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Depression: What treatment can I try after so many years?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Jun 21, 2023 | Replies (181)Comment receiving replies
Hi @miray67, I encourage you to also join in this discussion:
- Depression and Anxiety at an older age https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/depression-and-anxiety-at-an-older-age/
You ask some great questions about what medications to try after having treated anxiety and depression from childhood to senior years. You said you've taken many. Do you return to medications that worked in the past? Are there better, newer ones to try? How do you work with your doctor instead of changing docs? I'd like to invite a few members who have faced these questions too, like @jimhd @pjss48 @wandasophia @stsopoci @parus and others.
@marjou and @miray67 have either of you considered genetic testing to see what drugs are more likely to work for you?
Replies to "Hi @miray67, I encourage you to also join in this discussion: - Depression and Anxiety at..."
After several different prescription didn’t work my doctor wanted me try Rexulti as an adjunct to my medication but I was reluctant because of the side effects.
Instead of being a guinea pig I opted to get the genetic test.
The test result confirmed that the drugs my doctor was prescribing were not suitable for me. My doctor switched medications and will now wait to see the effectiveness of the new medication.
At 63, I don't ever remember a time when I was not depressed. I started on antidepressants at age 13 and have been on many different ones over the years. I was on Lamictal and Wellbutrin for about 20 years and was switched to Trintellix six months ago. I have almost constant nausea with it. I'm going to try switching to night dosing, but I'm a terrible sleeper, and worried about accentuating that problem. I can't stay on this med any longer if the daytime nausea persists. Considering going back to Wellbutrin because it worked the longest for me. Does that make sense?
I have never heard of genetic testing for antidepressants. Where does one find that kind of diagnostician?
I've had 2 Traumatic Head injuries and suffer terribly with depression. I've suffered severely since the late 1990s, the 2nd head injury in 1996. I'm medication resistant & haven't found anything that works (I am bipolar, 74 and really need something to hold on to!) Can anyone advise me about genetic testing? My Father's sister had schizophrenia. I am presently taking Lamictal & just started with Remeron/ Mirpazapine (started 1/24) I was successfully taking Zoloft for many years (it worked really well). But I developed Colitus in the Spring, 2021 (one of the primary causes are SSRIs) & had to wean myself off the Zoloft around 9/30/2021. Really crashed with depression around the end of the Fall, 2021. The Dr. I was seeing retired & didn't/ wouldn't return calls or refer me to someone else! So I'm stuck & really do need to function. I am alone & care a bit for my retarded sister. Any ideas? I also believe I have bad hormone problems. At my age I still have "heat problems" somewhat similar to hot flashes. I feel like I'm all goofed up & really need to be completely evaluated. So I ask again about genetic testing, and what about hormone testing? I hope you can help me. Thanks so much for reading this. Take care and God bless you.
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Am checking into genetic testing, cost, if covered by Medicare with my doctor.