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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effectiveness of Effexor, Strattera, Abilify and worsening of depression
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.
Effectiveness of Effexor, Strattera, Abilify and worsening of depression
by aerozeppelin, Feb 18, 2006 12:00AM
A family member of mine has been seriously depressed for more than 2 years now. She was put on medication about 2 years ago - Effexor, Strattera, and Abilify - and since then, her psychiatrist, with whom she had only about 3 personal sessions, has only lowered or increased dosages of these drugs. Her depression is of the less emotional kind - she exhibits few emotional reactions and talks very little. Recently - about for a month now - she has been in a worse condition - less talking, inability to do things she could do before, almost complete inactivity, much worse concentration and memory. She has also apparently stopped taking Abilify and Strattera but continues to take Effexor, although probably skips doses. She doesn't speak much so it's hard for me to know and certainly the fact that she stopped using the drugs probably influenced the worsening of the condition.
My questions are these: given this very vague sketch of her symptoms,
1) Are the drugs listed above right for her? Do they lose their effectiveness at some point?
2) What can I do to help her get back on track? Recently, after finding out about her not taking the drugs, I convinced her to continue taking them. She took them a few times and then stopped again, apparently - I can't quite supervise her.
3) Is there a possibility that light therapy may help?
Thank you very much for your response.
My questions are these: given this very vague sketch of her symptoms,
1) Are the drugs listed above right for her? Do they lose their effectiveness at some point?
2) What can I do to help her get back on track? Recently, after finding out about her not taking the drugs, I convinced her to continue taking them. She took them a few times and then stopped again, apparently - I can't quite supervise her.
3) Is there a possibility that light therapy may help?
Thank you very much for your response.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Feb 21, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 21, 2006 12:00AM
I am going to strike out on all three questions, not enough information to speculate. But I can make a suggestion. You are entitled to a consultation with another psychiatrist. YOur relative may not trust his or her recommendations. Your relative may be better off with a combination of talk therapy with drug therapy. In fact, that is the recommended treatment. Explore these options.
make her feel physically better, which improves attitude.
She may get a feeling of accomplishment from that one simple change. I know there is more complicated work to be done for her, also, but this is something small and unquestionably healthy. Could she take care of a little dog, who would keep her company?
Keep supporting her and encouraging her until she finds someone to talk to that she WANTS to talk to and actually feels good about seeing (as in feels they are helping).
Good luck!