Experience of teenagers taking (or not taking) Anti Depressants please

[dahliaa]

Hi I have written about DS before. He is 17 and about 4 months ago was diagnosed with serious depression and anxiety. He is being seen by a psychologist via CAHMS.
In some ways the depression has seen some improvement but the anxiety has become the main symptom and increased.
He has had a very difficult week - almost constant anxiety. Doesn't seem to be linked to anything in particular but he has very 'physical' anxiety feelings. Last night couldn't sleep at all and this morning has been very sick.
Originally we were concerned about medication because of the reports about dangers for teenagers but he really needs some extra help. I am so worried for him.
It would be really useful to hear about experiences of medication - good and bad.
Plus if anyone has anyone has any other tips for anxiety treatment. Thank you!

My DD became very depressed at 15 to 16 and suffered with panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. Camhs initially said Iapt counselling, which did nothing as my daughter didn't like the therapist so wouldn't open up...they eventually put her on 20mg of fluexitine. I did so much research, the last thing I wanted was her to take ADs as such a young age, but things were getting worse...after 6 months she was still reporting no change in mood and increased panic attacks, I was beginning to despair, I was frightened of the risk of her changing tablets and something going wrong.
Then two months ago they put her up to 30mg a day, (she takes 40 one day, 30 the next) and the change is unbelievable, I have my beautiful happy little girl back, she is laughing again, studying, making friends...the counselling side is still not great...I don't think camhs are very good at listening to teenagers.
I would also say to manage the meds for your child, initially DD was too depressed to remember to take them every day, or at the right time which really didn't help matters, so now I keep a check using a pill box with the day's labelled so I can see straight away of she has missed a day.
The whole thing is utterly terrifying as a parent, how to know what to do for the best.... for all the parents going through it.

thanks peebles1 - you too. I find these threads such a comfort and support.

buzzpop The whole thing is completely terrifying. In so glad your DD is feeling better now. Thank you for all the info re medication.

DS is on 20mg, yes. That's very interesting about the change after going up to 30mg, Buzzpop.

DS definitely misses pills quite often, as he's a chaotic sort of chap even at his best. But he's away at university (and has just missed half his first year exams through anxiety) so though I can remind, I can't currently check he's taken them.

Sharing the care between the home and uni GP isn't really helping, either, especially as the first thing the uni GP said was 'Well, I wouldn't have started you on that...', which didn't give DS much confidence in it.

Hi - I could do with some advise regarding my DD who is nearly 17
I think she's suffering from anxiety, she finds it hard to interact with people unless she knows them well, recently shes been really miserable, sleeps all the time, has no enthusiasm for life, always worried about things. She has low self esteem and has been talking about ending it recently - now I know one of her friends is 'depressed' and she thinks she is bi polar so I don't know if shes projecting these things on herself?

She finds it hard to talk to me, she does speak to a counselor at college but says they don't help. I don't know whether she is depressed and I don't know how to help her?
Any advice?

Hi - I'm really sorry to hear about your DD. To get more replies it would probably be better to start a new thread so that more people get to see it.
My advice would be to take her to the GP in the first instance so that she can be properly assessed.

I think I would also take things further needsresolution. I used to poo poo my DD's behaviour as typical drama queen when she was a young teen (always ill on a school day, that sort of thing). Major melt down at 16, anxiety and now depression (18, doing well). She never engaged in therapy either. I think it's worth a trip to the GP.