Depression and Anxiety at an older age

Thank you.

I am also tapering from a benzodiazepine... which affects mood and memory.

My new doctor wrote a taper schedule, decreasing the dose very slowly. I am on month 1 of taper.
He also prescribed another medication (to help
with anxiety of withdrawal).

The relief from seeing this doctor Is wonderful! I feel blessed that a retiring neurologist(not the original prescriber) recommended this doctor to me
For the first time I have hope.

I regret seeing the original prescriber. The risks of this medication outweighed the benefits. If I were a litigious I would start a lawsuit.

Please persevere.
1. Can you ask your doctor for a written schedule of how and when you should take your medications?
2. Do you want to get a second opinion from another doctor?

@helenfrances
Hi Ellen,
I can only speak for California. California has 58 counties and every county has a Child Protective Services/Adult Protective Services office (CPS/APS).
They have been very helpful to me. I have filed 5 complaints with them against my cousins caregivers, my cousin is Developmentally Disabled. His caregiver stole over $2,000 by stealing his atm card and did other things.

Which benzo are you tapering off of?
Would you mind sharing your taper schedule with us?
Take care,
Jake

I wish I could offer more than support. I am here any time you need to “talk” but I have always been able to keep my benzo use on an as needed basis. I could go a week without one just deep breathing or CBT during shorter panic attacks.

@annieb0188 Any updates on the new job? Just thinking of you!

All anti depressants are dangerous. There are no “good” antidepressants. One can become extremely dependent on an antidepressant just as they can a benzo and withdrawal can be horrendous. The sad part is antidepressants rarely work and Benzos do.

I took Xanax for several years. It helped but as time went by I kept feeling like I needed more. After switching doctors I am taking Clonazepam instead. Usually I do well with it. However with this Covid virus and stress with my sister whom I've always been close to my doctor increased me to the largest dosage he'll do. .25 mg four times daily. That didn't help enough. He's added 10mg of Buspar. It has helped but I'm not sure I can be increased any more withou feeling the side effects. I also take Effexor, Lamictal and a low dose of Geodon.

@sears

While there are possible negative side effects of antidepressants, they only affect a limited number of people. I've been taking Wellbutrin for more than 14 years , and though it started to lose its effectiveness a few years ago and my psychiatrist added Mirtazapine, I've never felt addicted. Certainly, my body and brain need medication, but that doesn't mean I'm addicted or I've built up tolerance. Even if I AM addicted, if it's achieving the desired effect, being labeled is irrelevant. It just means that I'll probably take a particular medication for the rest of my life in order to maintain mental stability or keep my chronic pain at a bearable level. Though the meds I take might be dangerous for some people, they haven't been for me.

If antidepressants rarely work, I'm just glad that I don't fall into that group. As far as benzodiazepines go, they have potential risks that are at least as dangerous as antidepressants. I've been taking clonazepam for nearly 15 years at 1mg daily with the option of taking a second if needed. I can't take Ativan because it pushes my heart rate up to 180bpm, which is very uncomfortable. I don't know if it's lessening my anxiety, but my wife wants me to keep taking it because it has stopped my acting out my dreams - kicking, punching, bicycle riding, etc. She sleeps better because of that.

When I was doing the 6 week trial of antidepressants, I experienced a few negative side effects from a few of them, but none of them affected my depression, until I found Wellbutrin. Only one made me suicidal at 5 weeks for one week, exactly as the warnings said. That's the only thing that could have been labeled as dangerous. To say that ALL antidepressants are dangerous isn't true. And Wellbutrin is a good antidepressant for me.

Withdrawal can be very rough, especially from benzodiazepines, which is why tapering very, very slowly is so important. And withdrawal is another thing that can be unique to every person.

Doing the 6 week trial in search of an effective antidepressant could carry more risk for seniors than for younger people, something that can be said about most medications. It's something that can be frustrating because it means that doctors are hesitant about prescribing medications that we seniors have a legitimate need for to control pain, depression, and a long list of other ailments.

This is my own personal experience, not the protocols of Mayo. (My disclaimer)

Jim

@sears Antidepressants are only one part of treating depression. Ideally depression treatment should also include non-medical therapies and lifestyle changes as well. For some people non-medical and lifestyle changes are not enough. Antidepressants can be extremely helpful medications in the treatment of depression for many people.

How are you doing, Jamsie?
I hope you have received a call from the counselor.
You are not alone.

Thank you for the journaling idea. You have inspired me to return to logging in to my daily journal. That will help in reporting to my doctor who I see next week.

I am blessed to have found this doctor who gave me a well defined program for titrating off of Clonazapam.
He is not only an M.D. but has a doctorate in psychology. He is young and compassionate.

Stay the course. If I can do this after taking Clon for
many years, YOU will do the same.
You are in my prayers.
Please say one for me.
H.Frances