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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Deep depression § Medications
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Deep depression § Medications
by Lemony, Apr 18, 2002 12:00AM
I'll try to be brief. 46, female, divorced with one child, stressful job and not alot of time. Had mitral valve repair surgery one year ago (4/2001). Home three months and had to go back to work. Was still feeling depressed and full of anxiety. My Dr. tried putting me on Celexa. I could not handle it & had to stop taking it. After four days of taking 1/2 the lowest dosage, I was feeling lethargic, more anxious and extremely strange. I tried at that point to handle it without meds. My whole life has been somewhat ups and downs, could always handle it without strong medication, but no longer feel that I can handle on my own. Something happened recently that has put me over the edge. I am severly depressed. My doctor tried Zoloft this time, 25mg. to start, a day. Again, it made me feel very wierd and I swear, more depressed. I stopped taking it after three days. I do not know what is left. If two SSRI's react that way with me, I am afraid they all will, and they are all so powerful. Yet, I am deeply depressed. I cannot get in to see a pshchriatrist (3 referrals told me they could see me in six weeks!) I have heard about wellbutrin. Does that act differently? I even tried Ativan and Xanax, but it does not help. I also heard about SAME but that is herbal. I definately need something. Where can I turn. I am in therapy, but I cannot bounce back as easily as I did prior to surgery. Could this still be the effects of open-heart surgery one year later? I need SOMETHING that will get me out of this deep depression.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 19, 2002 12:00AM
, Apr 19, 2002 12:00AM
Yes, Wellbutrin is a good medication, less side effects, takes a little longer to get started( around two weeks). ask your doctor about that, it is a good choice.
The studies on open heart surgery strongly suggest that your depression may be the tail end of that surgery...its not physiological, its psychological. Being 46, self supporting, and having had major surgery is a tough situation. The trick now is to get your life moving in the direction you want...momentum is even better than medication.
You can accelerate your work with the therapist by doing some more on your own with the masteringstress program ( link above). Try it, and take the results with you into your therapy session.
The studies on open heart surgery strongly suggest that your depression may be the tail end of that surgery...its not physiological, its psychological. Being 46, self supporting, and having had major surgery is a tough situation. The trick now is to get your life moving in the direction you want...momentum is even better than medication.
You can accelerate your work with the therapist by doing some more on your own with the masteringstress program ( link above). Try it, and take the results with you into your therapy session.
I have mitral valve prolapse also. My doctor told me that Paxil was the only anti depressant he would recommend. I could not handle the agitation of Zoloft, to jittery. I also take Klonopin for anxiety, this helped my prolapse, don't know exactly why, but it was a good move for me. Hope this info helps you. My only complaint is the weight gain on paxil, 20lbs in the last 3 years. good luck, starz