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Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety And Depression
Question: I am disappointed with my life, and i have a lot of things to look after which caused me intense stress. The stress sometimes interferes with me functioning properly and sometimes gives me negative thoughts of hurting my self.Although i do not think I will ever hurt myself these thoughts are bothersome.The last month or so I am visiting a cognitive specialist.
He recommended me to visit a psychiatrist to adjust some pharmacotherapy to control my symptoms. I did so and the psychiatrist recommended me to occasionally use lexotanil and in case i find that this is not enough he will put me through a therapy with a mild antidepressant. The occasional use of lexotanil is not enough so apart from cognitive therapy i schedule another appointment with my psychiatrist. What worries if the fact that if I have to use an antidepressant I will not be able to use alcohol for some time. I am not a heavy alcohol user but i may drink 2 glasses of wine 2-3 times a week something that gives me some form of social life that helps me a bit overcome my problems. Also when i used anti depressants for 6 months in the past i had a lot of side effects like frequent urination at night, muscle twitches and decrease libido.
Do you think there is some alternative therapy like a herbal anti depressive/anti stress. I though of recommending the doctor l theanine of some other herbal remedy at least for a try in the beginning.
Please give me your thoughts on the matter and in case you have so other alternative.
Best regards,
Christis
He recommended me to visit a psychiatrist to adjust some pharmacotherapy to control my symptoms. I did so and the psychiatrist recommended me to occasionally use lexotanil and in case i find that this is not enough he will put me through a therapy with a mild antidepressant. The occasional use of lexotanil is not enough so apart from cognitive therapy i schedule another appointment with my psychiatrist. What worries if the fact that if I have to use an antidepressant I will not be able to use alcohol for some time. I am not a heavy alcohol user but i may drink 2 glasses of wine 2-3 times a week something that gives me some form of social life that helps me a bit overcome my problems. Also when i used anti depressants for 6 months in the past i had a lot of side effects like frequent urination at night, muscle twitches and decrease libido.
Do you think there is some alternative therapy like a herbal anti depressive/anti stress. I though of recommending the doctor l theanine of some other herbal remedy at least for a try in the beginning.
Please give me your thoughts on the matter and in case you have so other alternative.
Best regards,
Christis
Brief Answer:
L-theanine, St. John's worts.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
From your details, it is clear that you have depression.
Alcohol per se, is not contraindicated with antidepressants but it itself can precipitate depression. So it should ideally be avoided.
Antidepressants do have some side effects. But most of these are self limiting. Buspirone is one such antianxiety drugs which has lesser side effects.
L-Theanine is a good alternative to antidepressants for mild to moderate stress which can cause mild deprey.
Also, you can consider St. John's worts.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
L-theanine, St. John's worts.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
From your details, it is clear that you have depression.
Alcohol per se, is not contraindicated with antidepressants but it itself can precipitate depression. So it should ideally be avoided.
Antidepressants do have some side effects. But most of these are self limiting. Buspirone is one such antianxiety drugs which has lesser side effects.
L-Theanine is a good alternative to antidepressants for mild to moderate stress which can cause mild deprey.
Also, you can consider St. John's worts.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thorough answer!Thanks. I have my psychiatrist appointment tomorrow and I am trying to get us much information as possible.
1) Do you think acupuncture is of any use for depression
2) You mentioned L-theanine, St. John's worts for mild to moderate depression. How about if the depression is a bit more severe. Do you think they still work?
Thank you.
1) Do you think acupuncture is of any use for depression
2) You mentioned L-theanine, St. John's worts for mild to moderate depression. How about if the depression is a bit more severe. Do you think they still work?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Antidepressants for severe depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
In my opinion, acupuncture is not much effective for depressive. Yes, it can be a stress-buster but cannot treat depression.
If the depression is severe, antidepressants must be taken. L-theanine can be taken as a supplement to antidepressants.
Hope this answers your query.
Feel free to ask further.
Regards.
Antidepressants for severe depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
In my opinion, acupuncture is not much effective for depressive. Yes, it can be a stress-buster but cannot treat depression.
If the depression is severe, antidepressants must be taken. L-theanine can be taken as a supplement to antidepressants.
Hope this answers your query.
Feel free to ask further.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I visited my psychiatrist, showed him your report and based on the examination he did he said that i suffer from agitated depression. He prescribed me Mersinol (escitalopram) and lexotanil. He prescribed lexotanil for my agitation and also for the increases agitation Mersinol may cause in the first adjustment days. He plans to drop out lexotanil after a couple of days when Mersinol starts working.
1) After 10-20 days when I am off lexotanil do you think i can occasional drink 1-2 glasses of wine without causing harm to my health (i know ideally it should be avoided).
2)In Mersinol leaflet i read that it can cause male type baldness. I have a full set of hair. Do you think I will have a problem? If yes is there anything I can do to preserve my hair.
1) After 10-20 days when I am off lexotanil do you think i can occasional drink 1-2 glasses of wine without causing harm to my health (i know ideally it should be avoided).
2)In Mersinol leaflet i read that it can cause male type baldness. I have a full set of hair. Do you think I will have a problem? If yes is there anything I can do to preserve my hair.
Brief Answer:
Can take wine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
sorry for late response.
Yes you can take wine occasionally. No problems in that.
In my experience, I have practically never seen hairfall due to escitalopram. Even if it occurs, you can take biotin tablet to prevent it.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Can take wine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
sorry for late response.
Yes you can take wine occasionally. No problems in that.
In my experience, I have practically never seen hairfall due to escitalopram. Even if it occurs, you can take biotin tablet to prevent it.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Ok. Thorough answer. From what i understand though wine and lexotanil should never mix.Is this right?
Brief Answer:
Increase risk of sedation
Detailed Answer:
Wine and lexotanil when taken together can increase the risk of sedation. That is why two not recommended together. No other serious interaction.
Thanks
Increase risk of sedation
Detailed Answer:
Wine and lexotanil when taken together can increase the risk of sedation. That is why two not recommended together. No other serious interaction.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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