Antidepressant for terminal patients
Jo-Ann
Comments
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Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you
Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you speaking as a psychologist, and not necessarily as someone who has experience with the use of these drugs with terminally ill patients. Several things that you should know about the use of these drugs is that commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRI's, require several weeks for the medication to build up in the body before you will actually see a clinical response. More importantly, a lot of these drugs can have some significant side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, headaches, etc. Although they may not seem significant to a normal person, a terminally ill patient may be in such pain that this medication will simply exacerbate existing issues. Another important risk is that some patients experience an increase in suicidal ideation while on antidepressants. Again, the impacts of these suicidal thoughts on terminally ill patients requires much consideration.
Ultimately, the choice to medicate is left to the family and medical team. I can certainly see how antidepressants could be beneficial in a terminally ill patient, but they also carry risks. Hope this helps.
Tom0 -
Anti-depressantsTRK411 said:Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you
Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you speaking as a psychologist, and not necessarily as someone who has experience with the use of these drugs with terminally ill patients. Several things that you should know about the use of these drugs is that commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRI's, require several weeks for the medication to build up in the body before you will actually see a clinical response. More importantly, a lot of these drugs can have some significant side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, headaches, etc. Although they may not seem significant to a normal person, a terminally ill patient may be in such pain that this medication will simply exacerbate existing issues. Another important risk is that some patients experience an increase in suicidal ideation while on antidepressants. Again, the impacts of these suicidal thoughts on terminally ill patients requires much consideration.
Ultimately, the choice to medicate is left to the family and medical team. I can certainly see how antidepressants could be beneficial in a terminally ill patient, but they also carry risks. Hope this helps.
Tom
Hi Jo-Ann: My husband started on an anti-depressant 2 months before he passed. I saw no difference in him whether on the medication or off. I did find that ativan helped him with periods of anxiousness. I am including a link that talks about social withdrawal. The website is Canadian Virtual Hospice and if you get a chance to peruse the site, I am sure you will find it very helpful.
http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Support/Support/Asked+and+Answered/When+Death+Is+Near/Is+it+common+for+people+who+are+dying+to+withdraw+from+family_.aspx
Patti0 -
Hi Jo
Seems like we may be walking down the same road at the same time. Steve was put on a antidepressant after his surgery. I have to say I didn't see a difference, BUT what works for one may not work for another. Anything is worth a try to help our sweeties feel better. I buy my sweetie pillows all the time, hoping it will make him feel better.....lol. Cant walk down the ile of any store and look at things trying to find ANYTHING that will help in some small way.
Take care
Nancy0 -
This comment has been removed by the Moderatornancyann3 said:Hi Jo
Seems like we may be walking down the same road at the same time. Steve was put on a antidepressant after his surgery. I have to say I didn't see a difference, BUT what works for one may not work for another. Anything is worth a try to help our sweeties feel better. I buy my sweetie pillows all the time, hoping it will make him feel better.....lol. Cant walk down the ile of any store and look at things trying to find ANYTHING that will help in some small way.
Take care
Nancy0 -
Thanks, TomTRK411 said:Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you
Hi Jo-Ann,
I come to you speaking as a psychologist, and not necessarily as someone who has experience with the use of these drugs with terminally ill patients. Several things that you should know about the use of these drugs is that commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRI's, require several weeks for the medication to build up in the body before you will actually see a clinical response. More importantly, a lot of these drugs can have some significant side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, headaches, etc. Although they may not seem significant to a normal person, a terminally ill patient may be in such pain that this medication will simply exacerbate existing issues. Another important risk is that some patients experience an increase in suicidal ideation while on antidepressants. Again, the impacts of these suicidal thoughts on terminally ill patients requires much consideration.
Ultimately, the choice to medicate is left to the family and medical team. I can certainly see how antidepressants could be beneficial in a terminally ill patient, but they also carry risks. Hope this helps.
Tom
I had completely forgotten about those black box warnings and didn't even know about the side effects.
"Much consideration" indeed.
Jo-Ann0 -
Hi Nancynancyann3 said:Hi Jo
Seems like we may be walking down the same road at the same time. Steve was put on a antidepressant after his surgery. I have to say I didn't see a difference, BUT what works for one may not work for another. Anything is worth a try to help our sweeties feel better. I buy my sweetie pillows all the time, hoping it will make him feel better.....lol. Cant walk down the ile of any store and look at things trying to find ANYTHING that will help in some small way.
Take care
Nancy
I know just what you mean about trying to find anything to help out. Thanks for the feedback on your Steve.
Jo-Ann0
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