Dd17 and Fluoxetine. I’m so scared!

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

She’s ASD with really bad anxiety. She won’t go to school. CAMHS have been useless. I took her to a private psychiatrist in the end as the anxiety was ruining her life.

Shes one day in and I’m feel sick with worry. I don’t want my little girl on meds
but l want her to have a life. She started today and has dozed/slept most of the day.

l feel terrible. She wanted to try them to help herself, but l just can’t help worrying. She’s only just 17.

I take Benlafaxine and have had some awful episodes with anti depressants in the start up period. Although interestingly not Fluoxetine.

When does the worry stop?😭

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

Bump

[Allthecatseverywhereallatonce]

That must be so tough however just look at it as a form of treatment for her illness. Hopefully within a couple of weeks the worst of the side effects will have gone and she will see the benefits.

You sound like you are supporting her well, just keep going and don't let her see you are worried.

[TeenDivided]

My DD has been on Fluoxetine since February 2021 when she was 16.5. It was a real game changer for her alongside counselling.
(Anxiety and depression, not diagnosed ASD but some neuro diversity).

You do need to watch out for side effects in the first few weeks, and you may see no change for a couple of months.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

It’s the side effects I’m scared of. I think she’ll be fine once she’s through it.

The pysch told us to try not to leave her alone. It feels a bit like when she was a baby, and you have to keep checking on her.

[Allthecatseverywhereallatonce]

The first couple of weeks on ads is tough. Are you able to keep an eye on her? I mean is she visible? This will pass but of course that doesn't make it any less stressful for you.
Is your dd aware of the potential side effects she needs to be aware of? And does she understand you need to keep an eye on her?

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

I haven’t gone into too much detail about side effects. She knows we have to keep an eye on her though.

[mayflowergardens]

Please let us know - watching with interest.

[azteccandle]

DD just changed from sertraline to fluoxetine. She’s 13 😔. So far so good. If it gets her to engage with life again it will be worth it.

[off]

It might be really helpful but I'd keep a really close eye on her, for signs of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, increased agitation/anxiety, that kind of thing. Both being young and having ASD can cause people to have unexpected reactions to drugs like these.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

She’s done a week on 10mg. Mostly slept through it. Moods been fine. Bit perkier if anything.

Dose goes to 20mg next. Praying for a smooth transition.

[TeenDivided]

Glad it's going well so far.
What dose are they aiming for?
DD ramped to 20 and it made some difference, so then went to 40 which worked even better. We then went back to 30 a year ago. Wanting to drop again but just trying to get other external things more stable first.

[TeenDivided]

DD's consultant talked about them having an 'energising' effect so said take in the morning.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

I don’t know yet what dose they are aiming for, I’ll have leave that to the pysch. Just concentrating on getting through the next few weeks. She’s definitely improved in some way. Keeps saying she’s bored.

And some friends from school contacted her. She wouldn’t have anything to do with them, and l was banned from ever talking about them. But now she’s reconnected with them a bit. And that’s the biggest thing!

[TeenDivided]

Sounds really positive so far.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

She’s now 6 weeks in. Upped to 20 mg nearly 4 weeks ago.

Shes so much better! Bright, lively, full of vitality, shiny hair, pink cheeks etc.

It was scary at first, but I’m so glad we did it!

[NorwayLass]

Good news!

[TeenDivided]

Fab news

[bumpsintheroad]

Amazing - thanks for updating!

[TeenDivided]

How's it going @ArseInTheCoOpWindow ?

(We are in the process of getting my DD back down to 20mg from 30 (was 40). 12 days at the lower dose seems OK so far.)

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

Not good!

She showed a great initial response at first. That lasted about 5 weeks. Noe’s she’s slipped back😔can’t sleep and no motivation. Exhausted all the time.

[TeenDivided]

Oh no.
Is she still on 20mg? When is your next review?

DD is still on melatonin (4mg) at night and occasionally has some little blue pills that knock her out (and give a bit of a sleep hangover) but now only on half a pill which works better.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

Next week😔

[TeenDivided]

I hope it is useful.

[Greedybilly]

OP please don't feel guilty. I wish someone had had the brains to give me meds in the 80's. It may take a while to get the right meds/dosage (which is not fun to go through) but hopefully she'll come out of it with some baseline happiness/contentment. I wish you luck.x

[mirabellablue]

My ds, just turned 18, is on Escitalopram for ocd & anxiety. Just upped to 10mg. Awful tiredness and increased anxiety (didn't think it could get any worse). He says he feels like he's going crazy.

All the reviews say it gets worse before it gets better but it's all such a worry.