Best anti-depressants for Parkinsons

[bunngalo]

Mom is in a very difficult stage with her Parkinsons and is very unhappy. I would be too. It is a lot to handle. I think anti-depressants would help a lot, but I don't know which one would be best for a Parkinsons patient. Do any of you have any recommendations or have heard which works best for Parkies?

[Hidden]

I tried several anti depressants and hated how they made me feel. They made me very Ho-Hum. Im not knocking taking something it just may take time to find one that works for her. maybe talk to a nutritionist .a simple change in diet might be all that is needed..Good luck.

[Norton1 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Grappers,

I could not agree with you more about a change in diet may be all that is required. It is thought that PwP may also have a shortage of the neurotransmitter serotonin In addition to dopamine. There is an excellent book called 'serotonin power' By

Judith Wurtman of MIT who has carried out a lot of research into serotonin and its calming benefits and connection with sleep. The trouble with anti depressants is

That many people taking them put on weight. There is a website also called 'serotonin power' which has countless case histories of people turning their lives around by adopting a Diet that increases serotonin in the brain.

Hope this helps.

Norton

[jillannf6]

hi have been on anti depressenat sfor abotu 35 years and htere rnow so many differnent ones that i am su resomethign will work 4 your muH

lol JIll

[etterus]

I have tried them all including Emsam patches. I might have not tried them as long as recommended but they ussually made me feel worse. Best for me is counseling and regular exercise plus relating to friends and family.

[PatV in reply to etterus]

that's what works for me too. Can't handle much more meds

[srarndt]

Seek out your doctors' (gp, neurologists, etc.) assistance, good pharmacists advice, and perhaps some personal net surfing...together you might find a good combo for mom. We're all too different and our PD presents differently for us, you need the help of professionals.

With that said, my GP put me on citaloprom as I was feeling intermittantly suicidal.

Best wishes.

Steve (Bisbee, AZ)

[MGirardi]

I always come back to Zoloft. I have been just about rock solid with it for 7 years, since DX, and I cannot complain. Best luck in your search

[Acola]

I was originally taking Prozac but my neurologist felt that Venlafaxine (brand name: Effexor or Efexor) were better suited to Parkinson's.and I have been taking these for over 12 months now .Venlafaxine tablets are a type of antidepressant known as a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

[Hidden]

I think any of the anti deppressants are dangerous they might work for a time.

I think firstly it is best to try to find out what is causing the depression and can it be relieved bu taking away that cause

I am a great believer also in getting lost of fresh air if at all possible and sunlight.

If the depression is a winter thing use a Sad light they very often work and can be borrowed form the doctors surgery. try other avenues before descending on to drugs if at all possible.

[purelabor]

You are the best med. I suffered for a long time then one day my wife said that's enough. She started getting me to go places with her and not sitting around the house. I have limitations, but I do what I can.

The depressing part of this is you remember how to move and you remember moving without pain but now alll that is gone. It is hard to express this to loved ones that feeling. I am not saying you don't understand, it's justt that sometimes we think no one really cares. My wife shows she cares everyday but I don't always see or feel it. When I calm down and get my head in gear then I can see it.

I also tried many meds for depression and they all made me feel terrable, I was always tired and didn't feel any better mentally, I just felt icky all the time.

[PatV in reply to purelabor]

I don't often let myself think of it, but yesterday I saw young people clambering over rocks in Central Park, and I felt a pang -- I used to do that! At least I can still see them.

[soup]

Quite often it's the brain pathways and the biochemistry which are affected by the loss of cells associated with Parkinson's which causes depression. It is a true symptom not just self pity.

Here is my opinion:- I agree 'sadness' can have many causes but true, clinical depression should be treated sooner rather than later and then the person supported by other people and other therapies. It can be assessed and diagnosed by a competent physician who has access to the assessment scales and who is not so empathetic as to blame everything on the reaction to diagnosis or changing physical abilities.

Having Parkinson's can make you feel isolated, sad, frustrated, frightened, angry... the list goes on. But once you are in a 'pit' no amount of encouragement will get you out. You need a ladder and then help to avoid falling back in. Meds may be the ladder that's needed if the pit is deep. Get a doctor to do a depression assessment and discuss the options from there.

Once your mum is out of the pit she very likely will not need the ladder again, your support and that of others may well be all she'll need to stop from falling back in.

Sue

[Hidden]

My husband has been on Celexa for several years with no side affects. I would definitely talk to your doctor because every person is different when it comes to medication - what works for one won't work for another. I think lots of exercise and things to do keeps a persons mind from going to a dark place.

[marthasway]

From my own experience, I can say that I would not be here if not by the grace of God and psychoactive pharmaceuticals. Some anti-depressants are contraindicated with some PD drugs. For instance, I take Azilect, which works wonders with my PD symptoms, but as an MOAI-B inhibitor, cannot be combined with SSRI's.

In addition to a wonderful neurologist/movement disorders specialist, I see a psychiatrist who is expert at communicating how the various receptors respond to different drugs. If you don't have access to such a crackerjack treatment team, you may want to follow this link to an aptly named site: crazymeds.us. I have gleaned more good stuff from this site than I have in 16 years of reading the PDR and prescription inserts.

It is all a balancing act, but finding the right combination can be a life saver and a life enhancer. As usual, this is only my opinion based on my experience; your mileage may vary.

[Beckey in reply to marthasway]

Great response.

[judam9]

i take prozac and have for years. but that and vicadin, got rid of my migraines once and for all. which i had all my life. since 2008 i haven't had one . thank GOD. the other night i felt like the world had dropped away, leaving me alone in this room and a computer. was glad for the computer, but other then that , it was a horrible feeling. which has since left. it was the generic of each. it just happened . there was no one left on this earth . and even that was gone. it was just overwhelming. what happened i don't know. and i'm fine now. maybe i should eliminate the computer for awhile. has anyone else experienced anything like this?

[etterus in reply to judam9]

Just maybe you experienced an anxiety attack... goes with the dopamine depletion at other sites,

[judam9 in reply to etterus]

that could very well be , cause i feel OK now . gosh those are awful.

does that have to do with parkinson's also?

thanks so much.

[etterus in reply to judam9]

Yes To the best of my knowledge, anxiety/depression issues are definitely symptoms related to changes in dopamine production. Dopamine is also a neurotransmitter for reward sites in the brain.

[eh110575]

raking leaves and walking beats anti-depressants!

[bunngalo]

Thanks for all your posts. Let me just say that as a holistic health coach, I agree that exercise, nutrition and nutraceuticals as well as being socially proactive are all great first lines of defense in treating depression and in many cases are enough.

My mother, in addition to her Parkinsons, has severe arthritis which makes it difficult for her to walk and she cannot get herself to standing by herself. The PD has made her sensitive to light so she wears sunglasses indoors or keeps the lights dim, so exercise and sunshine therapy are out for her. She also has severe dysphagia and cannot swallow at all. She receives 100% of her nutrition and medication via tube. I would love for her to take Vitamin D and B-12, but at 83 she is not open to any suggestions that don't come straight from her doctor. My hope is that her neurologist will be able to convince her to take an anti-depressant of some kind. It sounds like finding the right anti-depressant for PD is similar to the rest of the population in that what works for one person may not work for another. Her appointment is Tuesday. Thanks for your input! Let's hope for the best!

[judam9 in reply to bunngalo]

thanks you all for your fast response. and good luck.

i have a scooter but can walk around the house, [lots of heavy stuff to hang onto.

but i also have stynosis of the spine and the long nerves in my legs [can't think of the name right now] get pinched and is very painful.

thanks to all.

[Kathlene]

my depression increased so much that the doctor changed my Emsam patch from 6mg to 9mg. i feel much differently but the first week was hard. once the titration period was over i was able to notice a significant change in my mood. i'm very grateful that i didnt have to add another pill! HOWEVER - at that dosage there are some very important dietary changes you need to make so, unless you're prepared for that you should keep searching. it's also important that you work closely with your doctor & pharmacist when changing other meds while using Emsam at any dosage above 6mg. because it's an MAOI there are significant drug interactions to take into consideration. i also had to give up caffeine

[Larryp]

Has your mother tried smoking bat wings it can't hurt LOL ! This is a little joke between

my neurologist and me .. WE SAY TRY IT CAN'T HURT,,meds that is

There is a disease called depression and it is a big part of living with PD it can be just as nasty as PD especially untreated .

I can just see your mom now in pain ,can't see very well etc.and she says lets go for a walk . NOT !! I told my mother that Cymbalta was for pain when we were at the DR office

with the DR help she took it and low and behold it works . Less pain for her still a pain for me.What do they say a happy mother is a happy child