Antidepressants

[emma1]

I am looking for info on antidepressants for my elderly grandmother. The doctor insists that she needs an antidepressant (and her quality of life is very low, as she is quite ill and sad). However, she is so weak, I worry about having her on such medication. My mom is pretty much just going with what the doctors tell her.

 

I know this is off topic -- but does anyone have any experience with any antidepressant that is more mild, with less side effects? Any info would be so appreciated.

 

My daughter, with strep-induced ocd, uses SAM-e, and has had good/great results, but the doctor made me feel like an idiot when I suggested it!

[guy123]

I am looking for info on antidepressants for my elderly grandmother. The doctor insists that she needs an antidepressant (and her quality of life is very low, as she is quite ill and sad). However, she is so weak, I worry about having her on such medication. My mom is pretty much just going with what the doctors tell her.

 

I know this is off topic -- but does anyone have any experience with any antidepressant that is more mild, with less side effects? Any info would be so appreciated.

 

My daughter, with strep-induced ocd, uses SAM-e, and has had good/great results, but the doctor made me feel like an idiot when I suggested it!

 

Are you wanting to stay within the realm of SSRI antidepressants? There are some non-SSRI antidepressants but they have been known to make TS/tics worse.

[EAMom]

I'd be great if you could hook your Grandma up with a good psychiatrist who specializes in geriatrics. In general, the rule with older folk is to start low and go up very slowly in your doses. Antidepressants/SSRI's are tricky because what works for one individual may not work for another (and may even have bad side effects). You may have to be patient and go through 2-3 different meds (or more) before you find the med (or combination of meds) that is right for your Grandmother. But, from personal experiences with an elderly relative, it is well worth the effort...these drugs can really work miracles. It sounds like she is really suffering right now and that is no way to spend her "golden years."

 

A geriatric psychiatrist should be able to help you choose the safest drug to try on your Grandma. I don't know if I would trust a General Practioner (non-psychiatrist) to do this, but that's my opinion.

 

Also, it would be helpful if you (or your mom) could accompany your Grandmother to the visits with the psychiatrist. Your Grandmother sounds like she is feeling pretty low and would probably appreciate a little reassurance and handholding as this is not the generation that is comfortable with psychiatrists (think "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

[EAMom]

How's your grandmother? Perhaps you could get your mom have your grandma try the SAMe for "arthritis" (don't all grandmas have arthritis?) and see if it helps her mood as a side effect? (Make sure she takes a multi-vit as well.)