What to do with daughter having drug interaction problem?!
Question: My 20 y/o daughter has always been bi-polar but she has not always been taking medication for it. Within the last couple of years she has begun abusing prescription drugs that she insists she needs but that make her crazy. Last month she began cutting again and fighting incessantly with me while on Klonopin (which she takes more than the recommended dose) - she then stopped for a while. A few days ago she got a new prescription for that, Propranolol, and her usual Fluoxetine. She's crazy, aggressive and suicidal all over again and I cannot take another round of this.
She's too old for me to do anything with her, she won't move out (it's not that I want her to exactly, I've just got 3 other kids that this drama effects negatively). I can't talk to her doctor b/c of her age, I can't admit her to the hospital. Last time I tried the hospital route and she convinced them that she was fine...after telling me that when she got home she was going to shoot herself. HELP!
Answers: My 20 y/o daughter has always been bi-polar but she has not always been taking medication for it. Within the last couple of years she has begun abusing prescription drugs that she insists she needs but that make her crazy. Last month she began cutting again and fighting incessantly with me while on Klonopin (which she takes more than the recommended dose) - she then stopped for a while. A few days ago she got a new prescription for that, Propranolol, and her usual Fluoxetine. She's crazy, aggressive and suicidal all over again and I cannot take another round of this.
She's too old for me to do anything with her, she won't move out (it's not that I want her to exactly, I've just got 3 other kids that this drama effects negatively). I can't talk to her doctor b/c of her age, I can't admit her to the hospital. Last time I tried the hospital route and she convinced them that she was fine...after telling me that when she got home she was going to shoot herself. HELP!
You can speak to her MD, he may not be able to speak to you about confidential things. Tell him what you've written here.
Her fluoxetine (Prozac) might be making her manic. It sounds like she needs a mood stabilizer instead or in addition. Tell the MD this.
You could tell her to move out if she doesn't straighten up. Don't let her black mail you.
Good luck to you.
if you can t show anyone record it, and take her and the video to a doctor fast because it isnt doing anyone any good-you her or your 3 kids.
good luck. :)
yes,you can talk to her doctor and he can listen,he wont give you feedback.tell him to give her less klonopin at one time.she'll have to wait to refill.
have her placed in a psychiatric boarding home,you have 3 other kids' safety to ensure.
Call 911 and they will send out the psychiatric assessment team, who CAN have her committed for a minimum of 72 hours. If the psych hospital feels she needs longer than that, there can be an emergency hearing before a judge who will make that decision.
Also, where is her doctor in all of this?
Once the PAT team has had her admitted, her doc needs to be in cahoots with the hospital to get her admission extended-- at the very least, he/she needs an inpatient assessment by her own doc before she talks the hospital into discharging her.
If she has no insurance and no job, she will be considered to be medically indigent, and the county will pay for her hospital stay if it is in a public hospital. If she is determined to be gravely disabled and is in a private hospital, sometimes the state will pick up the tab (it varies from state to state, depending on the Medicaid/Medi-Cal rules).
You can also call your county's department of mental health for their advice.
If possible, you need to make a list of all the information on her prescription bottlles.
Propanolol is prescribed for high blood pressure and, occasionally for movement disorders and Klonopin is for seizures and panic disorder. The Fluoxetine (2) are anti-depressants. In 1979, after taking my 2nd Prozac, I attempted suicide ~ it's a controversial med. and there are, many, safer but all take 6 - 8 weeks to determine the effectiveness.
It appears your daughter may have problems not addressed by her meds but, without taking them as prescribed...(?) Was she ever, given Lithium
for mood swings? Unfortunately, by not taking her med's, regularly, it isn't possible to correctly evaulate their effectiveness. Is there a possibility she might have a talk with you about her them if you tell her it's important to both of you to understand something about each and need her input? Let her know she must take as prescribed for 3 to 4 wks. for this to be done ~ I hope there is some way you can get her to cooperate. She may be willing to help you compile an information sheet - suggest it be made up of 6 columns: medication, good effects, bad effects, does she think it's helpful or not, her resulting behaviour (if drug connection is possible), and your observations; she may wish to add another column. This is the list to bring to her doctor for discussion.
You should be able to get legal guardianship of her since she is unable to, properly, care for herself - I would contact your local mental health department to ask and they should be able to send you in the right direction for legal advice and coverage of bills for her care.
Can you borrow a tape-recorder from a friend to try to tape her during one her episodes? If your other children are older than 14, their statements would substantiate a request for guardianship. Are there any adults who have witnessed any of her episodes?
I realize you are stressed out and your time isn't limitless but it's important you take each of your other children aside for a one-on-one talk, on a regular basis, to learn how they feel, "now", about their sister's behaviour and, especially, if they feel her behaviour is having a negative impact on them such as, if any of them are concerned that they may become bi-polar. Is there a possibility you could meet with a psychologist, at one of your children's schools, to get some help and guidance for you to best know how to handle this?
I hope that, before the end of the year, things will be more positive for all of you.