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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Lorw · 07/10/2021 18:55

Sertraline made me suicidal, I was an under 18 prescribed it, in quite a large dose too. I ended up overdosing, luckily managed to get hospital treatment in time, she needs professional help so that she can be put on the best treatment for her. Bless her.

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:57

I might do. Social care are going to contact us because of some of her behaviour. I’m worried they might think I’m neglecting her if I don’t send her to school. But she’s clearly struggling.

OP posts:
TatianaBis · 07/10/2021 18:58

@BeautifulandWilfulandDead

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.
When posters say stop the meds they don't mean abruptly without medical supervision. Just not to continue taking them to see if things improve.
FluffyWhiteBird · 07/10/2021 18:58

If you need to/think it's best you keep her off school because she's unwell the fact that it's MH related is neither here nor there. If all this is happening close to or during exam time, and it's decided it's MH not bad behaviour, you can ask the exam boards for special consideration when grading her exam papers.

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 18:58

@WhoisRebecca

I might do. Social care are going to contact us because of some of her behaviour. I’m worried they might think I’m neglecting her if I don’t send her to school. But she’s clearly struggling.
You need the back up of the school and the psychiatrist. Social care are probably reaching out to help you, not blame you.

Are school supportive.

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 18:59

School are extremely supportive thankfully.
Dd says she would like to stay home next week.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 19:03

I’m feeling better for posting here. I’m so exhausted.

OP posts:
permaconfused · 07/10/2021 19:04

Good, definitely keep her at home.

Obviously, I don't know her but I wonder if her outbursts are a plea and she thinks are a surefire way to get her excluded?

Whatever it is, am thinking of you and really understand. It's shite but you will get there with the right help.

Just keep her at home and spend time with her, watch TV, eat move food, chat casually and just be there.

I spent 2 weeks on the sofa with mine once (almost solidly).

MondeoFan · 07/10/2021 19:04

My DD is 16. It's been a tough 18 months. She was on fluoxetine but the tablets were making her so tired. She was sleeping at every opportunity. It was hard to rouse her in the mornings if we had to go somewhere.
I also think my DD might be bipolar as she's flippant at times.
She cries a lot and is quite an emotional child. The fluoxetine stopped her from crying certainly but she was just like a walking zombie whilst on it.

permaconfused · 07/10/2021 19:06

That was supposed to say 'nice food'

So glad you feel better and it IS exhausting, I'm 4/5 years in at least and I'm absolutely drained BUT things are finally getting better (even if it's short lived, it's such a relief).

Carly767 · 07/10/2021 19:07

Sertraline made me suicidal, it could be a reaction to that

lanthanum · 07/10/2021 19:13

Get the medication reviewed urgently. This is ringing bells for me as a friend had an unusual reaction to ADs, an episode of mania and psychosis, and had to be sectioned. It did all get sorted, and she's not had any recurrence since (5 years).

lizkt · 07/10/2021 19:15

Have you heard of pans/pandas? I'm just wondering if anything she does fits with that.

My daughter now on sertraline and reacted fine. But psychiatrist did say that increasing dose can cause adverse reaction so to watch closely.

I would sit tight til tomorrow and talk to the psych about trialling another med. Just try to keep her calm and safe as possible at home tonight, if you can. You'll get to the bottom of it.

We've had dreadfully erratic behaviour here too so I understand your fears.

Franklyfrost · 07/10/2021 19:17

Your gp can advise you about reducing the dosage. They can’t give you an assessment but if you make an appointment they can tell you how to reduce dosage safely and advise as to whether that’s a good thing to do.

HeadPain · 07/10/2021 19:17

I haven't read all of the thread, but this can be side effects from that medication.

I was prescribed that for anxiety some years ago but didn't take it as I was too anxious (LOL) because of possible side effects, and because it said on the leaflet not to take it if you've previously had suicidal thoughts and I had been very suicidal before. I think you have to have regular reviews if you're on this and yeh you definitely can't stop it suddenly, you have to wean off with doctor's advice.

SummerWillow · 07/10/2021 19:20

My DD had severe mania on Sertraline, and it has stopped now we have switched to another medication. SSRIs are also linked with increased suicidal thoughts for some young people under age 24, especially in the early stages of taking them.

Allllchange · 07/10/2021 19:21

You can always take her to A&E when she is manic and you feel she is unsafe and they will have to get someone on duty from camhs to assess her.

sjxoxo · 07/10/2021 19:23

Definitely way beyond anxiety & boundaries! This sounds to me more like another mental illness or possibly a side effect of the sertaline etc. I think you need second opinions ASAP. Sounds really tough- sending you a hug xxxx

cansu · 07/10/2021 19:23

Sertraline hada very bad effect on my ds although he has severe learning difficulties. I think you should consider the medication as an issue.

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 07/10/2021 19:23

CAMHS were not helpful. I would not put much faith in them resolving this.

OP posts:
permaconfused · 07/10/2021 19:27

@WhoisRebecca

CAMHS were not helpful. I would not put much faith in them resolving this.
Such a shame - they've been brilliant with us but I understand there is a wide range of experiences with them. I think you can request another Camhs within your county if you're not happy?

They are stretch les beyond belief but they are there to help And when a mum is pleading for help, the referral and support should be there.

EmeraldShamrock · 07/10/2021 19:27

Oh god sounds awful.
I doubt it is the medication it sounds like a hypomania.
I saw an interesting discussion in females with adhd and many we're misdiagnosed between anxiety, bpd, pmdd and how it can manifest with extreme behaviours if treated incorrectly.

MilduraS · 07/10/2021 19:37

This sounds very similar to my sister who was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I'm not suggesting that's what it is but it's sounds like a seafoods mental illness and not just bad behaviour or anxiety. It took a long time for my sister to get a formal diagnosis but at no point did anyone ever suggest my parents had neglected her. The authorities did have to carry out checks when she was making up stories but the police and social services were always very supportive and full of empathy. We got the impression that they were used to situations involving undiagnosed mental illness and knew it was a delay in the system rather than a lack of trying.

MilduraS · 07/10/2021 19:37
  • serious not seafoods Confused
Lovemusic33 · 07/10/2021 19:39

I would say it’s the medication making her manic, antidepressants can have that effect on people (I for one can’t take them). Obviously it’s not good to just stop taking them but if she hasn’t been in them long it’s pretty easy to reduce the dose and get her off it reasonably quick, I wouldn’t be switching straight to another medication, you need to get this one out of her system and see if the manic behaviour disappears before trying anything else.

I have some experience in mental health, my dss had a lot of issues as a teen and in his 20’s and has been given various diagnosis over the years including bipolar and schizophrenia, it was a very stressful time for him and everyone around him. Getting the correct medication can take time, what works for one person might not work at all for another.

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