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What Causes Over Sedation While On Nefazodone?
Question: Started taking 100MG of nematode for 4 weeks started feeling better from anxiety and depression. All of a sudden the meds over sedated me an I had to go down to 12.5 MG which is so low. I am 61 what happened has my body changed? Antidepressants are sedating me and when I was young I could take meds without sedation. I am so struggling.
Nefazodone
Nefazodone
Brief Answer:
It is due to change in the receptors number in brain
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query.
Due to ageing your body has changed and it develops with everyone. Pharmacokinetic [what your body does to drug] and pharmacodynamic [what drug does to your body] changes occur in old age and that is why even low dose of the drug is causing significant side effects.
As the body gets old, number of receptors in brain is decreased and become more sensitive to drugs. Also the capacity to metabolize drug decreases, so small amount of drug can have higher concentration in plasma and effects will last longer. That is why pharmacotherapy should be started with aim of start low and goes slow in the elderly population.
You are on antihypertensive drugs also. So I would here suggest you to go for routine blood screen regularly like CBC, RFT particularly electrolytes. Sometimes the antidepressant drugs can cause hyponatremia [low sodium level], it can present with excessive sedation and dizziness, confusion. In my opinion you can go for this blood screen.
Alternatively you can go for another antidepressant drugs I have suggested in last discussion with you like prozac, pristiq, wellbutrin. These drugs won't cause sedation. Kindly discuss about this with your doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
It is due to change in the receptors number in brain
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query.
Due to ageing your body has changed and it develops with everyone. Pharmacokinetic [what your body does to drug] and pharmacodynamic [what drug does to your body] changes occur in old age and that is why even low dose of the drug is causing significant side effects.
As the body gets old, number of receptors in brain is decreased and become more sensitive to drugs. Also the capacity to metabolize drug decreases, so small amount of drug can have higher concentration in plasma and effects will last longer. That is why pharmacotherapy should be started with aim of start low and goes slow in the elderly population.
You are on antihypertensive drugs also. So I would here suggest you to go for routine blood screen regularly like CBC, RFT particularly electrolytes. Sometimes the antidepressant drugs can cause hyponatremia [low sodium level], it can present with excessive sedation and dizziness, confusion. In my opinion you can go for this blood screen.
Alternatively you can go for another antidepressant drugs I have suggested in last discussion with you like prozac, pristiq, wellbutrin. These drugs won't cause sedation. Kindly discuss about this with your doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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