Depession for a senior citizen

My mother (Now 79) was hospitalized for serious depression about 18 months ago that required ECT treatments to bring her out of the depression. Before the teatments she was basically zombie like and only mumbled. She now has an ECT about every six weeks. She is taking Effexor 75mg AND Zyprexa 7.5mg once a day. She has never been herself or close to it since this all began. She used to be very happy and up beat. She is a pretty bland person that shows almost no emotion at all. She stays tired and feels dizzy quite a bit. She lost a lot of weight and can't seem to get it back on. Her quality of life is not a good one. Is this typical and are there alternative medication(s). Also is it unusual and necessary to be on these two medications at the same time? Thank you very much.

[jo929]

i am sorry to hearthat your mom is depressed there had to be a reason to be depressed also there are pros and cons about ECT i have worked 40 years in the health field gen and mental i have seen many people have these some dr will not give them i have seen people that had so many they were called burn outs it burned the brain out and they did become zombies could the dr not have just talked to her and find out why she was so depressed a lot of elderly people get depressed because sometimes they think no one cares and lots ot time that is true no one does. another reason maybe she needed something to occupy her mind a hobby learning somethiing new maybe she hurt there are lots of reasons but i dont see why they would give an older person shock  or the-young either if she is not responing to this med take her off or get her to another doctor there is help for her i myself am no spring chicken and we all get depressed maybe she needed time i do beleive a good dr could have helped her also it could have been physical  , there are so many people that will do anything to help someone but when it comes to the elderly they can live somewhere and during the bad storm and ice there were lots of people that suffered because no one cared enough to see if thet were even warm hungry ect i want every one to say hello to an older person when they see them and just watch the smile on their face  many hosps older were sort of looked over also i hope you dont take offense i have always even as a young person cared about the older people they have hearts to one thing more and this is for young and old     we all need to be loved needed wanted or accepted or we all give up              sorry i jumped on a band wagon  i hope mom gets better  tell her hi she is as young as she feels        jo

[jeanie1222]

hi sorry to hear about your mom'd sadness...did you have her checked for a thyriod disorder ? it is very commom in women over 50.i know have had hastioto's for 30 yrs. now 63 getting worse and very depressed ,confused ,not able to control my feelings, just lose control.my tsh level right now is very high and its affecting everything in my body......maybe she should be tested for this.and get med.  hope i was of some help.  God Bless Her

[chigirl29]

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother's health problems.  
I think Jo929 has a good idea--have her thyroid checked.
Antideppressants can reduce appetite and lead to weight loss.

If she is tired a lot--her her checked for anemia--it is also common in her age group.

Hope she feels better soon.

[chigirl29]

I just read she was on Zyprexa--okay--that can cause major weight gain which is good--but it can make you sleepy the first few months of taking it.  It takes a few months for the sleepiness to wear off.

[chigirl29]

Your quote:
Also is it unusual and necessary to be on these two medications at the same time? Thank you very much.

She may need the Zyprexa for certain reasons.  It can help her gain weight.
If I would change anything, it would be the Effexor.  I know many people who have had problems with this drug.  It made one person I know violent.

I have experience with Lexapro (depression and anxiety drug) and Zyprexa.  That may be a good combination.

Also--she may need some activities to help stimulate her.