“Are antidepressants good for elderly patients?”
To relieve her depression, my mom's doctor prescribed her antidepressants. But I'm worried that because of her age, that she would experience a further decline in her mental health--since she also has dementia. How can antidepressants be effective for her?
8 Answers
Yes, they can be good for the elderly if they are SSRI or SNRI. Antidepressants like TCA medications are not recommended as they can worsen the dementia. Otherwise, there is no problem using it. On the contrary, it can help her.
Please follow the advice of her psychiatrist since they evaluated the patient.
Many have anticholinergic properties, which can worsen depression. for severe depression in the elderly. ECT can work very well. It causes memory problems in everyone, but it wears off.
Yes, antidepressants with therapy will help your mother even with dementia.
If an elderly person is suffering from mood symptoms, an antidepressant can be very helpful and may lead to improvement in quality of life. There are always risks associated with medications and those must be balanced with the benefit.
Antidepressants, most frequently SSRIs, are often given to elderly patients as they increase neuroregeneration as well as for depression which often accompanies cognitive decline. They are not associated with the loss of cognitive function
There is no simple answer to your question. Like all medications, antidepressants may have a wide variety of side effects. Their benefits are also quite variable. The benefits your mother may have need to be carefully evaluated on a regular basis. In addition, be alert for any negatively effects and immediately inform her doctor if you observe anything of concern to you.
This is a question that has to be answered on an individual basis. I do not know what specialty is the physician that prescribed the anti-depressant, but your mother should be evaluated by a qualified geriatric psychiatrist before any new psychological medication is prescribed
