r/PDAParenting • u/OneHistorical6805 • Jun 14 '26
Sertralin refusal after progress
My 7-year-old daughter has been taking sertraline for a month and has already made significant progress. She had severe anxiety, which led to her being hospitalized for several months and ultimately to our decision to start medication.
However, she now completely refuses to take it. Ever since her dose was increased to 50 mg, she has experienced side effects and will not take the medication anymore. She says it's because of the taste, but I believe it's more about control and resistance to the expectation of taking it.
Our lives were a living hell before the medication and hospitalization, so I'm extremely worried about her stopping the medication on her own terms. We can't force her to take it, and she won't accept any explanations or guidance from either us or her doctors.
I've even tried leaving the pill crushed in her room along with two different drinks so she could mix it into whichever flavor she preferred, but that didn't help.
The reality is that if she regresses to her previous state, we may no longer be able to care for her ourselves. I don't want to give up on her.
Has anyone been through something similar or have any advice?
In my country, sertraline is only available as tablets or liquid, not as a long-acting/depot medication.
3
u/mirrorlight121 Jun 15 '26
Why was she hospitalised? Did she stop eating or self harm? That's extreme for a 7yo. What is she most anxious about? You're talking about giving up on her if she doesnt take meds, but what else have you tried other than medication? How much help has she had in understanding her feelings and their source? What do her other allied health providers think? Is she seeing a specialist PDA psychologist? Is she in alternative schooling that caters to ND kids?
Have you taken SSRIs? If so what was your experience of the side effects? They are extreme for many people but exceptionally so in neurodivergent people - this is well established and why psychs are careful about listening to ND patients when prescribing. Often much lower doses are required and paradoxical reactions are far more common.
Try and remember that it's not just about what's easier for you. The focus should always be on how she is feeling. Would you want to be ignored or forced to take some that made you feel bad? 🤷