Suggest Treatment For Severe Depression And Anxiety

Posted on Thu, 3 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 3 Apr 2014 Answered on

Mon, 5 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I am looking for a psyciatrist to perscibe my current meds. I m from Wisconsin and have been under care there. I have aetna insurance signature administrators PPO I have recently run out of my meds and am feeling some symtoms

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: Further details needed Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way. 1. What are the current symptoms that you are having? 2. Which are the anti depressants that you have been prescribed with? 3. Any medical issues? Any on going stressors? Health care magic is an online health forum, and here we try to answer the various health queries or seek second medical opinion. Being an online forum, legally we are not supposed to prescribe medications without physically examining you. Such regulation are primarily meant for the safety of the patients as well as the Doctor. Further any prescription given in E-mail will not be honored by the pharmacy in your country. Sincere apologies for the same. But still we can help you with a second opinion and can guide you in your treatment. But we still need the details as asked above. Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Regards and wish you good health, Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (14 hours later)

answers to follow up questions - symtoms are anxiety,increased depression,crying spells, flashbacks. meds are Lorazepam 0.5 mg prn at bedtime. I take this only as needed and still have some. Escitalopram 20mg. I take 1 mg at bedtime. I have gradually cut them down and now am out. BupropionXL 300 mg daily in the morning I am now out of these. I gradually cut them in half I don't have a doctor here and was hoping I could wean off of them but now I don't think I can. I don't have insurance to cover them yet until I get my 500.00 dollar deductable. I have been having a variety of symtoms. Other symtoms are I have been on theses meds for years . My stressors are - living in Florida alone. I just moved here less than a year ago. Recent death of my son in 2010 at age 23. Unable to find a job in Florida. I have been a nurse for 35 years in XXXXXXX Wisconsin at the same job. Unhappy with hospital jobs here in Florida. I have no family. only my sister who lives in Wisconsin. She cares about me but won't say she loves me and is critical of me at times. She is 2 years younger and has a good job. I have had 2 previous devirces. and no longer have a partner. I have been alone for 15 years. I look good and take care of myself physically - walking, swimming, exercising. I weigh 120 pounds and am 5'3" . I hope this helps!

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (15 hours later)

Brief Answer: Bupropion and Escitalopram are good drugs Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for all the information. I understand that you have depression as well as anxiety. The two medicines on which you are on i.e. Bupropion and Escitalopram are a good combination. Bupropion works on nor adrenaline and dopamine and escitalopram works on serotonine. Taking them together will be good in dealing with all the systems together. If the symptoms are still present then it would be good to continue using the medicines as of now and dont think of withdrawing the medicines. You may add folate 5 mg daily in your regime which will further help in dealing with your depression as it is an augmenting agent. One thing you can further do is attache with a psychologist for cognitive behaviour therapy. This therapy is taken by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist in which the therapist identifies impaired cognitions (Thoughts) and try to correct them. They are 15-20 min weekly session and there should be around 8-10 sessions to help you with your illness. Its good that you exercise regularly. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (41 hours later)

thanks for your help. I am still experiencing symtoms so I will try to get an appointment tommorrow Carla

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (2 days later)

Brief Answer: Regards Detailed Answer: Hello Hope you get well soon. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar