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Suggest Treatment For Depression
Question: My husband passed 3 yrs. ago, and I can't seem to get over being so depressed. I,m 79 yrs.
of age if that matters. Thanks XXXXXXX
of age if that matters. Thanks XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Try a different antidepressant
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thank you for using Healthcare Magic. I am sorry for your loss. Grief for a loved one's passing generally improves after 6 months to a year. Since it's been 3 years for you, I would say you most likely are having a major depression. Depression in common in people your age and is often confused with dementia. I see you are on Lexapro which can be an effective antidepressant. However, sometimes it takes a little while (a few weeks) before you notice an improvement with many antidepressants. If you have been on Lexapro only a few days, I suggest you continue it for 3 to 4 more weeks to see if it starts to kick in.
If you have been on Lexapro quite awhile and it doesn't seem to be helping, I recommend you talk to your doctor about trying a different antidepressant. Sometimes it takes trial and error with several different medicines before you find one that works best for you. Different classes of antidepressants work on different parts of the brain, so maybe another class might work better for you.
There are now blood tests available that can help your doctor select the antidepressant that will be most effective for you. Talk to your doctor (or a psychiatrist if your doctor is not a psychiatrist) about this.
I presume your doctor has already checked you for other conditions that could be causing depression, such as underactive thyroid. If not, ask him or her for further evaluation to be sure whether another medical condition that can be treated may be causing the depression.
A new nonmedical treatment for depression called TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) has recently been approved by Medicare and other insurance companies for coverage. This is another option you might consider. You can find out more about it online at http://sctmsc.com/
The key thing is to be sure another condition is not causing the depression, and then to get started on a medicine most effective for you. It might take a little time, but you should be able to find the right treatment and start feeling better.
Hope this helps. If you have more questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Try a different antidepressant
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thank you for using Healthcare Magic. I am sorry for your loss. Grief for a loved one's passing generally improves after 6 months to a year. Since it's been 3 years for you, I would say you most likely are having a major depression. Depression in common in people your age and is often confused with dementia. I see you are on Lexapro which can be an effective antidepressant. However, sometimes it takes a little while (a few weeks) before you notice an improvement with many antidepressants. If you have been on Lexapro only a few days, I suggest you continue it for 3 to 4 more weeks to see if it starts to kick in.
If you have been on Lexapro quite awhile and it doesn't seem to be helping, I recommend you talk to your doctor about trying a different antidepressant. Sometimes it takes trial and error with several different medicines before you find one that works best for you. Different classes of antidepressants work on different parts of the brain, so maybe another class might work better for you.
There are now blood tests available that can help your doctor select the antidepressant that will be most effective for you. Talk to your doctor (or a psychiatrist if your doctor is not a psychiatrist) about this.
I presume your doctor has already checked you for other conditions that could be causing depression, such as underactive thyroid. If not, ask him or her for further evaluation to be sure whether another medical condition that can be treated may be causing the depression.
A new nonmedical treatment for depression called TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) has recently been approved by Medicare and other insurance companies for coverage. This is another option you might consider. You can find out more about it online at http://sctmsc.com/
The key thing is to be sure another condition is not causing the depression, and then to get started on a medicine most effective for you. It might take a little time, but you should be able to find the right treatment and start feeling better.
Hope this helps. If you have more questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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