Are Antidepressants Bad For Seniors?
Before we start anything, do you know what antidepressants are? Antidepressants are medications that help treat depression or in a more precise manner, and it is a type of drug that will help you reduce the symptoms of depression.
In the case of antidepressants, not all of them need to work effectively. Sometimes you may have to have gone for varieties of antidepressants to find the right one for you. People keep trying different antidepressants to find the best for them, and sometimes few men need a combination of medications as an antidepressant.
What Kind Of Antidepressants Are Safe?
Here are some parameters doctors consider while prescribing antidepressants:-
Symptoms: Some antidepressants are prescribed as per the symptoms of the patent. So the doctor would like to know how you feel before prescribing the drug?
Side effects: Antidepressant side effects vary from person to person. Some antidepressants may lead to dry mouth as a side effect, some may lead to weight gain, and some may cause sexual dysfunction. Thus, your doctor may prescribe you the best as per your prevailing health condition.
In some cases, if a person faces ED symptoms, the doctor may balance antidepressants with ED Pills(Cenforce 100). Therefore, the treatment entirely depends on your prevailing health.
Family history: In the case of antidepressants, if any of the antidepressants have been beneficial for your blood relatives, the chance is very high that it will work for you as well. So, the doctor may ask about your family history treatment, if any.
Drug interaction: Sometimes, some antidepressants may show some severe interaction with other medicines. Therefore, you should filter the types of antidepressants based on drug interactions as well.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Consuming antidepressants while expecting a baby or in case of breastfeeding can be a bit risky. So it is good to talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or have to breastfeed your baby before taking any depressants.
Health complications: Some antidepressants may cause a problem for you, and some may help treat complications. For example, Venlafaxine(Effexor XR) may help you relieve anxiety symptoms, and bupropion may help you stop smoking. Whereas duloxetine(Cymbalta) can help you with symptoms of fibromyalgia or prevent migraines.
Cost and insurance: You can also filter the antidepressants based on their expenses because some antidepressants can be expensive. Try to go for effective generic antidepressants and make sure your health insurance covers your antidepressants.
What Are The Negative Effects Of Antidepressants?
Sometimes antidepressants can cause a wide range of mild to severe antidepressant side effects, such as:-
- Nausea
- Increase in appetite and weight gain
- Sexual dysfunction
- You may feel tired and drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Agitation
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Impotence
The most common antidepressants side effect is a decrease in sex drive or the ability to have an orgasm. According to Bradley N. Gaynes, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Noth Carolina, almost half of the patients who consume Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors(SSRIs) have reported sex-related complications.
However, there are medicines especially for ED like Cenforce 100 that are effective in resolving ED symptoms. These medicines are not antidepressants; Cenforce 100 belongs to the PDE5 inhibitors group of drugs.
Are Antidepressants Safe For the Elderly?
In antidepressants and elders, most experts suggest Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors(SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) for depression. These antidepressants have mild to moderate side effects and drug interactions compared to older antidepressants in the market. But these are just as effective in older adults as they are in young people.
While some of the doctors suggest gradually increasing the dose of the drug to avoid side effects and mood improvement. If it doesn’t work, you may need a different medication or combination with ED pills(Cenforce 100) for antidepressants patients.
Antidepressants, in the case of adults, should be chosen very carefully because older people already have many other health complications, and taking antidepressants on top of it can lead to drug interactions. Therefore, the doctor has to suggest an antidepressant that should not interact with their prevailing medicines and medical complications.
As per Dr. Salcedo, “Sometimes depression in elders can mimic dementia.” Some particular medical conditions are apparent with the growing age. The medicine used for their treatment can also lead to depression, such as medicines for some vascular diseases that cause blood vessels to stiffen.
As per the National Institute on Aging, some symptoms of depression in older adults have been noted, such as:-
- Fatigue
- Difficulty while sleeping
- Moving slowly
- Change in weight/appetite
- Difficulty while concentrating
- Indecisiveness
- Suicidal thoughts
- Sexual dysfunction
Be very careful while consuming an antidepressant. Consult with the doctor, and it’s better to work closely with your health care specialist, especially if you have any other complications or are a senior citizen.
However, some of them, like impotence (erectile dysfunction), can be treated with medicines(Cenforce 100). Cenforce 100 is not an antidepressant group of drugs; it is an ED pill. Cenforce 100 contains Sildenafil Citrate as its generic component used for treating ED symptoms.
