Posted by linkadge on July 26, 2007, at 8:56:31
In reply to was this doc causing my dads depression to worsen?, posted by calamityjane on July 25, 2007, at 22:40:40
Its really hard to say without knowing exact context and history of his illness. If his first symptom of depression appeared a year before, then it would seem very crazy to be on these meds and be having shock treatments.ECT, (even back then I believe) was usually reserved for treatment resistant patients. You say he had prior ECT treatments? If your father has a history of severe treatment resistant depression, then taking these meds may not be terrably unheard of.
Was your father in chronic pain? Did he have other illnesses, requiring the pain medication?
Treatment resistant patients tend to accumulate the medications over the years. It is often not that the doctor prescribes them all at once, but that they are slowly added over time to combat severe forms of depression.
Stimulants such as dexidrine are often used as augmenting agents.
I'm sure you are factoring in the severarity of your fathers illness, should find enough information to quantify that.
I hope you find the answers you're looking for.Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:772017
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/772052.html