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URGENT: Medication BEFORE Diagnosis?

NAS82130

Hi.

My son is 16 y.o. and suffering from pretty bad social anxiety episodes at the moment. He has not (yet) been diagnosed with an autism-spectrum condition but several professionals have mooted (over several years) that he might be on the spectrum. He is very "high functioning" academically but his social anxiety is becoming more of an obstacle. 

He is awaiting a callback from the GP this evening and use of Beta-blockers has been suggested but I am concerned that this might be barking up the wrong tree. My son has a very negative view of autism and has so-far rejected a formal diagnosis. However, I am concerned that premature medication will mask any underlying neurological traits and so compromise a diagnosis. I am in such a quandry because his overall wellbeing is paramount but I feel that medication is not the way forward.

PLEASE can anybody advise me whether medication is an acceptable stop-gap pending diagnosis or whether I should stick to my guns - this is causing some family strife - and insist on diagnosis first. After all, GPs are NOT experts in autism.

  • You can't insist on a diagnosis. You request a referral and then spend years in a queue (unless your going private). 

    If your son has a negative view of ASD, then I'd be more concerned about him sabotaging the process rather than medication masking his symptoms.  

    If he has a previous diagnosis of social anxiety and it's getting worse then you need to present something to your GP to explain why you feel he fits somewhere on the spectrum and does simply have worsening social anxiety.  If previous professionals have mentioned ASD, write to them asking if they could explain anything specific.  Do some research and try to get him on board.

    This sentence bothers me. "My son has a very negative view of autism and has so-far rejected a formal diagnosis." Excuse my autism, but it sounds like your son doesn't want to be autistic and you want him to take a test to confirm that he is.  I'm not questioning your parenting or motives, just channelling my inner 16 year old Slight smile

    Try to talk it through... and don't shout 

  • in reply to JuniperFromGallifrey

    *I say this having a son now in his 20s - they're asserting a sort of agency at this age. It's difficult to stop them, so work with them and just encourage the less deadly option.

    Also, it would be better for anyone to be able to think properly at an assessment. They're overwhelming and cause a surge of stress which can ruin any preparedness and skew the results. 

  • If it's for anxiety, I'd get him CDB! Or a THC/CDB mix if you can. Even a private referral for Xanax, which is for anxiety, which Autistics are prone to for significant and very physiological reasons. the brain makes heightened connexions, it seems we have higher gamma wave movement which is responsible for creating anxiety from excitement, or hyper-active out-of-control brain movement. Actually, one of the healthiest ways to calm the brain is to over-engage it in processes of thought superior to it's power. Philosophy or History or something of deep reasoning and learning. You need to exhaust it on a regular basis. One also needs to mind there isn't sensory overload physiological or psychological and unresolved matters.

    Teenagers need wisdom. They need guidance which makes practical sense and a small group they feel connected with. Get him something he can take which it targeting anxiety, not for high blood pressure - because there's a chance Anxious Symptoms (physical shaking or difficulty breathing) are actually Low Blood Pressure making beta blockers deadly.