her to a psychiatrist. A and E would only result in her being assessed by the duty CAMHS team. GP would only refer to CAMHS. We have doctorcare anywhere through AXA so they could refer to another psychiatrist privately if need be.

OP posts:
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:16

She won’t talk seriously about her issues. She will either say she wants to die, or say something bizarre or random/inappropriate.

OP posts:
Peoniesandpeaches · 07/10/2021 18:17

@impressivelycunty

"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.

It just proves paying to have your practice on Harley street doesn’t mean you are a good doctor. It sometimes seems as if people think that there is an exam specifically for those wanting to work on Harley street to prove their worthiness!
ilovebagpuss · 07/10/2021 18:18

Do you have normal conversations though in between? Will she eat/sit with you/ watch a film or something as in can you see standard behaviour at some times?

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:19

At times. It depends on her mood.

OP posts:
TatianaBis · 07/10/2021 18:20

A relative of mine, adult, took Sertraline, it had a very similar impact on them and it was just the medication. They had to stop work until the effects wore off.

Whatever DD's potential underlying conditions, the obvious thing is to ask to stop the meds straight away and see what difference it makes.

Gingernaut · 07/10/2021 18:21

www.nice.org.uk/media/default/sharedlearning/716_716donotdobookletfinal.pdf

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety

chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/managing_medication.pdf

This sounds awful and I feel for you OP.

This sounds like a manic episode - possibly an overreaction to Sertraline.

speakout · 07/10/2021 18:28

Stop the SSRI.

My DS has been prescribed these drugs twice in the past 18 months.Both times he attempted suicide.
SSRI drugs are not always of benefit

Hm2020 · 07/10/2021 18:29

Sertraline or any Ssris have always caused me mania I was later diagnosed with bipolar and it is on my medical records that I should not be given ssris. Urgent meds review needed sorry your going through this op Sad

tropicalwaterdiver · 07/10/2021 18:33

OP, your daughter needs a proper diagnosis before prescribing or changing her medications. There are physiological changes behind your DD manic behaviour and you should challenge her doctors to investigate not just prescribe her AD.
Watch Brain on fire movie or read the book Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. It's shocking and eye opening story and I wish everyone who is dealing with sudden personality or behaviour changes would read it.

LowlandLucky · 07/10/2021 18:36
Flowers
Peoniesandpeaches · 07/10/2021 18:40

There’s really nothing to be doing until tomorrow once you see this psychiatrist and check in with your gut feeling after. If it sounds like horse shit look for a second opinion. It could be a million different things causing this and it’s too easy to jump to conclusions.
Rethink has a really simple guide to dealing with unusual behaviors (essentially don’t try to talk her out of it but don’t collude with it either) www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/carers-hub/responding-to-unusual-behaviour/. I’ve also found the young minds parent helpline to be useful www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/

CorrBlimeyGG · 07/10/2021 18:41

What dosage is your daughter taking?

Sertraline can cause manic tendencies. I have autism but cannot tolerate most ADs for this reason.

(People with bipolar are prescribed ADs, but usually alongside a mood stabiliser.)

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 18:43

I'm so sorry you've going through this. Good luck at the appointment tomorrow. I agree that it could be the medication.

From your posts and my experience she definitely has something going on here. There's lots of different conditions but a good psych will drill down - she needs to talk.

I've been in your shoes to a certain degree and it's horrendous - we're all here for you, so keep posting.

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 18:46

@BonnesVacances

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.
I think antidepressants might make mania worse but there a mood stabilisers that help?trouble is, anxiety can cause manic episodes - it's so hard.

And absolutely no disrespect to your psych, but they can all have differing views. We've had 5 or 6 and they've all been amazing but have diagnosed my child with different things.

ThreeLocusts · 07/10/2021 18:47

I feel your pain. My DD is only 12 and being assessed for depression; there is talk of medication and I am really scared of something like this happening.

It does sound like it could be a reaction to the meds and I think you're right to seek advice on reducing/dropping them.

You'll never know for sure, of course - it could just be the course of her crisis. Showing her love, whatever she does, seems much more important to me than discipline.

They do say that mental health crises in children have a good chance of resolving with the right support. Here's hoping you get it. All the best.

TerriblyNaice · 07/10/2021 18:47

Sertraline is known to not be suitable for most young people under 18, and can be highly dangerous.

Please contact a GP urgently.

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 07/10/2021 18:47

I would keep her off a school for now. It's a stressful and highly stimulating environment and isn't likely to make her more calm. There's no issue with you doing this - she is clearly very unwell! Keep her at supervised at home if at all possible, it sounds like she is in no fit state to keep herself safe. As other posters have pointed out, SSRIs can cause horrendous side effects of stopped abruptly, so please don't listen to this advice. It does sound like the medication is a bad fit for her and you need to taper off and then switch to a different option.

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:48

I think the GP would be completely out of her depth here. It needs a psychiatrist.

OP posts:
TerriblyNaice · 07/10/2021 18:49

From Medicines.org.uk

"Sertraline should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years, except for patients with obsessive compulsive disorder aged 6-17 years old. Suicide-related behaviours (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts), and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) were more frequently observed in clinical trials among children and adolescents treated with antidepressants compared to those treated with placebo. If, based on clinical need, a decision to treat is nevertheless taken; the patient should be carefully monitored for appearance of suicidal symptoms."

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 18:49

Sertraline didn't help at all with us and not did citalopram. We're with a new psych who suggested fluoxetine (to complement the other meds anti psychotic and mood stabiliser)

Lamotrogine has worked absolute wonders for mine - as has leaving school and using ESTMA. The school environment was wrong for them. Best decision we ever made (the school supported it and were brilliant).

TerriblyNaice · 07/10/2021 18:51

@WhoisRebecca

I think the GP would be completely out of her depth here. It needs a psychiatrist.
I thought you said that the psychiatrist is the one that prescribed it.

She needs urgent help with these side effects.

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 18:51

Sorry, one more thing - this is not a behaviour issue, at their age your DD knows right from wrong and how to behave. She's desperate for help.

Love and kindness, no punishments, lots of cuddles and reassurance.

It's very frightening for them. Even if they seem like they enjoy it - honestly.

WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:53

It was the psychiatrist who prescribed- but it will need a review from her or another psychiatrist. GP won’t do anything.

OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 07/10/2021 18:54

I would keep her off a school for now.

I can't echo this enough. She's unwell, whether that be related to autism or a mental health condition. If she doesn't get the grades she needs this year, it is absolutely not the end of the world. There are always options once she is in better health.