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Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety And Depression While On Zoloft
Question: my husband is currently on Zoloft he has tried many medications for anxiety and depression but NOTHING IS WORKING. Every morning he wakes up shaking and his emotions are uncontrollable, cries and shakes. He has tried so many antidepressants , he is on Ativan , Limictal and takes amitriptyline to help sleep. Please we need answers. Been going through this for the last 8 years.
Brief Answer:
This could be resistant depression.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts
I can understand your concern. Anxiety and depressive disorders run a long course and in some individuals response of treatment is seen very late. He has been on a variety of medicines like Cymbalta, Lamotrigine, Zoloft, Clonazepam, Tagretol, Lunesta, Bupropion, Paxil, Restoril etc and still his symptoms are persistent.
His current medicines like Zoloft (SSRI drug), Lamotrigine (mood stabiliser and also used in resistant depression), Ativan (Lorazepam which is used in control of severe anxiety and for sleep problems), Amitriptyline which is an antidepressant. Even with these medicines his symptoms are persistent.
I'd advise you to consult his doctor again and ask for some investigations. He should get his Vitamin B12, D, Thyroid hormone levels checked. Low vitamin B12 and D levels are found in more than 50% of anxiety and depressive disorder patients. If any levels come in lower range start taking B12 and D supplements. Hypothyroidism also results in poor response of medicines. Once these medical causes are ruled out then the treatment can be done on line of resistant cases.
Addition of low dose antipsychotic mood stabiliser should help him. Low dose Olanzapine or Risperidone will not only supplement the actions of other drugs but will also reduce his anxiety. You can talk with his doctor for that.
Apart from this I'd advise him to go for relaxation exercises like Yoga, Progressive muscle relaxation exercise, breathing exercise etc. These also help in quick and sustained response of medicines.
Thanks, Take care
This could be resistant depression.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts
I can understand your concern. Anxiety and depressive disorders run a long course and in some individuals response of treatment is seen very late. He has been on a variety of medicines like Cymbalta, Lamotrigine, Zoloft, Clonazepam, Tagretol, Lunesta, Bupropion, Paxil, Restoril etc and still his symptoms are persistent.
His current medicines like Zoloft (SSRI drug), Lamotrigine (mood stabiliser and also used in resistant depression), Ativan (Lorazepam which is used in control of severe anxiety and for sleep problems), Amitriptyline which is an antidepressant. Even with these medicines his symptoms are persistent.
I'd advise you to consult his doctor again and ask for some investigations. He should get his Vitamin B12, D, Thyroid hormone levels checked. Low vitamin B12 and D levels are found in more than 50% of anxiety and depressive disorder patients. If any levels come in lower range start taking B12 and D supplements. Hypothyroidism also results in poor response of medicines. Once these medical causes are ruled out then the treatment can be done on line of resistant cases.
Addition of low dose antipsychotic mood stabiliser should help him. Low dose Olanzapine or Risperidone will not only supplement the actions of other drugs but will also reduce his anxiety. You can talk with his doctor for that.
Apart from this I'd advise him to go for relaxation exercises like Yoga, Progressive muscle relaxation exercise, breathing exercise etc. These also help in quick and sustained response of medicines.
Thanks, Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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