15 year old daughter suicidal - what do i do?

[MJkcj]

The monday before thanksgiving my 15 year daughter (beautiful, funny, super suoer smart, tons of friends) took an overdoes of Tylenol. She almost died. If we hadnt gotten her to the hospital when we did (wihin 2 hours of her taking the pills) she would have most certainly died. It was very close.

She was in the ICU for a few days and then they transfered her to the in patient psych unit where whe stayed for 6 days. When she was released from there we switched to an outpatient psych unit where she goes Monday thru friday from 8:30 to 3pm. She has gone to school about 4 times duing the 4 weeks she has been there

The Doctors seem to think she is doing well, ready to go back to school full time.

But I hear from her friends that she texted them last night and told them she wished she had been successful and how she doesnt want anyone saving her next time.

All I can think about is how close it was and how the whole time i was praying for another chance with her and how I cant imagine life without her in it. Its killing me thinking she might try again. just killing me.

what do i do?

She is on cymbalta 90mg. before the suicide attempt she was on cymbalta 60 and lyrica 120mg. we discontinued the lyrica because we thought it was making heer so so tired and that might have contributed to the suicidal feelings and they increased cymbalta from 60 to 90.

I told the doctors I thought the meds werent working but they said they thought they were and that I have to be patient. She is doing the therapy. But she is still so depressed.

[Shardik]

1. WTF did they have her on Lyrica for?

Lyrica is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant. It works by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures. Lyrica also affects chemicals in the brain that send pain signals across the nervous system.

Lyrica is used to control seizures and to treat fibromyalgia. It is also used to treat pain caused by nerve damage in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) or herpes zoster (post-herpetic neuralgia).

Lyrica may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Lyrica

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Lyrica. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

If you are taking Lyrica to prevent seizures, keep taking the medication even if you feel fine. You may have an increase in seizures if you stop taking Lyrica. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Do not change your dose of Lyrica without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if the medication does not seem to work as well in treating your condition.
If you stop taking Lyrica suddenly, your seizures may become worse or you may have withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, sleep problems, nausea, and diarrhea. Do not stop using Lyrica suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking Lyrica, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking a seizure medication.

from http://www.drugs.com/lyrica.html

I would consider second opinions and extended care for her, but I am no Doctor and going with the DU adage of no medical help or opinions, I'll leave it at that. :hug:

[Droopy]

2. About the only reason I can think of would be for mood swings

Depakote is another anti-seizure med that they use for mood swings.

[MJkcj]

6. The lyrica was for joint pain...

she has a genetic tissue disorder called Elhers danlow Syndrome (EDS) which causes pain in joints. we originally thought it was fibromyalgia but that didnt explain the hypermobility and subflexation of joints. finally a doc diagnosed it as EDS and we've been helping it with forms of physical therapy and the pain is mostly under control. At first i thought the depression was due to the chronic pain but the pain is under control and the depression is still VERY much there. Plus her younger sibling has EDS also and has no depression.

I dont know if the Lyrica helped with the EDS pain or not. sometimes its hard to tell because you are trying so many different things but I thought it was causing suicidal thoughts... but now shes been off lyrica for a month and she is definitely still thinking about suicide.

I just always thought that depression was treatable and that the meds could help but she hasnt seen any relief and i am frustrated that the doctors dont seem that alarmed. I dont want to hospitalize her again but I am fearful.

[Droopy]

3. Be sure to tell the doctors about the recent suicidal thoughts

she has expressed to her friends. There could be lots of different possibilities at the root of your daughter's problems, and she could be feeling a lot more than depressed as a part of her symptoms and just not have reported them yet. My heart aches for you and I wish you well.

[MJkcj]

9. Yes.

I am calling the docotrs tonight so that they can see her tomorrow. I am so alarmed by her suicideal thoughts and they seem so passive. When she had suicidal thoughts before we were worried but did nothig and she landed in the hopsital. i dont want to do nothig this time. she is trying to tell us she needs more help and I want to give it to her but nothing I do helps.... so frustrting!!!!

[mopinko]

4. what to do- first, have a good cry

been there done that got the shirt. go ahead and cry.

second, they told us the same thing with my daughter about getting back to school. "they need structure" yadayadayadayada, she needs some time to recover. i suspect she wont be learning anything for a while anyway. sometimes you can get a home tutor, but you need a doc to sign off on it.
now third, this is not medical advise, just my pet soapbox- sleep. high schoolers have to get up earlier than grade schoolers at a time when their circadian clocks are moving in the other direction. i think this is at the root of the depression for many, many kids this age. if you can't get a home tutor, maybe you can get her a later start time.
when my kids were little, i never, ever woke them up when they were sleeping if i could help it. when they got to be teenagers, i considered adding weapons to that.
if you can get a consult with a sleep doc, do it. ask her regular doc to check her ferritin, and her vit d. both affect mental health/sleep, and are usually completely overlooked by psychs. good luck with getting her to comply with meds, too. that was quite the pain for us.

ok, now have another cry. it's good for you.
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[MJkcj]

7. yes. cryng does help.

Sleep has been a problem. they prescribed some ambience to help her fall asleep at night and so at least she is rested when she gets up in the morning. before she wasnt able to sleep at night and would wake frequetly... not getting sleep can make anyoe depressed!

I have added vitamin D suppliments because she has very low vitami D but what is ferritin? is that iron? because her iron was low too.

and yes I cry. usually alone in the car.

anyway, thank you for your kindness. It feels good to have people who understand. Its very lonely.

[mopinko]

11. ferritin is a form of iron.

deficiency is implicated in restless leg syndrome. i am actually a little fuzzy about it, but it has to do with the iron stores in the body, as opposed to what is circulating in the blood. the norms for anemia are much lower than they are for sleep considerations. so, a 15 is not anemic, but a sleep doc wants to see it up in the 50's (i think that is correct.)
to get that d back up usually requires a prescription strength supplement.
sounds like she has a doc that is at least a little on the ball?

the ambien will definitely help. but if her sleep is not good, there is no amount that is enough. in the meantime, tho, protect that sleep. she can make it to school when she gets to school. a sick kid needs help, not stupid rigidity. (and that is what she is- just sick. i used to say my kid had a brain rash.)

take care, dear. :hug: for you, and for your kiddo.

[LiberalEsto]

12. Ask the doctors about Trazodone

It's an antidepressant that is also highly effective for sleep problems. I speak from personal experience. It's been an immense help for me.

[elleng]

5. Oh my Dear MJK!

I have no better advice than to say, follow mopinko's advice.

AND know that we are thinking of you and your daughter, with great sadness.

[MJkcj]

8. thank you. it helps.

[EFerrari]

10. Those doctors have no business expecting her to resume a "normal" routine

until they have checked her levels and her response after changing her medication.

These meds take some time to build up in her system. Have you searched so you can know when they peak?

Go with your gut, imho. If she's still having suicidal thoughts, there needs to be a clear, firm and consistent response from her psych team. Do not allow them to disengage too early.

:hug:

[varkam]

13. I don't know if anything that I have to say will help, but...

About ten years ago or so, when I was a young teen, I became very depressed and suicidal. I even tried killing myself, failed, and ended up in a mental institution for about a month or so. I don't pretend that I speak for all suicidal teens, not the least of whom being your daughter.

The first thing that I want to say is that it isn't your fault. I know that my parents blamed themselves for a lot of what happened, and it really wasn't their fault. There was nothing that they could have done differently IMO, things just were the way that they were. I'm not sure if you are blaming yourself at all, but if you are, I just want to say don't.

And the thing that helped me the most, even though I didn't show it, was knowing that my parents and friends were there for me. It wasn't a magic bullet. Hearing "I love you" didn't snap me out of it, but it did help considerably.

Peace to you :pals: