Best "Senior" Antidepressants

Hi walk4life,

Wow, 30 years on Zoloft! I thought I was a record when I was on mirtazapine for 22 years 🙂
Don't know your age but is 150 mg. high? My 67 y.o. husband is on 50 mg. for 7 years now with never a side effect (lucky him) and it helped him immediately for awful anxiety.
It's still working and he probably will never come off it. Right now he has no intention of.
But I suppose the bottom line is if 150 mg. of Zoloft is working for you and giving you mental health well being why play around with it? Unless it's not effective anymore or you wish to change your medication or even stay off of it? Don't know your circumstances but hope all is well in your particular situation.

Yes, i have tried to wean off at times over the years, but i find after a few weeks without it the depression creeps back in. Very few people even in my family know that i suffer from depression. 150 mg is at the high end of dosage. Good for your husband if the 50 mg works for him.

Hi walk4life,
Yes, my husband is fortunate with Zoloft at 50 mg. I just spoke with my psychiatric nurse practitioner and he suggested I stop Paxil 10 mg. completely now (have been taking only 5 mg. for a week) and start Zoloft 25 mg. tomorrow. I even wondered out loud if I should be off all SSRI/SNRIs & just continue with my low dose Xanax and Klonopin for my severe panic attacks/PTSD/dysthemia but he was against this idea. At 68 y.o. I am finding myself now so sensitive to all medications - for my physical as well as my mental health. I suppose part of the aging process? Ugh! And I hear you about few people knowing you suffer from depression. I am in the same boat. It's unfortunate, isn't it? But the stigma of mental illness is alive & well even in 2023. And most folks are completely clueless when it comes to the illness of depression. That old adage "just pull yourself up by your boot straps" continues to be so common. And family members can be the harshest critics. They don't "get it", think you are "acting out" or believe "you have everything going for you! how can you be depressed?" All of which just adds to one's depression! Strong, loving emotional support in coping with the demons of mental illness is vital to helping one survive it - and live their best possible life despite being a member of the walking wounded. But so many of us find that is lacking in our lives...so we suffer in silence - thinking "why bother discussing it with people who don't understand it?" A true shame - everyone loses.
You are not alone, hang in there!

Hi bnancy,
I wanted to update you. I began cutting my Paxil 10 mg. in 1/2 this week in anticipation of coming off of it. I spoke with my psychiatric nurse practitioner this morning. I will be starting Zoloft 25 mg. tomorrow and completely stopping Paxil. I can not take Cymbalta. I have had the GeneSight Psychotropic testing done and I have a significant gene-drug interaction with this drug. Zoloft is "use as directed" for me. I would recommend anyone who is struggling with finding the best "psychiatric" medication for themselves to speak with their providers about having this test (it's a cheek swab & sent to their lab). I am on medicare and it cost me nothing...your insurance might not cover it completely but I felt it was worth it even if it cost me money since I am so "difficult" to treat now, at 68 y.o.
Glad to hear your medication is working pretty good for you. Continued good luck!

@briarrose - yes anyone looking at my life would say that i have nothing to be depressed about. I think people who have never experienced depression don’t understand that it is not something you can just snap out of.

So very true! People looking at my life would say the same thing.
I am sure there are so many people suffering with depression or even anxiety (the most common mental health issues in the world) who keep it quiet.
Why risk being hurt, judged, shamed or marginalized?
How I wish it wasn't this way...we accept those suffering with physical ailments - why is the health of the mind any different?
It's like that old saying...don't judge me until you walked a mile in my shoes.
Continue to hang in and hang on. You are not alone.

At 74 I just started Auvelity. I have to admit I have a newfound purpose in getting things done and this is the first time in years. Still having anxiety but this med is only saying it works for depression. However I am having a hell of a time eating, I have no interest in food Until later in the day. I think this would be a huge nutritional problem for some and perhaps is for me. I have only been on this for three months. But I finally got my house tiled I planted plants outside and seem to care about life more . I swear my parents made this retirement life look a lot easier than it is. Good luck.

Haven't heard of Auvelity, it must be fairly new and did look it up. Not surprised you find yourself with purpose in getting things done as one of its main components is a stimulant. Do keep an eye on your blood pressure if this is an issue for you as one of its side effects is possible increased blood pressure. But as it is with all medications, everyone's body reacts differently and what could be an intolerable side effect for one - doesn't even phase another. I was on Paxil 10 mg. for 8 weeks and had to stop due to side effects - one of which was a complete lack of hunger. I completely lost my appetite almost immediately when I started it - yet didn't lose any weight! That was only one unacceptable side effect for me, stopped it and just started Zoloft 25 mg. daily. We'll see how this goes in terms of side effects and efficacy. At 68 I am finding all new medications can now affect me in a negative way...I never had this problem when younger. At 74 you do must watch your nutritional intake. Boost, Ensure & other protein/supplement drinks might be the way for you go until you are able to eat a full meal. And, of course, at the very least a multi-vitamin daily. So glad to hear you care about life more! I more than understand that & you are too young not to! Self care activities - yoga, meditation, walking, inspirational readings, guided imagery, relaxation tapes, music, spa treatments, nature, healthy social connects - might help to decrease your anxiety in addition to medication. And, believe me, I hear you loud and clear about the "reality" of retirement! You are Right On! Since mine, I can't begin to list the challenges - physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual (the list goes on 🙂 I had to contend with and still do! Our parents did make it look easy...maybe because life at this stage for them was EASY! Our world in 2023 so much harder in so many ways...continued Good Luck to you as well!

Hi, I found your post interesting. I have had no motivation to do anything around my house for a couple years. Everything seems like a huge chore. I’m embarrassed how I have lived in this horrible pig pen. Health issues of family members and lots of death, job losses…. Not active with others as much mainly because I’m totally exhausted. My 4 adult kids can’t believe how I haven’t kept up with housework and all.
Does this sound like what you might have experienced? I’ve been on so many different prescriptions and really can’t say they seem to make any difference. In my upper 60’s. It is a shame not to be living life. Kind of feel like I should be doing something but then don’t! Wondering if you are still on that medicine Auvelity and your thoughts. Thank you.

I have already posted to you previously but that's OK. Just some extra thoughts in responding to your new post.
My main issues were severe panic disorder and a bit of depression, but it usually lifted in a few days. Unlike you, I did keep up with housework. Antidepressants are the first line of treatment for anxiety. It's a lot of trial and error to find the right medication to help your particular symptoms. I hear you about health issues with family members & lots of death, job losses, etc. Loss is a tough one especially for us seniors. It's all around us in one way or other. You mentioned your "horrible pig pen"...that home environment alone can make you depressed and unmotivated to do anything, make you feel exhausted mentally & physically...you are in a vicious unhealthy and overwhelming cycle.
Can you get your 4 adult children to help you clean up and throw out your junk? Are you able to afford a biweekly or monthly cleaning lady? If not...can your 4 children help MOM with chipping in some money to do this? Are you a hoarder or just not able to summon the resolve to get up and clean? You have to get your home in shape, this in turn, WILL make you feel emotionally better and more motivated. Depression is like that...you feel you should be doing "something" and then you do "nothing" at all. Can you get outside for short walks? A bit of exercise is healthy for the mind and body, of course. Can you get yourself into therapy? You certainly need it! I was never on Auvelity...perhaps you mixed me up with another poster. I am on Zoloft 200 mg. daily. Zoloft is considered "safe" for seniors. It has definitely helped me as my panic attacks & anxiety has decreased. I still have moments of "despair" because of my son's mental condition, he's not getting better and not listening to me...that's MY heartbreak right now. Plus on my 70th birthday I received a call with the results of my breast biopsies. I have cancer in both breasts. I was in shock, most of my adult life has been focusing on my heart disease now this. Bilateral mastectomy will be done. Yes, no matter our age, life continues to throw us curveballs. A therapist with help you with coping skills. Ask for help, you surely need it! Hope you can clean out your house...you will feel better, it's not the complete answer to your mental state but it will help.
I can tell you clutter affects me in a bad way, so I get it. Best of luck to you, keep me posted 🙂