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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Treatment For Depression And Anxiety?

MY 42 YEAR OLD SON HAS BI-POLAR TENDANCIES, HOWEVER HE HAS NOT BEEN CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED. HE IS HAVING DEEP DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AFTER BEING ON A 6 MONTH MANIC CYCLE OF DESTRUCTION. SELF MEDICATED WITH MARIJUANA. SMOKING EVERY DAY-TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. HE HAS JUST STARTED AA AND HAS BEEN SELF DRUG FREE FOR 4 MONTHS. DR PUT HIM ON ZOLOFT FOR HIS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS WITH NO VISABLE AID. STILL VERY DESPRESSED AND HIGHLY ANXIETY RIDDEN. IS THERE ANOTHER, BETTER DRUG THAT COULD HELP HIM OVER THIS PERIOD. HE TALKS ABOUT NOT WANTING TO LIVE ANYMORE, ALOT.
Mon, 9 Mar 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
He needs to see a psychiatrist and get appropriately diagnosed and treated if bipolar illness is a possibility. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to treat appropriately and requires a specialist experienced in treating it. This would need to be a psychiatrist, not a regular doctor. If he is in recovery from drug and/or alcohol abuse, it is also important to have a psychiatrist, especially one experienced in treating people with chemical abuse, as the combination of these illnesses can be very hard to treat correctly. There are many other drugs available for treating depression and anxiety, and a psychiatrist would be the best person to select the correct drugs. Zoloft and other antidepressants can take several weeks to work, so that is why you may not be seeing any results yet. Drugs like Zoloft can also have the side effect of inducing a manic phase if underlying bipolar illness is present. Talking about not wanting to live is a serious indication of very severe depression, so he needs to get prompt care with a psychiatrist or treatment center for mental/emotional illness. Hope this helps.
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What Is The Treatment For Depression And Anxiety?

He needs to see a psychiatrist and get appropriately diagnosed and treated if bipolar illness is a possibility. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to treat appropriately and requires a specialist experienced in treating it. This would need to be a psychiatrist, not a regular doctor. If he is in recovery from drug and/or alcohol abuse, it is also important to have a psychiatrist, especially one experienced in treating people with chemical abuse, as the combination of these illnesses can be very hard to treat correctly. There are many other drugs available for treating depression and anxiety, and a psychiatrist would be the best person to select the correct drugs. Zoloft and other antidepressants can take several weeks to work, so that is why you may not be seeing any results yet. Drugs like Zoloft can also have the side effect of inducing a manic phase if underlying bipolar illness is present. Talking about not wanting to live is a serious indication of very severe depression, so he needs to get prompt care with a psychiatrist or treatment center for mental/emotional illness. Hope this helps.