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Prescribed Olimelt For Depression, Anxiety, Sadness. Can She Get Complete Relief From This?
Our doctor suggested olimelt for my daughter who is aged 21 yrs. She had depression , anxiety and sadness few months back. This happened twice or thrice during the last year. Whenever she sits idle for quite sometime, or few days this problem starts. We have been giving olimelt, senspram etc. as suggested y the Doctor. However, when discontinued for two three weeks, again it starts.Can she get complete relief from this? Pl advice. Dixit
Mon, 22 Jul 2013
Hello Mr./Ms. Dixit
Olimelt is Olanzapine and is primarily an antipsychotic. For recurrent depression, olanzapine is not the drug of choice and there are better drugs available. Senspram (escitalopram) is one such, and is an antidepressant.
Regarding the prognosis, that is whether she will come out of this, you need to understand the disease process itself. Recurrent depressive disorder is a disease entity in itself and it is a chronic illness with remissions and exacerbations even in absence of any apparent stressor. However, with modern treatment modalities, which include both medicines and psychotherapy, we can maintain remission for long and reduce the chances of recurrences effectively.
So please discuss the available treatments with your psychiatrist and choose the one that best suits your daughter. Also, it is important to comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan.
Hope this helps
Dr A Rao Kavoor
Olimelt is Olanzapine and is primarily an antipsychotic. For recurrent depression, olanzapine is not the drug of choice and there are better drugs available. Senspram (escitalopram) is one such, and is an antidepressant.
Regarding the prognosis, that is whether she will come out of this, you need to understand the disease process itself. Recurrent depressive disorder is a disease entity in itself and it is a chronic illness with remissions and exacerbations even in absence of any apparent stressor. However, with modern treatment modalities, which include both medicines and psychotherapy, we can maintain remission for long and reduce the chances of recurrences effectively.
So please discuss the available treatments with your psychiatrist and choose the one that best suits your daughter. Also, it is important to comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan.
Hope this helps
Dr A Rao Kavoor
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User's Response
Dr. Balaji Bharadwaj,
Psychiatrist's Response
Psychiatrist's Response
Depression is a mood disorder. The mood is sad for most part of the day and for days on end (at least two weeks). It may start after some stress or failure in exams etc. but that is not necessary in every case. When the sadness is persisting to an extent that one cannot be cheered up by friends and family, it is pathological sadness or depression.
When depression is severe, the patient may also have psychotic symptoms like hallucinations - hearing imaginary voices or seeing imaginary things. It is for this severity of depression that olimelt (olanzapine) and censpram (esciatalopram) are given. The treatment should be continued for long periods of time (9 to 12 months) and should not be stopped without the doctors advice. After 1 year of being free of symptoms, a taper may be attempted.
When depression is severe, the patient may also have psychotic symptoms like hallucinations - hearing imaginary voices or seeing imaginary things. It is for this severity of depression that olimelt (olanzapine) and censpram (esciatalopram) are given. The treatment should be continued for long periods of time (9 to 12 months) and should not be stopped without the doctors advice. After 1 year of being free of symptoms, a taper may be attempted.
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Hi. We have to see that how many episodes of depression your daughter has suffered till date. Secondly why Olimelt has been prescribed. Because senspram (escitalopram) is an antidepressant which is prescribed for depression. Third thing you should understand is; even after complete recovery from an episode of depression (i.e. when your daughter reports that she is feeling completely all right now), one needs to take the antidepressant for at least 6 months & preferably for 1 year without any gap or abruptly stopping medicines. Medicines must be stopped by gradual tapering of dose. Hence in my view, you should restart senspram & consult your treating doctor for further course of action. Regards
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HI,
THANKS FOR CHOOSING HCM,
try to find out the cause of depression
1.any personal issues which she is failing to discuss with you
2.difficulties in studying and at the college
3.any thing related to the past that has left a very strong impression on her etc.
though it is difficult to find the cause,depression could be completely eliminated only if you can sort out the correct cause
apart from the medication,counselling and good motivation brings a lot of change
if you depend on medication,after stopping it you need to face the problems of recurrence
so as she is young better go for behavorial therapy
tell her to read inspirational books,watch such movies
encourage her to do meditation,good exercise
help her by giving good tutions if she has problems in studies
good luck
hope i answered your query
feel free to contact me for further queries
THANKS FOR CHOOSING HCM,
try to find out the cause of depression
1.any personal issues which she is failing to discuss with you
2.difficulties in studying and at the college
3.any thing related to the past that has left a very strong impression on her etc.
though it is difficult to find the cause,depression could be completely eliminated only if you can sort out the correct cause
apart from the medication,counselling and good motivation brings a lot of change
if you depend on medication,after stopping it you need to face the problems of recurrence
so as she is young better go for behavorial therapy
tell her to read inspirational books,watch such movies
encourage her to do meditation,good exercise
help her by giving good tutions if she has problems in studies
good luck
hope i answered your query
feel free to contact me for further queries
I find this answer helpful
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