Hi IM's, I'm looking for advice from those with medical experience or from families with lived experience of putting teens on antidepressants. We are talking about a 13 year old, male, has been self harming on and off for about 6-8 months with increasing frequency over the last couple of months. Also has depressive episodes and suffering from anxiety. All the appropriate actions have been taken, he's seeing the school counsellor and a psychologist from the mental health team regularly and we have followed all their recommendations. We are on the waiting list to see a psychiatrist. And we've had a call from the GP to come in tomorrow for a meeting to discuss putting him on Fluoxetine. Which we of course googled and saw that it's Prozac. We are concerned by the idea of putting him on antidepressants at such a young age, worried about the side effects and long term effects. We would prefer to wait to see what the psychiatrist says but not sure how long the wait will be through the public health system. If anyone has been through similar and could give me their experience either good or bad we'd really appreciate it.
Antidepressants For Teens Advice
Antidepressants For Teens Advice
Posted in:
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression, Health & Wellbeing, Teenagers
11 Replies
I put my child on fluoxetine. Not yet a teen but if they have to go on it again as a teen they will, I'm not messing around with teen depression and anxiety, they will get treatment they need. It will be an easier decision next time.
Definitely speak to a psych and paed first if that helps you to understand what it is, how it's used, what the whole plan is and how this fits in. They'll tell you if and why it's necessary, now or if theres something else to try first, they'll tell you the studies and side effects/ lack of studies on children and why they still would use it.
Its a big decision, but its was incredibly helpful for us, as it's an SSRI we saw results on a very low dose and made huge progress with the strategies that we just couldn't beforehand.
My son took fluoxetine for OCD bloody miracle for him! He could actually function for the first time in 12 months. Before taking it he couldn’t even walk through a doorway without a 15minute ritual.
Get in to see a private psychiatrist, stay on wait list for public, but start with private, it’s urgent.
Don’t mess around and wait.
Don’t take advice from GP, see professionals.
My son was put on it at 14 for suicidal depression and severe anxiety. Doctors really don't like putting kids on this unless it's really bad. Your child is self harming and depressive - he is suicidal. Getting him physically better involves medication.
I think it’s a good short term solution. I liken antidepressants to bandaids. Great short term but for long term healing you need therapy (sometimes intensive), push for psychological assessment and ACT, CBT or DBT therapy. And I agree find a private psychiatrist who can see him sooner.
We pay for top private hospital cover and my partner goes to weekly outpatient therapy fully covered. Much cheaper than paying $200 per psychology appointment.
The ABC recently post this show. I hope this is of assistance to you.
https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/managing-the-maze-of-child-mental-health/112...
Seek a second opinion if you're concerned. Please don't muck around with this. My son was 16 and suicidal. He takes Sertraline (Zoloft I think). It's made a huge difference. He didn't want to take them. I explained that it's just like taking medication for a cold, or infection. Doctors don't usually prescribe antidepressants unless it's absolutely necessary. Of course look into other treatments too. Counseling, exercise, time in the sun all help.
My daughter has been on fluoxetine since 14 for self harming, depression and anxiety, in conjunction with a mental health care treatment plan / team and it has definitely helped her. We were hesitant initially as well. Keep in mind you have to be very regular with taking it to be effective and it’s not an immediate fix. She initially was forgetting to take them regularly and we had to physically watch her take them (I had control of the meds and she was only given one dose at a time). She is almost 17 now and one year “clean” from self harming after starting at 12 years. It’s a bloody hard journey and you feel so helpless. My youngest has just started down the same path sadly and it’s just exhausting and heart breaking. Hang in there. xx
My son was diagnosed with Social Anxiety andclinical depression at 16. We worked with our GP to create a mental health plan which involved weekly visit to a child psychologist. After 6 months my son felt like he was getting worse and both the GP and psyc agreed. We put him on antidepressants and circadian to fix his sleep patterns. It's been 12mintgs now and I wish I had picked it up earlier! Dont be afraid to seek help.. find a GP who you trust and feel comfortable with. Good Luck.. it's such a daunting time x x
My son is 14 and on Fluroxotine and its the best thing I ever did. Once the dose is correct it works amazing. He is also on Ritalin. He needed it or the alternative was dont and watch him suffer. You know whats right dont let people judge you or make the decisions for you. Sometimes its just how it is and I know from my experience my son is so much better and happier
I’m so sorry that it has gotten to this point and I’m also very sorry that what I’m about to say may be blunt.
You said that your sons self harm has escalated the last few months. You also expressed worry that the wait to see a psychiatrist could be a long one. What if your sons self harming takes a step further and he can’t hold out the wait to see the psych.
I’m sure that if you lost your son, you would reflect and say in hindsight you wished you had medicated him.
Please don’t delay, your son is crying out for help that he deserves. A psych can’t help him if things get worse before he has the opportunity to get an appointment.
You are doing such a great job advocating for him and I really hope that things get easier for you both soon xx