Autistic teenage vegetarian daughter refusing prescription meds.

[taratill]

Posting on AIBU for traffic.

Does anyone have any experience of this and how to work around it?

DD is 16 (so she has to consent to treatment), she is autistic and has very fixed views.

She takes vegetarianism to the extreme generally and this has been an increasing issue over the years with her refusing cross contamination and not wanting to be near where meat is prepared or sweet wrappers even because of gelatine.

She's normally fit and healthy but the last few months she hasn't felt well and has been experiencing headaches and dizziness and palpatations so she's just had bloods done and it turns out, perhaps unsurprisingly that she's anaemic and has low B12 and vit D. The doctor has phoned and has left the prescription at the surgery pharmacy wanting bloods redone in 3 months.

I've called her and she has said she will not take the prescription if it is not specifically vegetarian, the doctor does know she is vegetarian and autistic but I'm not sure if the meds prescribed will be!

She is an intelligent child but her views on this are horrible. She would rather be ill than break her own rules around products being vegetarian.

I just don't know how to sensibly approach this. I guess if the prescription isn't suitable i can make an appointment for her to explain to dr why she is refusing treatment.

Does the Mumsnet hive mind have any other ideas/ experience? She's at 80% attendance at college due to frequently feeling too washed out to attend and she is county level sport and this is impacted her in that too.

There is just no reasoning with her so it's exhausting.

Thanks for this, I am sure this is big part of the problem for my daughter.

I'm not sure if she would qualify for this if she is not underweight. I'm not really sure how to look into it.

Do you have any ideas please?

Sounds like an eating disorder and she should see an ED psychologist. ED is about control and she’s lost control.

I've been working my way through these recipes (some veggie, some vegan) as I've been told to increase my protein as a result of the deficiencies. I'm ND and have food issues. I have my favourite meals/ingredients and have them on rotation. Change is not easy for me and I struggle with new textures! How involved is she in making meals? Having control over my own food is crucial. Does she understand how damaging these deficiencies can be long term? Can you appeal to her sense of logic and encourage her to find meals that will meet her ethical needs AND her nutritional needs?

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/g60481470/high-protein-vegetarian-meals/

would that be a GP referral?

What worries me is that she won't consent as she doesn't think she has a problem.

We have argued about it many times and it results in melt down/ shut down.

thanks I'll take a look at those.

Oh my goodness, I am going through this with my 10 year old (not diagnosed autistic yet but I’m sure she is). She won’t take her prescription medicines now either. Will read the whole thread now but so relieved to find someone else going through this xx

Yes GP referral and she might have to be forced. She’s damaging her bones and her fertility and risks to organs too.

Why didn’t either you or her tell the doctor she needed vegetarian/vegan prescriptions? That’s all you need to do.

that's not enough. Of course we've done that.

She doesn't trust the doctors word.

It actually has to be on the label which doesn't tend to happen.

The 'vegetarian' products prescribed contained items she won't use.

I need someone other than me to tell her that.

She won't even access autism services any more and I can't speak to a doctor to get them onside for the conversation without her consent I don't think?

Lots of good information and advice here for her to read:

https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrients/vitamin-b12

Sympathies OP this sounds complex and you are clearly putting a lot of thought in!

Would a sachet or two of spatone every day help? Also cooking on a cast iron pan provides marginal benefits.

Ferrous fumarate alternate days with an orange or vit c, would she eat prunes or spinach in dishes to stave off any constipation?

Also some people report absorbing iron bisglycinate well with less side effects, aavalabs sell a vegan version on Amazon.

Liquid formats are often vegan. Dr can prescibe this. Just ask

https://www.expresschemist.co.uk/ferroess-fumarate-140mg-5ml-solution-300ml.html?gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=22464718044&gclid=Cj0KCQjwve7NBhC-ARIsALZy9HWwAO0OGhg0ilGPPv9HSfaSKrKYmaFBFlg7h5r90xpLTNpqYE7gZUcaAvshEALwwcB

i think my DD’s vegetarianism is linked to a fear of food poisoning / vomiting. She thinks she is less likely to get sick if she is vegetarian. But completely obsessed with labels, gelatine etc. I could have cried when it extended to her prescription meds. Nothing is allowed to be near anything non-vegetarian, not even in the oven at the same time. Plates have to be washed 5 or 6 times to ensure no contamination. No idea where to go with this.

I fortunately had an amazing doctor when I went to uni and got treatment there. But I would get in touch with https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Specifically on autism and ED: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-and-autism/

But don't rule out your doctor, I was diagnosed when I was at the low end of a "normal" BMI. BEAT has detailed info on this too.

Good luck

You have my sympathy, my daughter has been like this for years now. I think some of it seems like OCD traits.

I don't have any helpful advice unfortunately, other than to say you are not alone x

Presciption Vitamins are usually tablets and most pills are in vegecaps now.

Look at bnf bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ferrous-fumarate/medicinal-forms/#oral-solution

This prescription brand seems to be vegan

https://www.expresschemist.co.uk/ferrodose-f-210mg-tablets-84.html

Ask at a good independent pharmacy, they can order different makes and brands

All of those can be found without gelatine if you talk to the pharmacist.
However, I would suggest not doing that with your daughter there or being super careful to only discuss gelatine rather than vegetarianism, just in case the pharmacist helpfully points out that medicines are often only very dubiously vegetarian/vegan anyway - if not due to animal ingredients or manufacturing processes, also animal testing etc.

yes those are what I have now ordered, thank you x

Can you ask her to research the long term affects of being anemic? It can be dangerous. It will make her periods heavier and then it’s a viscous cycle.
Would she accept an iron infusion?

Step one is to get her her own plates? (Honestly, I’m also an autistic vegetarian and anxiety increases the need for control/micromanaging, if she feels safe around food so she can trust it then only then might she start to relax).

Yes I'm always conscious of that. It could definitely make matters worse.

Obviously, no one can say from what you've said, but fear of contamination is absolutely a type of OCD, so maybe you could reach out to an OCD charity for some information and advice?

Can she go get an iron infusion on the nhs and then b12 injection privately? Vitamin D can get veggie sprays rather than gummies (recommend one with K2 for absorption).

if she’s that deficient it could takes months of iron tablets whereas she will feel much better in a week from an IV infusion.