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Is Fetzima Safe To Take For Depression And Anxiety?

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Posted on Fri, 2 May 2014
Question: I am writing this for my husband, he is 71 and for years has trouble with anxiety and will awake in the night with a panic attack. he has tried a few different medicines, but for the last years have been on celexa, however, I feel like it really doesn't help him as he is very tired all the time and has no desire to do anything, he retired 19 years ago and after a couple years he took on a part time job, but after a few years did not want to do it anymore. so since then he has done pretty much nothing. he has no hobbies, he also has put a lot of weight on, he is now 258 and 5"6 in. tall. and I feel his health keeps getting worse. his doc decided to put him on a new drug called Fetzima, but he has not started taking it. He read up on it and it has a lot of serious side effects and a lot of people with bad reviews. I am not sure where to go from here. Is there another drug out there with less side effects and will take care of the anxiety and I feel depression. I am thinking that the celexa is not doing the job. please help! Mrs XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (12 hours later)
Brief Answer: we can try sertaline, it is safe and good Detailed Answer: Hello Mrs. XXXXXXX I have read the query and I have hopes that your husband can become better. The present drug celexa is not working properly or rather it is ineffective and we have to switch him to a different one. You are not comfortable.with fetzima. There is another good and safe molecule- sertraline. It is available worldwide and even safe for cardiac patients and in old age. The drug has less interaction with other medicines and is preety neat molecule. The only thing one needs to take care is - regular intake of water/ salads...As the drug can cause feeling of dryness and that is why more water is recommended. Other wise there is no major issue. The compalint of dryness is even felt with celexa, so, it should not be new to him. Please discuss this drug with him and i hope that he will have good improvement in about two weeks of starting this new drug. Some people show even faster results. I hope the reply is useful for you. Kindly feel free to ask if there is any other doubt. Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Psychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Manisha Gopal

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 947 Questions

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Is Fetzima Safe To Take For Depression And Anxiety?

Brief Answer: we can try sertaline, it is safe and good Detailed Answer: Hello Mrs. XXXXXXX I have read the query and I have hopes that your husband can become better. The present drug celexa is not working properly or rather it is ineffective and we have to switch him to a different one. You are not comfortable.with fetzima. There is another good and safe molecule- sertraline. It is available worldwide and even safe for cardiac patients and in old age. The drug has less interaction with other medicines and is preety neat molecule. The only thing one needs to take care is - regular intake of water/ salads...As the drug can cause feeling of dryness and that is why more water is recommended. Other wise there is no major issue. The compalint of dryness is even felt with celexa, so, it should not be new to him. Please discuss this drug with him and i hope that he will have good improvement in about two weeks of starting this new drug. Some people show even faster results. I hope the reply is useful for you. Kindly feel free to ask if there is any other doubt. Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Psychiatry