Anyone have experience of a teen on Setraline?

[thedigitalme]

Hi,

I have a son who is 21. When he was 17 he started to suffer from anxiety and went to the doctor, without our (my wife and I) knowledge, and was prescribed Setraline. He's still on it and having finished Uni successfully he's in a job he hates and looking for new opportunities.

We really want him to start weaning himself off of it (he's obviously dependent now), but each time we bring it up he just waves it off and says 'he'll do it soon'. He know's he needs to do it, but doesn't seem to be able to start the process.

His Mum and I feel guilty each time we bring it up as it obviously causes problems. Has anyone else been in this situation? Any advice?

He's a 21 year old adult. Might I suggest that your wish to interfere in his management of his health is counterproductive?

It's not addictive, BTW.

Yes my DD went on it at 18 due to a very traumatic event. It was a life saver for her. She decided when to come off it and I think you need to give your son the autonomy to make that decision himself. Drs are just acknowledging that withdrawal can be awful, especially if you’ve on them for a few years.

Your son has done so well and he probably thinks he’s needs to stay on them at the moment especially if he wants to change jobs. I’d stop asking him about the meds, other than to say you realise it’s his decision and he should speak to his Dr when the time is right, to get a withdrawal plan.

My daughter is on Fluoxetine for anxiety. She will be turning 15 soon. My husband and I are happy to discuss her medication with her, and pay for it along with her sessions with her psychiatrist. But we consider her old enough to make the decision herself as to whether she wants to continue with it or try a break. Her psychiatrist considers her old enough as well.
Your son is an adult. His medical issues and decisions are his own business. Why is it so important to you that he comes off it? It may be that if he is going through a change in job, this would be the very time he may need some support through medication. I would suggest supporting him in his own decisions.

Thanks for the quick feedback and perspectives. I agree that I should let him decide, not that we are talking about it a lot - maybe twice in the last year.

I think we are worried that he’s been on them for so long that we wonder if he could ever cope with life without them? My wife was on Setraline for quite some time in her 40’s and has her own perspective on how it can numb you.

some people have to be on them forever, have you thought about that? if he is doing well why mess it all up to come off them?

Why does he need to wean off it? If it helps him then he can keep taking it. It is between him and his GP frankly. If he were type 1 diabetic you wouldn't be suggesting he weans from insulin.

I took it for years. Weaning was not fun but I did it when the time was right. For many years I lived with the side effects because the benefits were more important. When the balance shifted I weaned. My mental health is still shit mind. If your son feels the pros outweigh the cons then will are you too tell him he shouldn't take it?

Why on earth are you interfering with an adults decisions about his health? Sertraline saved my life. I’ll take it forever if I need to. Leave him alone

Ok I sense there’s a lot of anger towards me being concerned that he’s been on it for the past 4 years and wanting advice to help him to come off of it.

I would have thought most parents would be concerned. But I can see how it’s a personal choice. Point taken.

I fully appreciate that some people need it and DW has first hand experience of that and the struggle of coming off.

Where is the teen in this tale?

I would also be concerned with him being prescribed them by a GP at 17, depending on the context. However, he's an adult now and I wouldn't raise it with him again unless he expresses concern himself.

By no means does everyone get the numbing effect that your wife did.

Coming off them can be difficult so he would need to choose the right time to start this, if he decides to.

Here's the RCP guidance, just to give you some understanding:

www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/stopping-antidepressants

They are not 'addictive' in they do not lead to craving, but @PickAChew's comment will be zero reassurance to anyone dealing with the withdrawal symptoms that many people experience when trying to discontinue SSRIs.

Thanks for the advice and the link @TryForSpring - if he asks for advice I'll provide this.