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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Are Depression Medications Addictive For Life?

My mother is having some sleepless, fear, tension and seem to be very depressed and negative thinking for the past one year at present she is taking oleanz plus, lonazep 1mg and verlor er 75mg in the night and morning before meals pantocidit. Doctor pls tell me if the tablets recover her soon and she is addicted to these tablets for life long?pls help me...im her daughter
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 15 Sep 2014 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 2 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello and thanks for your query.

I understand that you are concerned about your mother's depression medication and are worried whether she could get addicted to them. Now, you have mentioned different medication. Out of these Venlor ER (Venlafaxine) is an anti-depressant medication, Oleanx plus (Olanzapine) is an anti-psychotic medication and Lonazep (Clonazepam) is a sedative medication. Among these, Venlor ER and Oleanz plus do not have any addiction potential, but Lonazep has a risk of addiction.

If she is still not recovering from these medication, then it may be necessary to increase the dose of the medication or change them. Usually, depression, especially severe, psychotic depression, has a high chance of relapse, and so, she needs to take the medication for at least 2 years. Since Lonazep has an addictive potential, it would be a good idea to taper it down gradually once her depression is controlled.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
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Psychiatrist,  Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

Your mother have depression and she is on Olanzapine, Clonazepam, Venlafaxine and Pentoprazole. Venlafaxine is an antidepressant drug and belongs to SNRI group of drugs. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug and also used in mood stabilisation. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and Pentaprozole is an antacid drug.

Now coming to your questions-

- Venlafaxine is a good antidepressant drug and this should help her to come out of depression. Other drugs will also help in her recovery.

- Over all there drugs are safe to use and are free of serious side effects. There drugs are not addictive drugs and should be taken with proper prescription only. I would advise you to visit her psychiatrist regularly and as clonazepam is having some abuse potential so the drug should not be used regularly for more than 4 weeks without proper prescription.

Thanks, hope this helps you.
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Are Depression Medications Addictive For Life?

Hello and thanks for your query. I understand that you are concerned about your mother s depression medication and are worried whether she could get addicted to them. Now, you have mentioned different medication. Out of these Venlor ER (Venlafaxine) is an anti-depressant medication, Oleanx plus (Olanzapine) is an anti-psychotic medication and Lonazep (Clonazepam) is a sedative medication. Among these, Venlor ER and Oleanz plus do not have any addiction potential, but Lonazep has a risk of addiction. If she is still not recovering from these medication, then it may be necessary to increase the dose of the medication or change them. Usually, depression, especially severe, psychotic depression, has a high chance of relapse, and so, she needs to take the medication for at least 2 years. Since Lonazep has an addictive potential, it would be a good idea to taper it down gradually once her depression is controlled. Regards, Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar Consultant Psychiatrist