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Suggest Treatment For Depression And Anxiety

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Posted on Wed, 17 Sep 2014
Question: I feel depressed, lonely, and anxious most of the time. I seem to cry at the smallest thing or when I talk about I'm feeling. I have taken sertraline for almost 8 years and many times do not like the way I am feeling or thinking. I have been unable to shake the loneliness and sadness I am feeling. I walk/hike regularly at least 5 times a week doing at least 2-4 miles each time. This helped me lose close to 35 pounds over the last year which I really needed. Lately, with the beginning of the school year (I am a teacher technology integration coach), I feel more stress and anxiety. I think I might need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Do I maybe need a change in medication?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Absolutely yes

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.

I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.

It is quite certain that you are having a depressive episode and sertraline has definately not helped you to cure depreesion totally. In such a situation, it would be wise to get the antidepressant changed to other options like mirtazapine or desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine. Also it would be wise to augment the antidepressant with an antipsyhotic like olazapine or quetiapine or a mood stabilizer like valproate or lithium.
You may meet your psyhiatrist and discuss these options and get the medicines changed.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.

If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.

If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:

bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy



Wish you good health,

Kind regards

Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2770 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Depression And Anxiety

Brief Answer: Absolutely yes Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. It is quite certain that you are having a depressive episode and sertraline has definately not helped you to cure depreesion totally. In such a situation, it would be wise to get the antidepressant changed to other options like mirtazapine or desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine. Also it would be wise to augment the antidepressant with an antipsyhotic like olazapine or quetiapine or a mood stabilizer like valproate or lithium. You may meet your psyhiatrist and discuss these options and get the medicines changed. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.