How long can antidepressants be used?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother aged around 60 years, had depression. She thinks negatively and fears what will happen next in life. She does not feel hunger and if eats something, then gets vomit like feeling with very less sleep.

We went to a doctor, he prescribed some medication and she becomes better in some two months. However, that doctor is suggesting to continue medication even after 10 months. In between when we stopped medication then the nearly same symptoms start appears again. She also had 1 EEG done in the awake state using 10-20 IS of electrode placement and the outcome was like alpha activity 9-10 HZ and 20-35 microvolts in amplitude arising from both the occipital areas and getting by eys opening.

Her medications are Pregsal SR 75 mg (Pregabalin SR Tablets), Clomidon 25 mg (Clomipramine HCI), CR-Zoro 25 mg (Paroxetine hydrochloride controlled-release tablet), Zool-DSR (Rabeprazole Sodium and Domperidone Sustained Release Capsule), Alzitier 5 mg and Bloserv 5 mg. Do these medicines really need to take that long or any of these have some addictive phenomenon? I request you to please share your valuable suggestion on current and future medication or course of treatment. Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for asking.

Though more details are needed to make an exact diagnosis but the symptoms you mentioned suggest some underlying anxiety. Negative thoughts, fear that what will happen, lack of appetite, etc., could be occurring due to depression and anxiety mainly of obsessive thoughts type.

She is on the right drugs and if she responded with these medicines then the medicines should be continued for long. Once she becomes stable and is symptoms free for around six months then the drugs can be stopped by gradual dose reduction.

The medicines are not addictive and no need to get worried about that. Visit your doctor regularly and she will be better in the coming time.

Thanks.