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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Depression
Question: I am seeking help for my adult son that has suffered from untreated depression for many years. In the past 2 weeks he said he felt like something snapped and electricity ran through his body. now he has crying spells for no reason, gets angry enough to want to kill, throws things around. Yesterday he left his wife without telling her and left his wedding band and cell phone. He came home 3 hours later and said he found himself driving on the interstate and does not remember taking off his ring. I am so worried and he does not want to be locked up and lose work hours, doe not want to go to the ER since they "would think he only wants drugs". He is 35 and a very hard worker. he went to his family dr yesterday and he prescribed him Prozac. The Pharmacist told him it would take a month to help and all the possible side effects. he was so angry he threw the bottle at his wife but I did convince him to take a pill last night. Please tell me what I can do for my son before something terrible happens.
Brief Answer:
Having acute depression, consult Psychiatrist.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXX
Thanks for posting query. All his symptoms seems to be related to depression.
Chronic depression, if untreated leads to concerning problems. They are sometimes quite difficult to treat which further causes problems for him and the family around him. As he has developed suicidal or homicidal tendency with behavioural changes he needs medical attention at the earliest. You should be very careful about his behavioral and paranoid personality.
I would recommend that he visits a psychiatrist instead of a family physician for appropriate management of his current symptoms. In the mean while continue prozac. It does have some side effects; but it is not standardized to all patients. There are many patients who tolerated fluoxetine (prozac) very well.
Visit a psychiatrist. I think he also needs cognitive behavioral therapy along with medications. Regular follow ups and psychologist counseling is the need of hour now.
So I request you take him to Psychiatrist and get examined as early as possible.
Remeber any depression medicine takes few weeks to start working so take care during this period.
With anti-depression medicines he will feel better.
I hope, I answered your query.
If you have further query or clarification, please write back.
Take care
Dr. Ramesh Vachharajanmi, XXXXXXX
Having acute depression, consult Psychiatrist.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXX
Thanks for posting query. All his symptoms seems to be related to depression.
Chronic depression, if untreated leads to concerning problems. They are sometimes quite difficult to treat which further causes problems for him and the family around him. As he has developed suicidal or homicidal tendency with behavioural changes he needs medical attention at the earliest. You should be very careful about his behavioral and paranoid personality.
I would recommend that he visits a psychiatrist instead of a family physician for appropriate management of his current symptoms. In the mean while continue prozac. It does have some side effects; but it is not standardized to all patients. There are many patients who tolerated fluoxetine (prozac) very well.
Visit a psychiatrist. I think he also needs cognitive behavioral therapy along with medications. Regular follow ups and psychologist counseling is the need of hour now.
So I request you take him to Psychiatrist and get examined as early as possible.
Remeber any depression medicine takes few weeks to start working so take care during this period.
With anti-depression medicines he will feel better.
I hope, I answered your query.
If you have further query or clarification, please write back.
Take care
Dr. Ramesh Vachharajanmi, XXXXXXX
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