dla and depression

Oldernotwiser

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I still get the impression that he wouldn't have been put in AD's unless it was deemed severe enough. AD's are not recommended for use in mild or moderate depression, and although fluoxetine is the only AD which is ok for under 18's to use its still not commonly prescribed unless the GP thinks the patient needs it. In fact it is only recommended for those with severe depression. Doctors are advised to refer children with depression for therapy. None of the antidepressants are licensed for use in young people under the age of 18 and should only be used by child and adolescent psychiatrists, after a careful assessment.

Even when i was 16/17 they refused to let me have AD's as they said they couldnt cos i was under 18 and they preferred to try talking therapies.

Fluroxetine is Prozac - I've been on and off it for years for both mild and moderate depression as has my husband. Neither of us have ever had severe depression (not as I understand the term) so I don't agree that it's only prescribed for severe depression.

Jibbajabba

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Fluroxetine is Prozac - I've been on and off it for years for both mild and moderate depression as has my husband. Neither of us have ever had severe depression (not as I understand the term) so I don't agree that it's only prescribed for severe depression.

You are right ONW, Prozac has been prescribed readily ordinarily, but for under 18 year olds the prescriptions for ADs have been tightened over the last couple of years due to increased suicidal tendencies in teens and Prozac is one of the few that are still 'allowed' to be prescribed for extreme or needed situations. Severely depressed teens are beginning to be treated differently and hopefully more appropriately (talking therapies etc). There maybe some doctors that give it as standard but most are more responsible with teens nowadays. No one is querying the use of ADs for over 18 year olds.

LadyMorticia

woodbine wrote: »

the reason hes on fluoxetine might help?
as i understand it its unusual for anyone under 18 to be prescribed this drug,if its the one i`m thinking of,due to the possibility of making them suicidal,my daughter was on it at 17.5 for ocd but only after the consultant took responsibilty for prescribing it as the gp wouldnt.
As already stated dla will only apply if he has care and or mobility needs,has had them for 3 months and is likely to have them for at least another 6 months.

I was put on it at 15 and the doctor said "This may make you more suicidal but don't worry. It's completely normal!".:eek:

Emma1973

My daughter has depression and has now been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and is now on her third different medication which has included Prozac. I applied for and got low level care DLA when she was 17.

Those with teenagers with mental health problems know the difference between them being lazy and refusing to get out of bed, and being depressed so they cant get out of bed! When my DD is depressed she doesnt eat, drink, get out of bed, wash, change her clothes, etc. I invariably have to take unpaid time off work at these points, so her DLA will help when this is the case.

Oldernotwiser

Emma1973 wrote: »

Those with teenagers with mental health problems know the difference between them being lazy and refusing to get out of bed, and being depressed so they cant get out of bed! When my DD is depressed she doesnt eat, drink, get out of bed, wash, change her clothes, etc. I invariably have to take unpaid time off work at these points, so her DLA will help when this is the case.

Nothing the OP has said implies that her son has problems at this level.

sunnyone

woodbine wrote: »

I could show you plenty who dont,but then again they wouldnt fit the stereotype you have implanted in your mind would it?

As the mother of a now 20 year old who has had serious MH problems off and on I know much better than most, I have also been serverly deppresed due to my disabilities and medicated for that on and off for the past 20 years.

I also have another teenage child that wont eat unless forced to and has to be forced to keep clean, get out of bed and generally needs constant pushing to for everything including taking his drugs on a daily basis.

At 15 its normal to be lazy and needing parental prompting and not a disability, but that wouldnt fit the steriotype you have implanted in your mind would it?

sunny

[Deleted User]

sunnyone wrote: »

As the mother of a now 20 year old who has had serious MH problems off and on I know much better than most, I have also been serverly deppresed due to my disabilities and medicated for that on and off for the past 20 years.

I also have another teenage child that wont eat unless forced to and has to be forced to keep clean, get out of bed and generally needs constant pushing to for everything including taking his drugs on a daily basis.

At 15 its normal to be lazy and needing parental prompting and not a disability, but that wouldnt fit the steriotype you have implanted in your mind would it?

sunny

All the teenagers i know are decent kids,my own are now in there 20s,but you obviously know few 15 year olds or you just know the wrong ones:rotfl:

Oldernotwiser

woodbine wrote: »

All the teenagers i know are decent kids,my own are now in there 20s,but you obviously know few 15 year olds or you just know the wrong ones:rotfl:

Surely it's possible to be a decent kid and also be lazy?

System

wrote:

In know what Prozac is, i was on it before being switched to Citalopram and later Trazodone.

My understanding was generally it shouldn't be used in mild depression,. but in hindsight i should have put that it is used in moderate depression. But the NHS agree that use in mild depression is questionable "Antidepressants are usually recommended for moderate to severe depression. There's some question about their effectiveness in mild depression." and this story from BBC news last year http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7263494.stm

astonsmummy

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I still get the impression that he wouldn't have been put in AD's unless it was deemed severe enough. AD's are not recommended for use in mild or moderate depression, and although fluoxetine is the only AD which is ok for under 18's to use its still not commonly prescribed unless the GP thinks the patient needs it. In fact it is only recommended for those with severe depression. Doctors are advised to refer children with depression for therapy. None of the antidepressants are licensed for use in young people under the age of 18 and should only be used by child and adolescent psychiatrists, after a careful assessment.

Even when i was 16/17 they refused to let me have AD's as they said they couldnt cos i was under 18 and they preferred to try talking therapies.

I was diagnose with clinical depression at age 14 or 15 and was prescribed AD's, I was pretty bad but not bad enough to warrent DLA claim.
I'm not knocing DLA for mental illness, I personally have dealing with someone pretty close ot me with very sever MH problems, and they were adviced by their CPN to claim, but we are talking someone with sever depression, anxiety, agrophobia and psycosis.