topic Re: finding a doctor to treat depression in Wellness

finding a doctor to treat depression

bargainsgirl — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:15:04 GMT

My 28 year old son has battled "minor" depression for quite a long time. He has been taking Zoloft but now I believe he needs a med change and some therapy. Should he begin with his general practiioner and go from there?

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

GCR18 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:23:51 GMT

I'd see the Dr that's prescribing the Zoloft.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

RedTop — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:28:09 GMT

Yes, my suggestion would be to stay with his medical provider for now. Let this provider determine whether your son needs a dosage adjustment, medication change, or referral for specialized services.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

winamac1 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:30:30 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
I'd see the Dr that's prescribing the Zoloft.

I would too. I"d then ask for a referral to a psychiatrist.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

jaxs mom — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:32:06 GMT

Send him to a psychiatrist, they're the experts on medications for mental illnesses. I would not go to a GP for this. Hopefully he's also seeing a psychologist ( they can give you a good referral) for other ways of dealing with depression.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:45:30 GMT

Depression runs in my family. Some minor and some not so minor.

What I will say is it is a very individual thing to find a Dr who works well with the patient and vice versa.

Quite a few family members have had to be treated for depression. Some have had to see as many as 4 or more Drs over the years to find one who both parties work together. Doesn't mean anything against Dr, just didn't work well together.

I mention this because I hope your son (and family) does not give up if one or more of the Drs just doesn't seem to help.

I once asked my sister what advice she'd give someone suffering from depression. She said she'd say to the person and especially their family not to give up hope of being helped. It's such an individual treatment. Not just the medicine but with the Dr too. Always keep eyes and ears open and listen for any signs things might be getting worse.

Take care and I admire and respect you, your family and especially your son for recognizing things aren't quite right and working toward doing something about it.

Please come on and let us know every now and then how things are progressing. Not your 'business' just that you and he are still working on help or are doing better. I think it will help others who have similar problems but don't understand there is help; but first you must ask.

God bless you and your son and family. Annabelle/Linda

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

MickD — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:48:46 GMT

@bargainsgirl get a referral from the GP for a psychiatrist or look online for the highest rated in the area. I know many branch into specialities which is a help too.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

Silver Lining — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 22:52:53 GMT

Who prescribed the Zoloft? His general practitioner? If so, he/she make a referral to a psychiatrist. General practitioners don't treat mental illnesses. An anti-depressant can be prescribed by the gp but he/she will not experiment with what med or combination of meds are needed. A psychiatrist does that and also refers the patient to a therapist if needed.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

Katcat1 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:08:24 GMT

@bargainsgirl, A psychiatrist knows more about depression medicines than any doctor out there. Zoloft is an old antidepressant. There are newer ones out that work much better. Depending on your insurance you may need to see your dr. and get a referral.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

hckynut — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:08:51 GMT

@bargainsgirl

As one that has spent 7+ days in our hospitals Mental Ward, and diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Anxiety/Panic Disorder. When I need a Specialized Treatment, I see a Specialist in that particular field of Medicine, be it physical or a mental problem.

I do not expect my PCP to be able to accurately diagnosis the many things I have suffered in my rather long life. You did not say what type of doctor prescribed the Zoloft, and in my opinion, it should be an expert in the field, preferably a Psychiatrist, that makes dosage and medication decisions.

I am on small dosages of Wellbutrin(the generic)/Clorazepate(Tranxene)Citalopram(Celexa), and have been for several years now. I went through Zoloft and Paxil prior to my Psychiatrist feeling, and she was right, that my present Meds, along with regular visits, are working well for me.

I don't believe in terms like "minor depression/slightly broken etc". One is either depressed or they are just going through mentally trying times.

You asked, and those are my learned through experience suggestions. Wish the best for your son as real depression is a very dark place.

hckynut(john)

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

winamac1 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:12:45 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

@bargainsgirl

As one that has spent 7+ days in our hospitals Mental Ward, and diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Anxiety/Panic Disorder. When I need a Specialized Treatment, I see a Specialist in that particular field of Medicine, be it physical or a mental problem.

I do not expect my PCP to be able to accurately diagnosis the many things I have suffered in my rather long life. You did not say what type of doctor prescribed the Zoloft, and in my opinion, it should be an expert in the field, preferably a Psychiatrist, that makes dosage and medication decisions.

I am on small dosages of Wellbutrin(the generic)/Clorazepate(Tranxene)Citalopram(Celexa), and have been for several years now. I went through Zoloft and Paxil prior to my Psychiatrist feeling, and she was right, that my present Meds, along with regular visits, are working well for me.

I don't believe in terms like "minor depression/slightly broken etc". One is either depressed or they are just going through mentally trying times.

You asked, and those are my learned through experience suggestions. Wish the best for your son as real depression is a very dark place.

hckynut(john)

i agree. FP/GP's generally don't know how to tweak the dosages as well as a psychiatrist. They are treating so many other disorders that they are certainly not experts in the field of mental health disorders. I called on fp's and gp's before calling on psychiatrists, and I even continued to have some fp's in my database. Those that were still being called on by psych reps treated more depression and enjoyed treating mental health disorders. Those were few.

I'd recommend O/P get several opinons on a good psychiatrist to go to. Zoloft is a tough drug to get right anyway. It has to be started low and often times titrated to 150 mg. or occasionally more to see benefits. It does, of course, vary from patient to patient.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

VaBelle35 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:17:02 GMT

One other thing I would suggest (and this goes hand in hand with getting a phychiatrist referral) is to have a complete workup done on your son to make sure that this is really a mental health issue and not a symptom of some other illness like Lyme Disease or Thyroid or Adrenal Fatigue, food allergy or whatever.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

ruthbe — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:43:03 GMT

As someone who has been suffering with Bipolar disorder for over a decade, also have your son have a complete blood/lab work up. He may also have vitamin deficiencies, anemia, etc. that may also be contributing to his depression. But I also agree with others...please have him see a psychiatrist. They have been the ones trained in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

I am still oxox — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 00:12:48 GMT

At 28 he should make his own decision about therapy I understand your are a concerned parent, unless he is mentally challenged you can not force him to see a therapist

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

kjae — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 00:53:56 GMT

Respectfully, a GP is not equipped to treat and prescribe medication for depression. A psychiatrist is. It is a specialty. Hope you can find a psychiatrist.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

jaxs mom — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 01:00:08 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
At 28 he should make his own decision about therapy I understand your are a concerned parent, unless he is mentally challenged you can not force him to see a therapist

Even as an adult, children that have suffered with depression for a long time do still depend on their parents for advice.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

hckynut — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 01:55:27 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
At 28 he should make his own decision about therapy I understand your are a concerned parent, unless he is mentally challenged you can not force him to see a therapist

@I am still oxox

I seldom am not on the same page with you, but? To me, age is a non factor be her son 18 or 30. Some, if h is suffering from Clinical Depression, might not be able to make a rational decision.

Fortunately I was able to do so and had myself admitted. When in the throws of Clinical Depression, nothing in life seems important to you. I was pretty much Completely Empty Inside. No feelings for anything in life. Much like my heart and my soul were gone. Terrible feeling.

Times like this just might call for a loved one to offer help regardless if asked or not. I would never let my wife go through this without doing something to help her. If that meant having her COMMITTED, that is exactly what I would do. And she is a long way North, or is it South, of 28 years old.

Hey my friend, 2 people agree on everything. I am just saying what I have done, and would do should this ever arise with my wife.

Best to you,

hckynut(john)

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

on the bay — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 02:14:00 GMT

I agree that when someone is depressed, age doesn't matter. that is when you need people who love you more than ever!

I also agree that even though it is difficult and takes courage to continually try to find the right medication and psychiatrist/therapist, that there is something that will work for each person and not to give up. And sometimes something that someone has taken for a long time stops working so something different may work.

It must feel at times like "nothing will work" or not wanting to try something new again, but imagine the feeling of feeling better! That is the goal.

Sometimes a combination will help, but I don't like when for each symptom a pyschiatrist keeps loading more and more medications. I have had friends and family that have taken or are taking 11 at a time. They can have their own negative effects.

Thank you for talking about this. The more we do just like we do with physical problems, the more others will reach out.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

panda1234 — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 03:39:38 GMT

@jaxs mom

You are soooo right. This is not for a primary care doctor, they are not up on the newest treatments out there.

Re: finding a doctor to treat depression

panda1234 — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 11:44:54 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
@bargainsgirl, A psychiatrist knows more about depression medicines than any doctor out there. Zoloft is an old antidepressant. There are newer ones out that work much better. Depending on your insurance you may need to see your dr. and get a referral.

@Katcat1

Well said and so true.