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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Will I ever find the right drug combinations to treat my depression?
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.
Will I ever find the right drug combinations to treat my depression?
by heather m, Dec 26, 1999 12:00AM
I am 24 years old and was diagnosed with depression four years ago. I have been on so many medications that I probably could not sit and count them all. At the present time,my neurologist has me on Zoloft,Zanax, and Cytomel. I haven't been on the Cytomel very long but it's not working--I have SEVERE mood swings. What can I do??? I feel like it's all hopeless and that I will never get better.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Dec 27, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Heather M,
It must be difficult to feel that your depression can not improve. Depression may give the suffer a feeling of hopelessness along with other symptoms you are probably aware of.
In your letter you mentioned that you are complaining of mood swings. Depending on the frequency and duration of these mood swings you may be suffering from bipolar disorder.
In Bipolar the sufferer may cycle between periods of depression (loss of interest or pleasure in activities, disturbed sleep, decreased motivation, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, decreased energy, impaired concentration, changes in appetite, irritability, psychomotor retardation, decreased sexual desire and suicidal ideation)
and mania (decreased need to sleep, impulsive behavior, spending sprees, flight of ideas, euphoria, pressured speech and if extreme hallucinations) some patients may use alcohol or drugs to self medicate their mood.
A complete history and physical are important to help determine the best treatment strategies.
You may consider a second opinion from a psychiatrist.
Best Wishes,
HFHS M.D.-SW
It must be difficult to feel that your depression can not improve. Depression may give the suffer a feeling of hopelessness along with other symptoms you are probably aware of.
In your letter you mentioned that you are complaining of mood swings. Depending on the frequency and duration of these mood swings you may be suffering from bipolar disorder.
In Bipolar the sufferer may cycle between periods of depression (loss of interest or pleasure in activities, disturbed sleep, decreased motivation, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, decreased energy, impaired concentration, changes in appetite, irritability, psychomotor retardation, decreased sexual desire and suicidal ideation)
and mania (decreased need to sleep, impulsive behavior, spending sprees, flight of ideas, euphoria, pressured speech and if extreme hallucinations) some patients may use alcohol or drugs to self medicate their mood.
A complete history and physical are important to help determine the best treatment strategies.
You may consider a second opinion from a psychiatrist.
Best Wishes,
HFHS M.D.-SW
