Daughter been prescribed fluoxetine
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all, posting as need to voice my concerns and maybe get some reassurance!
My daughter (now 17) has struggled with her mental health for a number of years now. She has severe anxiety, depression, has self-harmed in the past and has suicidal thoughts and urges.
She has been back and forth to the GP over the past 3 years, tried counselling at CAMHS (which was a bit of a non-starter) and has been seeing an educational psychologist in school for quite a number of months now. She has been really helpful.
A number of weeks ago we went to the GP as she was feeling very low and she confided in him that she had been having strong suicidal thoughts again. She was referred to a psychiatrist. Last week I was called up to her school as she told someone there that she was feeling very suicidal and pills were mentioned, so appointment was pushed through for yesterday.
Sorry, I'm rambling a bit! So we/she had a two hour session with a Dr at CAMHS yesterday as he has prescribed her 10mg prozac, and we are going back nexr Friday. She'll also be given CBT. Now, I am very pleased that finally, after all this time, she is receiving some real help.
However, a couple things came up while I was in the room that have concerned me. My daughter's mood can swing quite dramatically at times, and I did for a while wonder about her having bipolar. But I ended up dismissing that as I know someone with the condition, and I know that my own anxiety can cause my moods to shift. However, when the Dr was quizzing her about these 'episodes' she told him that she feels on top of the world when feeling like that. I hadn't actually realised just ho high she feels. And afterwards she crashes into a low again. So of course my concern is that the fluoxetine might send her off into some sort of a manic episode. Would such a low dose cause this??? I am really very relieved that she is getting help and did feel an anti-depressant would help her, but now I'm worried for her. I pick her prescription up today so she will start it tomorrow.
Thanks for reading (if you got this far!)
1 like, 7 replies
philalexander mari34228
Posted
Problem is that you will receive replies from people who have had very different experiences with Prozac and this is consistent with the responses to any of the SSRI/SNRI group of meds.
You will also read that side effects can include suicidal thoughts ..... but it's rare.
My experience for what's it's worth (not a lot based on what I have said above) is that SSRI's are quite effective at stabilising my mood.
Just keep a close watch on her and ask her friends teachers etc to do the same.
Good luck
mari34228 philalexander
Posted
Hi Phil, I've actually been on prozac myself a horribly long time ago! I can vaguely recall feeling out of control on it. I wasn't feeling too worried about her being prescribed an anti-depressant. In fact that's what I had been hoping for (as this has gone on for too many years now) but after what she said yesterday I'm very anxious for her. Well, she starts on them tomorrow, so will just have to keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks for replying, Mari
mike09523 mari34228
Posted
Hi Mari,
yes it is good that your daughter is getting help and support at last.
I was on sertraline but it made me very anxious at times so my gp put me on fluoxetine, 10 mg. After a couple of months this was upped to 20mg and that's how it has stayed.
I also had cbt, initially for 10 sessions but went to 19, all concentrating on my mood.
Your daughter may or may not get on with cbt, every time you tell them something the mantra is "how did that make you feel".
Good luck.
Mike.
mari34228 mike09523
Posted
Oh no! She'll hate being constantly asked that question
mike09523 mari34228
Posted
Forwarned is forearmed. If your daughter can see this as a stock response to just about every statement then she will be prepared for it. I on the other hand was not prepared for it and by the 9-10 th time it started to wind me up. CBT can be exhausting mentally because the councilor needs to find the causes of your problems and you need to trust them 100%. You/they will converse on subjects never spoken about out loud and it may take several sessions to work out that trust..
Hope things work out okay.
Mike.
mari34228 mike09523
Posted
Thank you for that information Mike. It's very helpful to know what to expect.
Best wishes x
vickylou mike09523
Posted
That's a very similar reaction to how I felt during CBT sessions. Yes it is mentally exhausting, but hey no pain, no gain.
Its certainly more than just a question and answer session , and at times can be quite emotional.
Just my view, but I think the therapist him or herself, plays an important part in the success of CBT, and you're quite right in saying about the hundred per cent trust.
My first session was to explain about the concept of CBT, how it works, what or how you feel. How to get the most out of the sessions. I felt a lot more confident once I knew what to expect, so by my first session, I knew exactly what would happen, how CBT works etc and therefore far less anxious. A bit like an induction!
Im the opposite to you, fluoxetine made me have huge high and lows, difficulty sleeping, mood swings etc, so switched to Trazodone, which was excellent for me.
now currently on fifty mg sertraline daily.