Sertraline given to DD17 at first GP appt

[Buzzyfeeder]

I am shocked she would get a prescription on first GP appt for low mood. I don’t know what she said of course as I wasn’t party to the consultation. I would have expected talking therapies as a starting place not med’s. She is functioning, attending school daily, achieving good grades, drives own car, has friends and working.

I didn’t think NICE guidelines allowed this without CAMHS input and a psych’ assessment but maybe I’ve got it wrong. I don’t really know how best to support, and I’m disappointed she had what feels like easy access to med’s first as a solution at 17. Any experience or thoughts, it’s a tough place here as a mum I’m worried for her on the med’s and how she will cope with life’s struggles if she is already on med’s.

There is nothing wrong with taking prescription medication for a medical problem. Do you think she should just buck up and get on with it?

No I don’t think that and I didn’t say that. My view is there should be various treatments or therapies available to her and I am surprised a prescription was the first and only option provided.

There's no need to be nasty. @Buzzyfeeder is clearly just worried about her daughter. I have a family member on sertraline and would be worried too that it was given so quickly, for the side effects alone.

How close is your DD to turning 18 OP? Once she is 18 then GP’s are able to prescribe antidepressants. Are you confident that you know the extent of DD’s low mood? Maybe she is playing it down to you. Yes ideally talking therapies should be investigated too but often there can be long waiting lists for this and if they are really low are often not able to engage. She will be monitored closely whilst finding the best dosage so ally side effects will be noted.

DD (17) takes fluoxetine for her anxiety and low mood and she also sees a psychotherapist privately. Both work well for her.

Gp wouldn't prescribe to my 17yo. They'll probably be 18 before CAMHS see them!

I started taking an AD at that age for anxiety. It was literally life changing; I'd been struggling since I could remember with severe anxiety which I masked very well, my parents may well have thought I didn't need it as a first step... however I'm immensely glad that I was given it. I too was high functioning, achieving well at sixth form and outwardly confident and coping, but I was a wreck inside.

You weren't at the consultation so you don't know what your daughter said, and at that age the finer details aren't your business. Be glad she's talking to you, be supportive and keep communication open. If she's happy with her doctors treatment it isn't your place to question it.

It's brilliant your daughter has medication which for many is life changing.

I'm not sure why you think a whole range of treatments should be available.

Is your daughter unhappy with this outcome?

I'm another who started medication at that age, whilst it didn't cure me it kept me alive and numbed the intense feelings I was having. I assume it will be a pretty low dose she is on?

Yes. I went to see my GP about a UTI a fortnight ago. My GP is lovely and asked how I was doing - it's coming up to the third anniversary of my husband's death.

I got a bit weepy - I'm coping with various first world problems on my own now and (of course) I miss my husband.

Came out clutching a prescription for antibiotics and sertraline. The GP wants me to take them for 6 months.

Took them for 2 days and couldn't stand the side effects. I'm off them now.

I wish I could have a had some bereavement counselling instead, but it seems not to be available.

Other therapies should be available, unfortunately the funding isn't always there and the wait lists could be months.
I'm assuming her gp will monitor her to see if the medication is effective, then adjust if needed.
I hope the medication helps your daughter.

@WearyAuldWumman have you tried https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/?

You can't expect your DD to just struggle for months while waiting for NHS therapy.

I am in my 40s so obviously not exactly the same situation but I had anxiety and was having therapy and resisted medication.

It was helpful but the best progress I made with the therapy was when I started taking sertraline. It stopped the noise in my head. This allowed me to begin to understand myself, my triggers and start to unpick it all.

Sertraline isn't the devil. Can you afford to pay for your daughter to have some therapy as the NHS waiting lists will be huge

Thank for this.

I did. Unfortunately, it turns out that the local group meetings are currently full.

Thanks for the responses. Dd will be 18 in 6 months. I have offered to pay for counselling for her but she wants to see how well the med’s work first. The GP is seeing her after a week for a follow up so yes closely monitored.
@LambriniBobinIsleworth thank you for that insight. I am doing my best to be supportive and around to give my Dd any opportunity to talk. We do have a good relationship and I respect her privacy and decisions.
@rumnraisinrocks I have nothing against Sertraline or any med’s I only want my Dd and anyone else needing it to feel better. It was just a shock to me, both in the sense my daughter felt so unwell she needed to see a jGP and that a prescription was the outcome.

I obviously just want her to feel better. I need to accept as the GP prescribed them that is what she needs right now. With A levels on the horizon maybe it is good she has sought support now and the meds will help her now and through the additional pressures ahead.

I was on meds at 16/17. I had 2 weeks of beta blockers as i think they just thought it was a bit of anxiety rather really severe depression.
2 weeks later they saw the state of me and was put on AD straight away. I agreed to therapy also, but im not sure i would have coped without drugs.
sometimes AD are needed in younger people. Im so grateful my gp did take what i were saying seriously.

@WearyAuldWumman - sorry to hear that 😞 Services are so stretched aren’t they? The other free alternative is your local mental health charities, such as Mind. They won’t necessarily offer bereavement support, although they might, but they will provide a listening ear/peer support groups and may be able to signpost you to a local bereavement group.

I’m sorry for your loss 💐

A different time, but I was prescribed ADs at 14.

@OldTinHat yes, I was as well. Just gone back on sertraline, after trying to avoid it for ages as it took ages to get off it.

Thank you very much.

@WearyAuldWumman I've heard so many stories like yours that it is worrying.

I was in counselling with a lovely lady once and she said 'you're not depressed. You're having a normal reaction to a stressful situation. I'd be more worried if you were not getting emotional about this'. Sometimes it's fine not to be 'okay' and breeze through life.

I was told an under 18 can't get ante depressants without having been to cahms but we are in Scotland. Also, I'd be careful with Sertaline, my 18 year old was given it and it made her mental health so much worse that we had two suicide attempts within the first few weeks and she'd never done it before and hasn't done it since we stopped them. Fluoxetine was far better as I don't think it's quite as strong.

Fluoxetine is not better or less strong. Please don’t believe everything you read on mumsnet from random people! Different people have different reactions.

I can understand your shock. Its a shame she won’t get therapy as ssri’s are great but don’t deal with the underlying issues (their usually are some). But yes you don’t know what she said to the GP, she may have asked for the meds or struggling more than you know.

That said I was given ssri at the same age and I wish I could go back in time. My brain was still developing and I don’t know what effects that has had on me. I needed trauma based therapy.

I hope she gets on ok with them. A low dose of 25g at first is recommended.

Mental health services are poor in the UK. That extends to GPs. Writing a prescription is the first attempt at treatment for depression/anxiety/panic or whatever. If that is not effective, they try another drug.

Talking therapy can be extremely helpful but how many sessions a patient can get on the NHS depends on the area; where I live it used to be six, I don't know if that is still the case. There is always a waiting list. Your GP would know.

Mental health services clinics generally only offer drugs.

Most people will find a private counsellor/psychotherapist if they feel that is what will help them, especially if they cannot tolerate the drugs. Always look for qualifications (BACP), and relevant experience when choosing one (you can find them in the Counselling directory online). Fees vary and there are usually concessions for those on low income. This service is also offered online and has become particularly popular since the pandemic.

I hope your daughter has thoroughly researched Sertraline and will do the same if she is offered other medication. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sertraline/

I wish her all the very best for the future, bless her heart.

Yes. I've heard similar from a few people.

My GP is absolutely lovely. When I saw her, I was unwell from a UTI, still dealing with matters involving my husband's estate - he didn't leave a huge amount, but it's taken a while to see to some of the paperwork and I've struggled on my own - and I'm dealing with a bullying contractor trying to get out of honouring a warranty.

These are all things that would stress anyone (quite apart from dealing with the shock and loneliness of bereavement). IMO, it's not depression.

Thank you @LBFseBrom I have offered to pay for counselling for her and she is considering it as an option. I think she will go with it in her own time. I wish we could have tried counselling first but here we are. I will do my best by her to love and support and be there for her in anyway she wants and I can.