Sertraline for 15yo with ASN

[Loafbeginsat60]

A close relative of mine has called the doctor who prescribed sertraline for her 15yo daughter.

The daughter has autism and OCD and is very controlling. Mum has told the doctor how bad her behaviour is and explained to her dd that it will "help with her bad thoughts". Her Dd won't leave the house so has not seen a doctor for years.

Since then her dd has become even more angry, controlling and reluctant to engage in anything and I'm wondering if the tablets are actually making her worse. I am trying to support them both as much as possible and have noticed a marked change in behaviour.

I was really worried about her health before this latest development. She's very underweight, does not eat properly, rotten teeth, hair falling out, sleepy, wets herself. Social work are involved, school too with multiple child concerns.

I just cannot fathom how a doctor has prescribed this without seeing her. And I'm so worried about what could happen as a side effect to this medication with everything else she has going on. The doctor doesn't know about the health issues as she's never been to the doc.

I've tried to talk to mum but she says it will help and the doctor prescribed it so it's ok.

What should I do, if anything?

It’s against the law to prescribe anti depressants to an under 18, unless it’s from a consultant or specialist in child mental health

ld be interested to know who the doctor was.

I don't know who it was - she just referred to the doctor as "her"

Surely a GP wouldn't have done it then, I will try and have a glance at the medication box and see what it says

Not that I'm too worried about the legality of it tbh, just worried her health will worsen.

They make you feel worse before you feel better.

Id be worried about the legality of it. Her brain hadn’t finished growing yet, that’s why they aren’t routinely prescribed for young people.

Sorry I meant I wasn't worried about who/which doctor prescribed it, just that I don't think she should be taking it at all!

Does the parent have ASN too? I'm wondering if they explained the surrounding issues that demonstrate how much help this teen needs.

It’s against the law to prescribe anti depressants to an under 18, unless it’s from a consultant or specialist in child mental health
Has this always been the case? I was on anti depressants as an under 18 in the 90s (GP prescribed)

No she hasnt. There is another daughter who barely attends school and looks equally unhealthy. But she has no asn and has seemingly slipped under the radar.

I have spoken to social services myself on several occasions and get nowhere.

Spoken to them to get support put in place for them all.

No, l don’t think so.

I think they found out the risk of suicide in the early days was very high amongst young people. That’s why they stopped it.

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/considerations/

I’ve known it prescribed to a ten year old, exceptional circumstances. It didn’t work for them and just seemed to make them more frustrated. Now uses an antihistamine that has a sedative effect (I can’t remember the name).

Only psychiatrists can prescribed to under 18's dd had multiple assessments and we had to also assure them we could provide support