Denied anti depressants

[missrosex]

For months my boyfriend has been trying to seek help for his mental health, he is desperate and not coping, not eating, not sleeping, anxious, depressed. All for the gps to fob him off deny him any help other than they think it will be a good idea to put him on the waiting list for ADHD/ASD assessment, and recommending meditation. MEDITATION😤 if you have someone in your life struggling mentally you'll understand how painful it is to watch them go through that, how there whole personality changes, how they can no longer have conversations with people anymore because it's gotten that rough! One nurse was looking into antidepressants and said it would have to be brought up in there weekly meeting to decide, and he had just received a text saying the prescription was denied.. what an earth does one do now, self help is not helping he cannot pull himself out of the state he is in.

That's awful. Just like any other condition, sometimes people need meds to help them over the worst.

I'm discussed, all I can think of is to request a second opinion

I think they do need to be more careful now as we know more about AD's and IME they are usually very willing to give them when necessary. If they think the patient hasn't tried other methods, which can work for many, then they tend to want you to try things like therapy and meditation, before going on to anti depressants. AD's can be hard to come off. Has your boyfriend tried the things they have mentioned? Perhaps he can ask them to refer him for CBT.

the prescription was denied
Prescription for what specifically?

I know it's easier said than done, especially when you already feel so low. But he needs to keep trying and to try other doctors if he's getting worse. And he needs to be 100% honest, warts and all when he goes in to see them.

Could you ask if he'd feel comfortable with you going in to help describe the symptoms next time?

It's most likely that if a prescription wasn't given, it's because they don't feel that's the right treatment right now. It the team thinks that the issue may be a neurodisability, then anti-depressants aren't the right treatment for that.

I also wouldn't right off the non-prescription based support being offered. The NHS doesn't fund anything that doesn't have an evidence base.

Same situation twice with my GP. Once for me a couple of years back I was suffering with anxiety (still do but not to where I was then) no meds but referral to online CBT I got discharged after about 3 sessions as I was basically ticking the boxes but still felt like shit. I.e I was able to go to work or social events.

my I don’t know what to call him (sort of ex, sort of working it out) had a breakdown last week uncontrollable crying for over an hour he had been bottling everything up for the past year, clearly has depression and did some online assessment which said he was showing signs of severe depression he has been referred for talking therapy. I don’t know if it is just a standard now to go away from the meds.

Can you change GP surgeries? This doesn't seem normal. In my experience they usually are happy to give out anti-depressants like sweets for any old mental health reason.

We don’t know why it was denied, could have been a multitude of reasons - interaction with other medication, health conditions that contra-indicate specific meds, history of medication misuse. Also what specific medication was declined? It’s really too muddy to be able to give any clear advice. I would speak to the g0 in the first instance to clarify what the issue was.

You seem to be under the impression that antidepressants are a miracle cure for all people struggling. Being disgusted they have been refused is wrong. They have clearly reviewed his case and decided as a team.

But as one poster has highlighted, if ND is his issue then they won't be of any benefit at all. He needs tailored ND support.

Was it denied or is it because they think its ADHD and not depression? Anti d do not work for adhd

I would have thought they could have at least given him propanadol as and when to calm him down though

Does he have a history or drug or alcohol abuse or underlying health issues that might make them hesitant?

Just to give you a different perspective, I was perscribed SSRIs and I didn't know they cause sexual dysfunction. I was 19 when I started taking them, and in short it's ended with me having sexual problems all my life.

They also decrease motivation so hugely impacted my degree and I got a third. A few years later I did another degree and got a first, and I felt the difference in motivation others have reported.

In the long term they gave me an unnamed form of eplipsy which stopped when I came off them, and the bulimia which they stopped, simply returned a few weeks after stopping as they don't solve anything....

I have read some REALLY positive stuff on here where people have become much better on meds, so they definitely help some people - but I'd be way more wary than my generation were

At one time they did, but in my fairly lengthy experience they're more reticent now, and more likely to push CBT at people (with varying degrees of success.)

Is it not because they won't help if he has ADHD?

I have the opposite problem, I've been given antidepressants and put on waiting list for therapy which was so long I went private. My therapist has suggested I have ADHD but GP doesn't agree and wants me to stay on the antidepressants.

I don't get the idea of a prescription being denied? Either the doctor prescribed something or not. Do you mean he specifically asked for a certain medication and they said they didn't think it was medically necessary?
It does seem awful as he clearly is in MH distress. Definitely speak to another GP for a second opinion.
My doctors were always keen to throw anti-depressants at me from aged 16 plus. They don't work for me but still they get pushed. About 10 different ones, then they said I should take a high dose of pregabelin for my anxiety?
It seems like when you want or need it you can't have it, but if you don't they try and shove it down your throat?

This exactly- I had to really talk my depressed husband into giving them a go but whatever mood changes that helped the sexual dysfunction was so unbearable for him his mood was lower than ever.

They were not what I expected tbh. We had better luck with a gym membership (in our case) as that worked best for him.

The refusal from the GP feels odd but if his mood gets worse maybe try 111 and see if they can book you an appointment elsewhere for a second opinion.

If he has ADHD antidepressants can make him worse, so it’s best to pursue that first.

Do you think he fits ADHD/ADD?

And yes, the sexual dysfunction side of SSRI’s needs to be talked about a whole lot more. I know people who are affected for life.

Are you sure you know the whole story here ?
What is the reason they've given for denying them? If it was a multidisciplinary team decision, they must think they have solid grounds.

Has he tried any of the things they have suggested ?

If he's waiting for an assessment, or for any specialist referrals, they might want to delay prescribing until after those, partly because it may turn out the ADs aren't the best meds, and partly because they may mask symptoms and thereby make diagnoses harder to achieve accurately.
I wouldn't jump to the thought that they are perversely 'denying' treatment. They are at least as likely to be following proper evidence-based procedures. That's why we have doctors instead of just buying meds ourselves.

it’s good they are being careful.

i have been on fluoxetine for 6 years, luckily i am happy to stay on them but like others have mentioned it is a life sentence i am fully dependent on them.

i would urge him to see AD’s as a real last resort.

You don't agree with what the doctor has recommended. Has he tried it?

He needs to go back to the GP and be persistent. The wait list for adult ADHD/ASD assessments is 5-7 years long in most NHS trusts. If he is suspected of ADHD/ASD, then there are antidepressants recommended that do work for ND patients suffering from depression and anxiety.

The only thing I can think of is that the GP thinks he could have burnout instead of depression? Have you and your boyfriend looked into ADHD/ASD burnout? https://www.additudemag.com/burnout-adhd-adult-stress-pressure/

If it is burnout, which presents a lot like depression and anxiety, then medication is not the right therapy. Have a read and see what you think.

I have to say this is typical of most GP’s now, they like you to have tried alternatives e.g. talk therapy before they will prescribe any medication