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	<title>Depression Symptoms Treatment &#187; Question &#8211; Answer</title>
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		<item>
		<title>Depression and Anxiety</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-anxiety/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-anxiety/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:36:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bupropion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fluoxetine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methylphenidate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ritalin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sertraline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Serzone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellbutrin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoloft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=981</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. I have been taking 0.1 mg of Synthroid and 200 mg Serzone daily for a little over six months. This seems to have improved my depression and anxiety significantly, however I feel heavily sedated all the time. My physician believes my current dosage of Synthroid is appropriate. If I reduce the Serzone, I feel my depression and anxiety returning. If I were your patient, would you change my antidepressant medication or augment the Serzone with a second agent? Answer. I would need to know more about your medication regimen; i.e., do you take the 200 mg of Serzone as a single dose or in two or three doses? At what times of day? If you are now taking the Serzone as a daytime dose, I would try shifting most or all of it to bedtime. Splitting up the total dose into 2 small (25 mg) doses and taking the remaining 150 mg at bedtime might work for some patients, without compromising efficacy. If you are already taking the Serzone in this way and are still feeling heavily sedated all the time, there are two equally reasonable options, in my view: 1. Switch to a less sedating agent (e.g., fluoxetine Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. I have been taking 0.1 mg of Synthroid and 200 mg Serzone daily for a little over six months. This seems to have improved my depression and anxiety significantly, however I feel heavily sedated all the time. My physician believes my current dosage of Synthroid is appropriate. If I reduce the Serzone, I feel my depression and anxiety returning. If I were your patient, would you change my antidepressant medication or augment the Serzone with a second agent?

Answer. I would need to know more about your medication regimen; i.e., do you take the 200 mg of Serzone as a single dose or in two or three doses? At what times of day? If you are now taking the Serzone as a daytime dose, I would try shifting most or all of it to bedtime. Splitting up the total dose into 2 small (25 mg) doses and taking the remaining 150 mg at bedtime might work for some patients, without compromising efficacy. If you are already taking the Serzone in this way and are still feeling heavily sedated all the time, there are two equally reasonable options, in my view:

1. Switch to a less sedating agent (e.g., fluoxetine <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-anxiety/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Augmenting Depression</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/augmenting-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/augmenting-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 04:07:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buspirone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Desipramine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MAOIs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methylphenidate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pamine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paxil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ritalin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selegiline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Serzone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SSRIs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellbutrin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoloft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=925</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. I am veteran of SSRI poop-out. After more than four successful years on Zoloft, it stopped working. When tyrosine was added, it was effective for another nine months. My doctor and I then tried various strategies that didn't work, usually because of my hypersensitivity to side effects. Wellbutrin made me jittery even at low doses and caused insomnia. Desipramine made me so jumpy, dumb and uncomfortable that I couldn't take another dose. I have had similar reactions to approximately 10 other tricyclics. I have also tried all of the other SSRIs which I couldn't tolerate. I think augmentation is the way to go at this point. What do you think? Answer. I admire your tenacity, after all these complications with your treatment. So, let's go through each of your questions and see if it leads to some treatment options to discuss with your doctor. First, I think buspirone augmentation can be helpful, particularly if there is an anxiety component to the depression. In fact, there are studies showing that buspirone alone, and in high doses (at least 50 mg/day) has antidepressant properties. Pindolol Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. I am veteran of SSRI poop-out. After more than four successful years on Zoloft, it stopped working. When tyrosine was added, it was effective for another nine months. My doctor and I then tried various strategies that didn't work, usually because of my hypersensitivity to side effects. Wellbutrin made me jittery even at low doses and caused insomnia. Desipramine made me so jumpy, dumb and uncomfortable that I couldn't take another dose. I have had similar reactions to approximately 10 other tricyclics. I have also tried all of the other SSRIs which I couldn't tolerate. I think augmentation is the way to go at this point. What do you think?

Answer. I admire your tenacity, after all these complications with your treatment. So, let's go through each of your questions and see if it leads to some treatment options to discuss with your doctor. First, I think buspirone augmentation can be helpful, particularly if there is an anxiety component to the depression. In fact, there are studies showing that buspirone alone, and in high doses (at least 50 mg/day) has antidepressant properties. Pindolol <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/augmenting-depression/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ambien and Depression</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/ambien-and-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/ambien-and-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 May 2010 04:04:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ambien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antihistamines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diphenhydramine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luvox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[panic attack]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SSRIs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trazodone]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=922</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. I take Luvox 150 mg per day for chronic depression and obsessive anger problems. My psychiatrist is concerned about my sleep habits, which have basically been the same all my life; I cannot sleep at night, I only sleep soundly in the mid-morning hours. He prescribed Ambien to be taken at bedtime and it put me to sleep right away. I was delighted with that result, however, for two or three days after taking even just one dose, all the obsessive anger and intense depression symptoms would reappear, as if the Ambien negated all the beneficial effects of the Luvox. The psychiatrist prescribed trazodone as a sleeping agent, only to be taken as needed. Well, it works occasionally, but when it does work, I sleep not only through the night but most of the next day as well. But it doesn't detract from the positive effects of the Luvox. I want to know how drugs such as Ambien and over-the-counter decongestants interfere with SSRIs like Luvox, if such interference is common and if these medications have any property that might cause these problems. Can you offer any insight? Answer. I wish I had Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. I take Luvox 150 mg per day for chronic depression and obsessive anger problems. My psychiatrist is concerned about my sleep habits, which have basically been the same all my life; I cannot sleep at night, I only sleep soundly in the mid-morning hours. He prescribed Ambien to be taken at bedtime and it put me to sleep right away. I was delighted with that result, however, for two or three days after taking even just one dose, all the obsessive anger and intense depression symptoms would reappear, as if the Ambien negated all the beneficial effects of the Luvox. The psychiatrist prescribed trazodone as a sleeping agent, only to be taken as needed. Well, it works occasionally, but when it does work, I sleep not only through the night but most of the next day as well. But it doesn't detract from the positive effects of the Luvox. I want to know how drugs such as Ambien and over-the-counter decongestants interfere with SSRIs like Luvox, if such interference is common and if these medications have any property that might cause these problems. Can you offer any insight?

Answer. I wish I had <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/ambien-and-depression/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Male Depression</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/male-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/male-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 04:01:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chronic pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=919</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. I am attempting to research the area of male depression. Through my experience of working with clients and my current reading it, would seem clear that men do not express their depression along the lines of the symptoms presented in the DSM-IV. It appears to be particularly "feminine" symptomology or a societal expectation of feminine expression. I wish to explore how men tend to act out their emotions or hide their emotion through actions such as violence, substance abuse or workaholism. I would appreciate your comments and perhaps some comment on where to find more information. Answer. I am not sure I entirely agree with the premise of your question, though I do think you are on to something. In my experience as a psychiatrist, most severely depressed men, like most severely depressed women, satisfy most of the typical DSM-IV criteria for major depression. There are exceptions, of course, so-called "atypical" depression with its anxious, phobic, somatizing features; hypochondriacal forms of depression; depressive states expressed as chronic pain, etc. But in the main, I have always Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. I am attempting to research the area of male depression. Through my experience of working with clients and my current reading it, would seem clear that men do not express their depression along the lines of the symptoms presented in the DSM-IV. It appears to be particularly "feminine" symptomology or a societal expectation of feminine expression. I wish to explore how men tend to act out their emotions or hide their emotion through actions such as violence, substance abuse or workaholism. I would appreciate your comments and perhaps some comment on where to find more information.

Answer. I am not sure I entirely agree with the premise of your question, though I do think you are on to something. In my experience as a psychiatrist, most severely depressed men, like most severely depressed women, satisfy most of the typical DSM-IV criteria for major depression. There are exceptions, of course, so-called "atypical" depression with its anxious, phobic, somatizing features; hypochondriacal forms of depression; depressive states expressed as chronic pain, etc. But in the main, I have always <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/male-depression/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Suicide Attempt</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/suicide-attempt/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/suicide-attempt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:25:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Effexor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elavil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pamelor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remeron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoloft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. Last month I attempted suicide. I still feel that my family would be better off without me, that there is no future for me, that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm utterly exhausted. There is no more fight within me. I am currently on Zoloft and Valium. I have taken Prozac, Elavil, Pamelor and Doxipan. I am also in outpatient counseling, which helps a little. Do you have any suggestions that might help me see some improvement and give me a reason to keep fighting? Answer. Your story, unfortunately, echoes those of millions of individuals who suffer from severe, major depression. Some day, you may look back at what happened following your suicide attempt and feel that you were given a second chance to succeed at life. While I don't have any magic solutions for you, I do want to offer you the perspective I have gained after having treated many hundreds of such patients. First: Depression is a treatable and reversible condition, even when several therapies or medications have failed. There are still many treatments that could be tried and which I have seen work. It might Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. Last month I attempted suicide. I still feel that my family would be better off without me, that there is no future for me, that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm utterly exhausted. There is no more fight within me. I am currently on Zoloft and Valium. I have taken Prozac, Elavil, Pamelor and Doxipan. I am also in outpatient counseling, which helps a little. Do you have any suggestions that might help me see some improvement and give me a reason to keep fighting?

Answer. Your story, unfortunately, echoes those of millions of individuals who suffer from severe, major depression. Some day, you may look back at what happened following your suicide attempt and feel that you were given a second chance to succeed at life. While I don't have any magic solutions for you, I do want to offer you the perspective I have gained after having treated many hundreds of such patients.

First: Depression is a treatable and reversible condition, even when several therapies or medications have failed. There are still many treatments that could be tried and which I have seen work. It might <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/suicide-attempt/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Debating Prozac for a Child</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/debating-prozac-for-a-child/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/debating-prozac-for-a-child/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:22:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=894</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. After having exhausted many other avenues of treatment for my 6-year-old son, I feel confident that Prozac could change his life for the better. My son has endured a lot in his short life, from the domestic abuse and alcoholism of my husband to moving twice. He was evaluated by two different psychiatrists, who found him to be a mad/sad child and they also said he was genetically loaded for depression. Both my husband and I have experienced depression. I feel like our lives are becoming more out of control each day. I am afraid for him and his future. Can you suggest what my next step should be? Answer. I appreciate that this is a painful situation for you, but I am a bit unclear as to what, precisely, is causing your lives to become more out of control each day . First of all, I would be interested to know what the psychiatrists said about your son, besides that he is a mad or sad child. Did they feel that he is clinically depressed or in need of an antidepressant? If not, what did they recommend? Did they feel that your son was reacting normally to a very difficult situation? Clinical Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. After having exhausted many other avenues of treatment for my 6-year-old son, I feel confident that Prozac could change his life for the better. My son has endured a lot in his short life, from the domestic abuse and alcoholism of my husband to moving twice. He was evaluated by two different psychiatrists, who found him to be a mad/sad child and they also said he was genetically loaded for depression. Both my husband and I have experienced depression. I feel like our lives are becoming more out of control each day. I am afraid for him and his future. Can you suggest what my next step should be?

Answer. I appreciate that this is a painful situation for you, but I am a bit unclear as to what, precisely, is causing your lives to become more out of control each day . First of all, I would be interested to know what the psychiatrists said about your son, besides that he is a mad or sad child. Did they feel that he is clinically depressed or in need of an antidepressant? If not, what did they recommend? Did they feel that your son was reacting normally to a very difficult situation?

Clinical <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/debating-prozac-for-a-child/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Homeopathic Treatment for Depression</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/homeopathic-treatment-for-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/homeopathic-treatment-for-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:09:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=883</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. Have there been any studies or support in the treatment of depression with homeopathic remedies? Answer. There is a good deal of interest in the use of herbal remedies for the treatment of depression, as well as in the use of naturally-occurring precursors (building blocks) of various brain chemicals, called amino acids. The most persuasive literature on herbal treatments involves the use of St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum); this is reviewed in an article by Ken Bender in the October 1996 Psychiatric Times. German researchers recently published an analysis of 23 trials of this herb, in a total of over 1,700 patients with mild to moderate depression, and concluded that it is superior to placebo and comparable to standard antidepressants, while producing fewer side effects; however, there is very little in the American literature on this and I would reserve judgment regarding severe or psychotic types of depression. Many studies have suggested that amino acids - which are naturally occurring building blocks of proteins - may be useful as adjunctive treatments of depression. L-tryptophan, Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. Have there been any studies or support in the treatment of depression with homeopathic remedies?

Answer. There is a good deal of interest in the use of herbal remedies for the treatment of depression, as well as in the use of naturally-occurring precursors (building blocks) of various brain chemicals, called amino acids. The most persuasive literature on herbal treatments involves the use of St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum); this is reviewed in an article by Ken Bender in the October 1996 Psychiatric Times. German researchers recently published an analysis of 23 trials of this herb, in a total of over 1,700 patients with mild to moderate depression, and concluded that it is superior to placebo and comparable to standard antidepressants, while producing fewer side effects; however, there is very little in the American literature on this and I would reserve judgment regarding severe or psychotic types of depression.

Many studies have suggested that amino acids - which are naturally occurring building blocks of proteins - may be useful as adjunctive treatments of depression. L-tryptophan, <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/homeopathic-treatment-for-depression/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is 5-HTP Safe?</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/is-5-htp-safe/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/is-5-htp-safe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Mar 2010 06:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antidepressants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fluvoxamine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luvox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tranylcypromine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoloft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=876</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. Prime Time Live recently aired a story on treatment of depression, obesity and insomnia with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Is 5-HTP effective and safe? Answer. Well, the media are often ahead of the scientists on these things, but I must say I am very skeptical about the 5-HTP story (although I did not see the Prime Time piece). By the way, 5-HTP is the precursor chemical for serotonin, which as you probably know is the neurotransmitter heavily involved in depression, appetite regulation, pain perception and sleep. In the first place, very few clinicians, to my knowledge, are prescribing or recommending 5-HTP to patients, at least among psychiatrists. Thus I suspect we are hearing about a handful of "testimonial" cases rather than seeing the results of methodical research or even clinical case reports. In fact, I didn't find a single clinical case report or recent controlled study of 5-HTP for the uses you mention in the professional literature within the past 5 years! However, there was one report in the British Journal of Psychiatry (July 1985 pp. 16-22) comparing the L isomer of 5-HTP Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. Prime Time Live recently aired a story on treatment of depression, obesity and insomnia with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Is 5-HTP effective and safe?

Answer. Well, the media are often ahead of the scientists on these things, but I must say I am very skeptical about the 5-HTP story (although I did not see the Prime Time piece). By the way, 5-HTP is the precursor chemical for serotonin, which as you probably know is the neurotransmitter heavily involved in depression, appetite regulation, pain perception and sleep. In the first place, very few clinicians, to my knowledge, are prescribing or recommending 5-HTP to patients, at least among psychiatrists. Thus I suspect we are hearing about a handful of "testimonial" cases rather than seeing the results of methodical research or even clinical case reports. In fact, I didn't find a single clinical case report or recent controlled study of 5-HTP for the uses you mention in the professional literature within the past 5 years!

However, there was one report in the British Journal of Psychiatry (July 1985 pp. 16-22) comparing the L isomer of 5-HTP <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/is-5-htp-safe/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Depression and the medically ill</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-the-medically-ill/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-the-medically-ill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:58:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=874</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. Are you aware of any fairly recent articles or publications dealing with the evaluation and treatment of depression in the medically ill, the terminally ill, the dying, the hospice patient, etc.? I would appreciate any information you might have available. Answer. There are numerous articles and studies on evaluating and treating depression in the medically ill. You may be interested in seeing the entire October, 1994 issue of Psychiatric Annals, which describes how depression may be mimicked by, and coincident with, a wide variety of medical and neurological disorders. More recently, the journal CNS Spectrums (April 1999) devoted its entire issue to "Psychiatric Aspects of Medical Illness." There is also a fine article by Pierce and Glassman on "Treatment of depression in patients with heart disease", in the May 1998 issue of the Journal of Practical Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Regarding the terminally ill, you may want to see the article by Block, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, on assessing and managing depression in the terminally ill patient. This is published in the Feb. Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. Are you aware of any fairly recent articles or publications dealing with the evaluation and treatment of depression in the medically ill, the terminally ill, the dying, the hospice patient, etc.? I would appreciate any information you might have available.

Answer. There are numerous articles and studies on evaluating and treating depression in the medically ill. You may be interested in seeing the entire October, 1994 issue of Psychiatric Annals, which describes how depression may be mimicked by, and coincident with, a wide variety of medical and neurological disorders. More recently, the journal CNS Spectrums (April 1999) devoted its entire issue to "Psychiatric Aspects of Medical Illness." There is also a fine article by Pierce and Glassman on "Treatment of depression in patients with heart disease", in the May 1998 issue of the Journal of Practical Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.

Regarding the terminally ill, you may want to see the article by Block, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, on assessing and managing depression in the terminally ill patient. This is published in the Feb. <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/depression-and-the-medically-ill/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Prozac and Alcohol&#8217;s Effects</title>
		<link>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/prozac-and-alcohols-effects/</link>
		<comments>http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/prozac-and-alcohols-effects/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:57:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Question - Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prozac]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/?p=871</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Question. I suffer from depression and have been on Prozac for a number of years now. It seems that after I have a few drinks, I notice a marked increase in my depression and irritability the next day. Could alcohol ingested in small amounts as this be causing a real chemical change in my brain, or am I just imagining this? Answer. I know of at least one study showing no significant interaction between Prozac and alcohol, but everyone is different, and alcohol plus medication can interact in unpredictable ways. That's why it is usually the doctor's advice to avoid alcohol, or drink very sparingly, when taking psychotropic medication. It is possible that what you are experiencing are mild withdrawal symptoms as the alcohol is eliminated from your body, but this seems like a stretch to me. For some people, even small amounts of alcohol can induce either depression or marked anger/aggression - perhaps you are experiencing a muted form of this reaction. (It would have been useful for me to know how you reacted to alcohol before you went on Prozac). Or, could it be that your feelings about drinking Read more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Question. I suffer from depression and have been on Prozac for a number of years now. It seems that after I have a few drinks, I notice a marked increase in my depression and irritability the next day. Could alcohol ingested in small amounts as this be causing a real chemical change in my brain, or am I just imagining this?

Answer. I know of at least one study showing no significant interaction between Prozac and alcohol, but everyone is different, and alcohol plus medication can interact in unpredictable ways. That's why it is usually the doctor's advice to avoid alcohol, or drink very sparingly, when taking psychotropic medication. It is possible that what you are experiencing are mild withdrawal symptoms as the alcohol is eliminated from your body, but this seems like a stretch to me.

For some people, even small amounts of alcohol can induce either depression or marked anger/aggression - perhaps you are experiencing a muted form of this reaction. (It would have been useful for me to know how you reacted to alcohol before you went on Prozac). Or, could it be that your feelings about drinking <a href="http://depressionsymptomstreatment.net/question-answer/prozac-and-alcohols-effects/" class="more-link">Read more [...]</a>]]></content:encoded>
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