Help with fluoxetine rx for DD- such a mess!

[renthead]

Any help gratefully appreciated, sorry this is long.

We are UK citizens and moved back in August, plan to be here for 1-2 years. DD10 is on fluoxetine since earlier this year and it’s made a dramatic difference to her anxiety and depression. She has been seen by a counsellor, child psychologist, child psychiatrist and paediatrician in Canada over the last 2 years- I have all the notes. Her doctor there sent us off with a 3 month prescription.

I knew it would be difficult to get a prescription here but it’s been a total mess. First I went to the GP who said go private but also referred us to CAMHS explaining the situation. Surprisingly they came through with an appointment so I didn’t pursue anything private. That appt was cancelled, and we just saw CAMHS yesterday. At this point we have about 3 days of meds left. Turns out no one had read the referral or notes properly and this was a generic CAMHS intake appointment. The non-prescribing clinician basically said, this was a admin error, you’ll never get this medication sorry. Didn’t care at all that DD will be going cold turkey off fluoxetine because of their error.

After spending most of the day on the phone with 111, DH managed to secure an emergency rx for her for a few weeks (the doctor at 111 was very sympathetic!). Now what do I do? Are there private child psychiatrists who would do a short consultation and continue the prescription based on her well documented history? Everything I’ve seen online suggests that they want to do a lengthy and very, very expensive assessment first. I am loathe to put DD through this again as she has been assessed up the ying yang more. She is doing so well, she just needs her medication. Even my friend who is a non-practicing child psychiatrist said it shouldn’t be this difficult, all she needs is a medication review, but she’s not sure what to suggest.

Very unlikely to get fluoxitine in the UK for under 13s, even with a psychiatrist involved.

We had to go to a private psychiatrist to get the fluoxetine our 11 year old son needed when he was suicidal. The GP can’t prescribe at that age and the wait for an NHS psychiatrist was in terms of years, CAMHS wouldn’t help as he has ASD and they told us they don’t intervene where there’s ASD (we asked who did - we had the email equivalent of a shrug). Both our under 18 ASD children eventually needed fluoxetine- both under the same private psychiatrist. I don’t know of any other way in England. The private psychiatrist we use is online and based out of London. Let me know if you’d like her contact details.

Yes please @WinteringTheStormcould you DM me the details? I’m investigating all the options. It’s such a shame, as although I was very hesitant when she started the medication, it’s made such a dramatic difference. I’m terrified of what will happen if she suddenly goes off it.

Try the private psychiatrist at priory. They have private camhs as well

Just DM’d you. All best wishes for you and your daughter. It’s a very difficult position to be in. It feels like such a massive step to accept medication of this sort for your children but, our experience has been the same as yours. It has hugely helped both of my children.

@renthead you have my sympathies. It is so frustrating with our children suffering as a result of a disjointed system. My DD17 has been pushed from pillar to post over the past couple of years. Several GPs, therapists, psychologists have indicated that she has Autism and possibly ADHD - plus anxiety and depression. As she is 'complex' she has just been refused an assessment from one service and pushed on to another specialised service (GP has referred). She had counselling at school - who, according to my DD seemed 'uninterested'. DD does not want any more talking therapies, she wants some kind of 'short-term medication' (her words) - as suggested by a clinician when she rang the CAMHS crisis line (several times). I wasn't keen on the medication route but we have run out of other options.

@WinteringTheStorm - I am interested in the private psychiatrist - would rather go with someone who is recommended!

Yes - we went private.

not a problem.

Thanks all for sharing advice and your experiences. We have had an amazing stroke of luck- the notes on DH’s interactions with 111 this weekend came across the senior GP partner’s desk. She is very experienced and has agreed to take over DD’s prescribing. I feel so grateful because I know this almost never happens. She is also writing to CAMHS (to give them a bollocking I think).

It makes me so sad that so many children and families are suffering from this one-size-fits-all approach to child mental health. @MistressMoo I’ll DM you the name that wintering sent to me.