“Which antidepressant should be avoided in the elderly?”
I am a 59 year old female. I want to know which antidepressant should be avoided in the elderly?
2 Answers
PsychiatristPsychiatrist
Margaret Sanderson Mckenna
Psychiatrist
As people age, they commonly have changes in their metabolism that mean they need lower doses of many medications than younger people do. This is true across the board. There is not just one antidepressant that should be avoided; usually the question is that of correct dosing. But the medical conditions a person has will also be important in choosing an antidepressant. A careful review of medications and symptoms by a competent psychiatrist is the way to choose an appropriate antidepressant and dosing regimen.