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[+]Helena730 points1 point1 point
ago
(edited ago)
[–]Helena730 points
1 point
1 point
(+1|-0)
ago
(edited ago)
It might be good to have her thyroid checked, sometimes deteriorating thyroid function can cause depression. Also she should be screened by a neurologist for cognitive problems.
Im guessing you want her off the klonopin and other benzos, which are addictive and can sometimes exacerbate depression.
SSRIs like paxil or celexa are usually well tolerated and will help depression and anxiety, at least for a while though they tend to “poop out” after several months or years. I made my dad try celexa, and he complained a bit over some gastro side effects initially, but those went away after a couple weeks and his mood is def better. He’s 80.
I do know they occassionally use ECT on older people who arent responding well to meds or cant take them— I know an old lady who had this and it helped.
There are newer therapies like ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation that might be an option, but I dont know whether they are recommended for older people. TMS seems like it would be but might be expensive.
Sometimes getting some exercise can be huge, it sounds simplistic but if she is in good health, a daily walk might help alot.
Good luck with your grandmother, these are hard times for old folks!
I dont think shes seen either of those kind of doctors , but ill put that idea out there too her . Usually its psychologist and psychiatrist mostly , and its sad to see that they dont seem to help much.
Im gonna check out the site , and see what ideas they might have swell. Excerise and company seem to be 2 things that really help and take her mind off of things . In terms of those newer therapies ill look into them more and see if they might help her case as well .
Definitely not easy watching people get old and depression is a bitch where the problem is all in the mind .
She should get a full thyroid panel at her age with depression and any doc can write the script for that test. If shes hypo, push for an endocrinologist.
The truth is the professionals really dont understand how depression and other types of mental illness work. They throw some drugs at the problem, sometimes they work. It’s basically voodoo. The talk therapy is almost useless but it might get her to be more social.
I hear Anafranil which is good for anxiety is also shown to inhibit coronavirus in vitro so, maybe a two for one?
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[–] Helena73 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
It might be good to have her thyroid checked, sometimes deteriorating thyroid function can cause depression. Also she should be screened by a neurologist for cognitive problems.
Im guessing you want her off the klonopin and other benzos, which are addictive and can sometimes exacerbate depression.
SSRIs like paxil or celexa are usually well tolerated and will help depression and anxiety, at least for a while though they tend to “poop out” after several months or years. I made my dad try celexa, and he complained a bit over some gastro side effects initially, but those went away after a couple weeks and his mood is def better. He’s 80.
You could try this site to ask about meds that might work well for grandma. https://www.crazyboards.org/forum/9-meds-and-other-crap-that-make-life-tolerable/
I do know they occassionally use ECT on older people who arent responding well to meds or cant take them— I know an old lady who had this and it helped.
There are newer therapies like ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation that might be an option, but I dont know whether they are recommended for older people. TMS seems like it would be but might be expensive.
Sometimes getting some exercise can be huge, it sounds simplistic but if she is in good health, a daily walk might help alot.
Good luck with your grandmother, these are hard times for old folks!
[–] thelonelyDJ [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I dont think shes seen either of those kind of doctors , but ill put that idea out there too her . Usually its psychologist and psychiatrist mostly , and its sad to see that they dont seem to help much.
Im gonna check out the site , and see what ideas they might have swell. Excerise and company seem to be 2 things that really help and take her mind off of things . In terms of those newer therapies ill look into them more and see if they might help her case as well .
Definitely not easy watching people get old and depression is a bitch where the problem is all in the mind .
Thanks for the words and help!
[–] Helena73 ago
She should get a full thyroid panel at her age with depression and any doc can write the script for that test. If shes hypo, push for an endocrinologist.
The truth is the professionals really dont understand how depression and other types of mental illness work. They throw some drugs at the problem, sometimes they work. It’s basically voodoo. The talk therapy is almost useless but it might get her to be more social.
I hear Anafranil which is good for anxiety is also shown to inhibit coronavirus in vitro so, maybe a two for one?