HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Medication For Depression And Aggressive Behavior In A Heart Patient

default
Posted on Mon, 6 Apr 2015
Question: Hello, my husband has a sever heart condition, and he is being treated by a cardiologist, my questions is this he is suffering from mental anguish over this condition, and he needs a antidepressant to help level his hopelessness, fear, and despair, we have been to our doctor and he was put on Lexapro, but took one 10mg pill and it took him to the bottom and made it worse, so he never took another, now let me explain to you my husbands mind works opposite than most peoples, his mind spins constantly and always has, and his mind his mother says he has been diagnosed with this years back, he is 48 years old, he has obsessive compulsive going against him as well, we will be seeing his primary care doctor again, just need to know what type of antidepressant would you recommend for a person that has these symptom's going against him, as I have work in a pharmacy and know there are many on the market today, his mother is a RN and has worked with phsycatric patients for some years and is now retired and doesn't know either, but we need to know is there a medication for a person that may help with a person with the disorders that you would recommend trying? I know many of the drugs on the market, but his mind works different than most normal minds do, he has a very responsible career, he feels he is dying with the virus that attacked his heart, and medications from the cardiologist, his heart is not responding to and will be having a pacemaker/defibulator put in on the 16th, he has FAITH in God and has prayed and continues to pray, so my question is with someone with his minds spins and spins looking for a solution to the fix the problem but has burnt up many tires doing this,{this is how I see his mind working and it always been this way}, any suggestions on what type of antidepressant to start with, would be appreciated!
Thank You So very much, just need to know is there is a certain medication we should start with according to how his mind works, but also knowing God will help!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I recommend you a safer antidepressant drug.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I passed carefully through your prescription about you husband situation, and I understand that both of you are in a difficult situation. First, I would say that almost all chronic health problems are associated with some forms of depression; especially severe heart disorders. I would be very interested to have a full prescription of your husband exact cardiac history (exams performed and diagnostic conclusions), as it has direct implications on his inabilities and thus in his mood disorders and depression.
There exist many antidepressant drugs available to treat his mental condition, but almost all of them exert in a certain way side effects. Regarding his heart condition, I would be interested to focus on those representatives, which do not exert harmful cardiac effects (such as induction of arrhythmia, or severe vegetative disorders, etc).
You mentioned Lexapro, but I would not prefer as it has shown important effects in abnormally prolonging QTc interval on ECG; predisposing thus to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (especially at higher doses>40 mg/day).
I would recommend sertraline, or fluoxetine, or paroxetine, as they have a more safe profile, and do not exert important QTc prolongation effects. They need a two week interval to exert their beneficial effect in treating depression. Generally are associated in the first 2 week with a benzodiazepine such as Alprazolam to cover the treatment until they start pharmacological action.
Nevertheless, I strongly recommend you to consult a psychiatrist to guide you through the therapy.
Hope to have been helpful to you! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9544 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Medication For Depression And Aggressive Behavior In A Heart Patient

Brief Answer: I recommend you a safer antidepressant drug. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I passed carefully through your prescription about you husband situation, and I understand that both of you are in a difficult situation. First, I would say that almost all chronic health problems are associated with some forms of depression; especially severe heart disorders. I would be very interested to have a full prescription of your husband exact cardiac history (exams performed and diagnostic conclusions), as it has direct implications on his inabilities and thus in his mood disorders and depression. There exist many antidepressant drugs available to treat his mental condition, but almost all of them exert in a certain way side effects. Regarding his heart condition, I would be interested to focus on those representatives, which do not exert harmful cardiac effects (such as induction of arrhythmia, or severe vegetative disorders, etc). You mentioned Lexapro, but I would not prefer as it has shown important effects in abnormally prolonging QTc interval on ECG; predisposing thus to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (especially at higher doses>40 mg/day). I would recommend sertraline, or fluoxetine, or paroxetine, as they have a more safe profile, and do not exert important QTc prolongation effects. They need a two week interval to exert their beneficial effect in treating depression. Generally are associated in the first 2 week with a benzodiazepine such as Alprazolam to cover the treatment until they start pharmacological action. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend you to consult a psychiatrist to guide you through the therapy. Hope to have been helpful to you! Greetings! Dr. Iliri