Should elderly take antidepressants?

Should elderly take antidepressants?

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the newer antidepressants buproprion, mirtazapine, moclobemide, and venlafaxine (a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor or SNRI) are all relatively safe in the elderly.

Which antidepressants should be avoided in the elderly?

Tricyclic antidepressants, especially amitriptyline and dothiepin,16 are known to pose a high risk of death in overdosage. These drugs should therefore be avoided in older people whose medication is not supervised and who are at risk of taking an overdose.

Which is the best antidepressant for overweight people?

We would underscore the study author’s comment that “bupropion is the best initial choice of antidepressant for the vast majority of Americans who have depression and are overweight or obese” by adding that each individual needs to be evaluated for their symptoms with a medical professional making a recommendation on the appropriate drug therapy.

Are there any antidepressants that work for 70 year olds?

Another study with adults that were nearly 70 years old, it was found that when the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was stimulated, depression also significantly decreased. Although TMS isn’t going to work for everyone, most medications also don’t work for everyone.

Is the antidepressant Effexor good for older women?

“However, one of the nice things about [Effexor] is that it is excellent for treatment of depression, [ anxiety ], and anxious depression. Since middle-aged and older women are more likely to experience anxious depression, particularly around the transition of menopause, it is likely to be a useful agent to try for these patients,” says Burt,…

What happens when you take an antidepressant in an older person?

For example, certain older antidepressants such as amitriptyline and imipramine can be sedating, may cause confusion, or might cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up. That can lead to falls and fractures. Antidepressants may take longer to start working in older people than they do in younger people.