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Best "Senior" Antidepressants
I just posted a question re: weaning off Paxil 10 mg. and with my reported "brain fog" forgot to ask a further question. Sorry about that.
I am in search of a new antidepressant for my severe anxiety and depression. I was on mirtazapine 30 mg. for 22 years and found through GeneSight I was not metabolizing it at all. Thus the switch to Paxil 10 mg. which is not really working well for me. I am a female, 68 years old and sensitive to all medications. Any thoughts on what is tolerated the best for seniors? I will run this by my psychiatric nurse practitioner of course but reaching out to others for thoughts.
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@dchrzano
I’m in the process now to come off the 60mg Cymbaltra , my Dr has me lowering the dosage two weeks at a time. You have to work with your doctor to come off slowly, as the withdrawals are usually severe. I hope this helps you.
Venlafaxine (Effexor).
I am on a similar regime to you. I take 150mg of Zoloft and 0.5mg twice per day of Clonazepam. Unfortunately I have developed burning feet and ankles which I think maybe the Clonazepam.Have you experienced anything similar and what is your dose of Clonazepam
John
I take 150mg Zoloft once a day and 0.5mg Clonazepam twice per day. Unfortunately I have developed burning feet and ankles which I think maybe the Clonazepam. Have you experienced anything similar and what is your dose of Clonazepam. John
John, my mental health regimen is as follows:
Sertraline HCl 100 mg., take 2 tabs every AM
Alprazolam 0.5 mg. .5 mg. every AM & label directions state "1 pill extra if needed for panic attack".
Clonazepam 1 mg., take 1 tab every AM & 1 tab every PM
I have never experienced burning feet or ankles while taking clonazepam & I have been on it for years.
You could be having neuropathy pain, very common in the feet/ankles.
You do not have to be diabetic to have this condition.
My psychiatric NP is aware if I am having a severe panic attack I actually take 1 mg. of alprazolam.
That's the dose for me to help me get out of the attack.
Hope this helps you to some extent.
John, I did respond to your previous post already today with my information as per your request.
I am 69 years old and have had depression for over 25 years. I am also on venlafaxine I take 375 mg a day no side effects. It usually works very well but then I do have episodes of depression that come back and I’m at a loss as to what to do. Then my psychiatrist has given me clonazepam to help with the anxiety that I occasionally get for the most part it’s the venlafaxine.
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1 ReactionEvidently we are fortunate this med works for us with little side effects. I have definitely lost my libido, which is common for most anti-depressants, but as a 79 y.o. I am o.k. with that.
Yes, I hear ya’.
There are always trade offs with most things in life.
I feel that being in our 70s, we already had lots of past sexual activity in our lives. But a feeling of mental wellbeing is paramount at this stage of life, thus, the trade off. But we can always “improvise” & make “do” with what we DO have & still have some form of intimacy with our partner.
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way!
All the best to you.
More likely the Zoloft.