Meds

why is my Gp trying to get me to take antidepresants when iam not depresed, dont make any sence to me , should i comply or not ? its bad enough trying to remember to take the meds iv got with out taking any more

[Paul_Dineen]

According to this:

parkinsons.about.com/od/sig...

Parkinson's has something of its own variant of depression, and affects about 40% of people with PD.

However, I agree with you -- you've (presumably) told your doctor that you don't feel depressed, so it's surprising that he/she is pushing anti-depressants.

In my experience, doctors have frequently asked me if I think that the meds I'm taking are helping, in the attempt to see if I can be on fewer meds. That's how I stopped taking Verapamil several years ago (for off-label reduction in migraine frequency). And my migraine frequency now is about half what it was then, which I attribute to change over time, not to getting off of Verapimil.

And now, my neurologist is questioning whether I still need one of my two sleeping pills. But, we won't try dropping that for a while because it's more important to continue experimenting with the mix of PD meds for now and not change too many things at once.

I'm not a medical person (computer programmer), but my lay-person opinion is to say "no" unless you think you start to need it. The only reasonable justification I can see for it is that a Dr might be concerned that a PD patient might quickly become very depressed and commit suicide before the Dr knows about it. I don't know the general liklihood of that. That said, it seems abnormal for a Dr to be that presumptuous and defensive.

[Aussie]

Depression is felt by about 40 % of PD. It is not uncommon to be put on antidepressives. Do you have problems sleeping? do your symptoms become worse under stress etc. Is your doctor a PD specialist?

[Hidden in reply to Aussie]

Hi Aussie,

Yes i have probs sleeping and my symptoms are worse under stress, Dr Not a PD specialist

regards

Al

[shasha in reply to Hidden]

hi al - very interesting question .. i went to a neuro for assessment about 6 months before i was properly diagnosed - by another neuro - the first one asked me in french weather i was depressed - i said no - but he still prescribed anti depressant - ' to relax me ' he said == well far from relaxing me they turned ne into a phsyco !! I took myself off them very fast --

[Paul_Dineen]

@shasha,

Good point, which I was not considering in my first post here. So many meds have side-effects that you might end to taking another med or more to deal with them.

Example:

In my visits with my neurologist to find the right mix and dosages of PD meds for me, I got up to a higher dose of levadopa than I could handle (so now, at the Dr's advice, I'm ramping back down on that one). He added the Rx Amantadine to help with the resulting dyskinesia. But the Amantadine causes side-effects too. For me, the big one is dry mouth. Not just "I'm a little thirsty"-dry, but, well, annoyingly very dry. So, for that, I use over-the-counter Biotene products (toothpaste, mouth wash) designed for dry mouth, plus sugarless gum and water almost always at the ready. A mini cascade of side-effects.

[soup]

Dear alsh59.

For 5 years or more my husband was depressed. He couldn't see it but everybody else could. The PD nurse spent an hour with him and the GP 45 mins before they could persuade him to take anti depressents. It was marvelous!

I don't know if you really are depressed but why don't you look on the Parkinson's UK web site and find the section on depression. They have links to quetionnaires there and you could complete one in your own home and then go armed to the GP. BUT please ask family members what they think about your answers too.