Depression treatment in elderly

Common Questions and Answers about Depression treatment in elderly

depression

Avatar f tn The elderly generally take smaller doses because the liver metabolizes drugs more in the elderly. And any antidepressant can cause increased anxiety particularly in the beginning, but even later, as they can be stimulating.
897400 tn?1303329148 The dosage should be decreased in elderly patients and those with severe renal failure, but adjustment is not necessary in patients with alcoholism or hepatic impairment, or those undergoing haemodialysis.
Avatar f tn i just turned 56 in April. In my journal August. 12, 2013, I recorded wgt. 247.5 lb, BP 157/101, severe depression & anxiety with heaart palpitations and mid-nightime panic attacks. Also using CPAP setting of 14cm for severe sleep apnea, and suffered almost daily migraines. Plus my triglicerides were, as my dr put it, "through the roof!" I could not some days it was all I could do to get out of bed, let alone actually exercise.
Avatar n tn Time between occurances range from a few days to a few months. Anyone have an idea of what the cause or remedy might be in this very elderly and frail person?
Avatar f tn [34-37] Despite these challenges, previous studies have shown that HCV treatment generally was well tolerated by the elderly and there was little or no significant difference in SVR as well as therapy discontinuation rates secondary to adverse effects compared with younger age groups. However, there is a need for prospective randomized controlled trials to be conducted in HCV patients older than 65 years of age to better evaluate the safety and efficacy of HCV treatment in this age group.
Avatar m tn Nevertheless, further analysis of blood samples from the study (above) found that elderly depression is characterized by very low levels of omega-3s, in particular EPA, in red blood cell membranes compared to those in healthy individuals and that EPA-rich supplementation restored EPA concentrations to normal values.
Avatar f tn Studies have demonstrated benefit of BLT for treatment of nonseasonal depression in pregnant patients and elderly patients.
Avatar m tn •Valium may cause depression or worsen preexisting depression. Prior to treatment with Valium, make sure your healthcare provider knows if you are depressed or have a history of depression. People with depression should take Valium only if they are also taking an antidepressant. •Elderly people are more sensitive to the effects of Valium and should be started with a low Valium dosage.
Avatar m tn Benzodiazepines also require special precaution if used by individuals that may be pregnant, alcohol- or drug-dependent, or may have comorbid psychiatric disorders. Clonazepam is generally not recommended for use in elderly people for insomnia due to its high potency relative to other benzodiazepines.
408795 tn?1324935675 If patients develop psychiatric problems, including clinical depression, it is recommended that the patients be carefully monitored during treatment and in the 6-month follow-up period. INTRON A should be used with caution in patients with a history of psychiatric disorders. INTRON A therapy should be discontinued for any patient developing severe psychiatric disorder during treatment. Obtundation and coma have also been observed in some patients, usually elderly, treated at higher doses.
Avatar n tn The prescriptions you are talking about are Zoloft and Tradazone. Those are standard anti-depressents. However, I personally know about Aricept because I tried it for tardive dyskinesia and had a pretty poor response. My grandfather was prescribed Aricept for age related memory loss after a cardiovascular impairment. He couldn't tolerate it either. That doesn't mean at all its the wrong medication generally. Its just it has a fair amount of side effects for some people.
Avatar f tn I am concerned in that because is elderly that he is being medicated for something neurological they were unable to diagnose. I had an elderly friend of the family whom my mother knew. He was in the hospital and he had some blood loss after surgery. He started talking incoherently because of this and they almost gave him Risperdal for "psychosis". Of course my mother stopped them and he did not have any "psychosis" but imagine if she hadn't.
691463 tn?1227419054 we have an elderly cat of 17, he is suddenely much more lethargic than usual, as if in a daze and drooling heavily, we wonder if he may have had a stroke, he experienced something like a seizure couple of weeks ago.
Avatar f tn Hi to all--- I am new to this site and my diagnosis. I have excellent MRI findings for MS (done for evaluation of depression 2 years ago) . Fortunately I haven't had symptoms of MS- thus I have the radiologic isolated syndrome (RIS). Each year my MRI has shown the same-- about 10 lesions in the right areas, finger like shapes with some. They do not enhance. This summer I had a c- spine which showed 1 lesion located there. So there's talk about whether or not I should start therapy.
Avatar n tn That is not a rare disease. Insomnia and day time sleeping are very common in the elderly. Also, you need to define what "problems's sleeping" means. Do you mean sleeps too much, sleeps to little, snores, awakes, stops breathing, etc.
Avatar f tn I found her some hours after the stroke--not sure how many, and she was treated in a stroke unit but is now in an ordinary nursing home with rehab services. Bleeding had stopped on its own by the morning after the stroke, so no attempt to drain off excess blook from the brain was made.
Avatar m tn //fitnizz.
139792 tn?1498585650 s gerontology program have helped identify what predicts happiness and long life in centenarians, as well as what causes depression in 80-somethings and above. In a study of 158 Georgia centenarians, the researchers found that past satisfaction with life -- even if it's simply recalling isolated career accomplishments -- is the key to happiness in our oldest years.
Avatar m tn I agree with you about finding the right medication and having a positive attitude but when you say "get off your big wally and do something about it." That is easier said than done. Sometimes in deep depression it is not a question of mind over matter or even will. I know. I have finally come out of a very severe, deep depression. Lying in bed was what I did for the longest time but it was not my choice. My daughter would take me to the mall and I did not have the energy to walk.
Avatar m tn He is now in a psych unit and now taking clonidine and lorazepam, we hope that this combination will work for him coz, we, the family, are already suffering from his condition. Does the benefit outweighs the risk in trying prozac for an elderly patient? and does clonidine better in teating deppression?
Avatar f tn I would like to suggest that one of your listing titles be "Geriatric". I just joined the site and that's what I was looking for to pose a question about elderly people and certain medications. For example...Geriatric Depression..Not everything is related to Alzheimers. Just a thought as I really hesitated when I looked for a broad subject. Senior Health is just so broad for the people who have lived for so many years, and are living older and older nowadays. Thanks for listening.
Avatar m tn Another thought- has he been eating solid foods or is he only taking in liquids? If he has only been taking in non-solid food, this could wind up causing bulk not to form in stools.
Avatar f tn Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression.
Avatar f tn My mother is 81 years old and has become ill in the last 3 months. She has lost total use of her legs and confused. She hallucinates and has arguments with people that are not there. She was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, treated and sent home. She was home 2 weeks and had to go back with the same symptoms. Do you think she might have alzheimers?