Can my depression return if I stop my medications? I want to stop these medications because of side effects.

Unfortunately, you can rest assured you will develop some type of reaction. It could be that your depression symptoms return or you may develop withdrawal symptoms from the drug. The symptoms of depression are easy to identify, as they will be similar to what you had before. 

Drug withdrawal symptoms can vary from anxiety, flu like illness, fast heart rate, tremors, lack of sleep, sweating, and a generalized sensation of feeling unwell. These symptoms may last anywhere form 3-28 days. The symptoms are not life threatening and simply indicate that your body is now adjusting to a life without drugs in the body.

Of all anti depressants, withdrawal symptoms are most common after discontinuation of Paxil and Effexor.

It is difficult to predict who will develop these withdrawal symptoms. However, experts recommend that the best way to discontinue an anti depressant is to gradually taper the dose over a few weeks or months. If you find the symptoms of drug withdrawal unbearable, you may want to take a small dose of Prozac because it will neutralize these side effects and also diminish the signs of depression.

Mother’s depression worsens asthma in children

US researchers say that a mother’s depression can worsen her child’s asthma symptoms. The 6-month study done by researchers at John Hopkins University looked at 262 black mothers and their children. What they observed was that mothers who had severe depression also often had children with frequent asthmatic attacks. On the other hand women who has less depression, has children with fewer asthmatic symptoms.


Says lead investigator Kristin Riekert, a pediatric psychologist and co director of the John Hopkins Adherence Research Center, "Even though our research was not set up to measure just how much a mom's depression increased the frequency of her child's symptoms, a clear pattern emerged in which the latter followed the earlier. “


On the other hand, children who has less asthma did not necessary have mothers with less depression. Based on these observations the researcher say that depression may be an independent risk factor that can predict the severity of child.


"Intuitively, it may seem that we're dealing with a chicken-egg situation, but our study suggests otherwise. The fact that mom's depression was not affected by how often her child had symptoms really caught us off guard, but it also suggested which factor comes first," Riekert said.


Since depression can profoundly affect mental health concentration, causes fatigue, leads to low concentration, it may impair the mother’s inability to mange her child asthma, which often requires daily drug treatment and frequent doctor visits say the researchers.


"Mom is the one who must implement the doctor's recommendations for treatment and follow-up, and if she is depressed she can't do it well, so the child will suffer," study lead investigator Michiko Otsuki said in the news release.


This simple observational study may be true but there are many other factors in African American that have not been looked at. Economy, availability of health care facilities, finances, physical health, obesity, single parent or lack of transport- all these can lead to worsening of not only asthma but also any other medical disorder

I feel down and feel that I am depressed but am afraid to see a doctor, I do not have any desire to live and don’t have any motivation?

I am sorry to hear that. You are right, you are depressed. However, you must know that depression is a treatable disease. 

It is vital that you seek help from a doctor as soon as possible because the symptoms will only get worse. Treatment for depression is a combination of drugs and psychotherapy. 

Your symptoms will resolve rather quickly and you will feel better. Take a chance and see your doctor today. Do not give up. Wish you all the best.

Depression during Pregnancy

While most people are aware that depression occurs after pregnancy, not many health professionals are aware that depression is also common during pregnancy. In the last decade, several studies have shown women are in fact more likely to suffer from depression during pregnancy than the post partum period. Estimates indicate that about 20% of women develop some type of depressive symptom during pregnancy. In North America, there are about 4 million live births annually, and this equates to about 500,000 pregnancies that are associated with depression each year. The risk of depression is a lot higher in women who have a history of depression prior to pregnancy. At least 70 percent of women who discontinue their anti depressant medications relapse during pregnancy.

A recent study showed that depression is quite common at 32 weeks of pregnancy than 8 weeks after birth. However, in the majority, depression finally disappears 8 months after giving birth.

Depression during pregnancy is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms often mimic symptoms associated with pregnancy. Symptoms like decreased energy, irritability, changing mood and poor concentration are common during pregnancy. However, women who are depressed are more likely to have poor prenatal care and are more likely to smoke, use alcohol or other drugs. The other problem is that many pregnant women with mental illness like depression are less likely to access care. In addition, even when they have access, they are unable to afford the medical treatment.

Universal symptoms of depression, such as reduced sleep and decreased appetite, may also have an unfavorable impact on pregnancy. Suicidal ideation and self-harm during pregnancy is also unpredictably high.

Now there is evidence indicating that a mother’s mood during pregnancy may affect her unborn child. Depression during pregnancy is linked to inferior obstetrical results such as premature birth, pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and a higher rate of admission to baby care units. More important is the fact that depression during pregnancy also continues into the postnatal period. Other data indicate that the ongoing materal depression also has an adverse affect on mother infant bonding and leads to dysfunctional behavior in the growing child. Based on these findings, researchers are urging physicians to recognize the importance of treating prenatal depression.

Can I take 5-HTP (L-tryptophan) for my depression?

5-HTP is a well-known dietary supplement also known as l tryptophan. The amino acid is easily available in many health food stores and sold for the treatment of depression, pain disorders, sleep difficulties, obesity, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. 

The problem is that l tryptophan has never been fully assessed clinically in randomized clinical trials and so all reports about its efficacy are anecdotal. In the last few years the quality and quantity of L tryptophan sold has also come under question. Moreover, no two same products of L-tryptophan contain the same dose. 

Alternative health care practitioners recommend anywhere from 50- 1,500 mg per day of L tryptophan. As to whether it really works for any disorder is anyone’s guess. Reports on cyberspace indicate that it does jack-shit. 

If you do decide to use L-tryptophan, a word of warning. Often health supplements come from the Orient and are often spiked with real pharmaceutical drugs- so knowing where to buy your health supplements is also very important.

Acne depression may not be due to Accutane: Part 2

Accutane, manufactured by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, has always been a controversial medication since it was first introduced in 1992. Roche says that it intends to stop selling this highly effective drug because of the availability of generic accutane, known as isotretinoin.

There is no question that accutane is probably the most effective medication for clearing acne, but it has also been associated with teratogenic effects if taken by pregnant women. The drug also has been suspected of causing a variety of mental side effects, although Roche has never admitted to these claims. To make matters worse for Roche, a study from Canada several years ago, did indicate that isotretinoin increased the risk of depression.

Said Dr Halvorsen, "There has been a lot of controversy regarding these drugs and that has made many dermatologists cautious about prescribing isotretinoin. Our study is important because it provides an argument for not being so cautious."
However, psychiatrist Dr Ian Goodyer from Cambridge University says it is perhaps too early to jump to conclusions about accutane, "From this research I do not think we can say negative impacts on mental health were nothing to do with the drugs taken for severe acne. There may be additive effects in an already vulnerable group."

To date the evidence we have on accutane is not adequate. So far, no direct link between accutane and suicide or depression has ever been shown. We do know that acne can cause a certain mental morbidity and perhaps accutane may augment these symptoms. Even if accutane did cause an idiosyncratic reaction like depression or suicidal thoughts, the case reports are miniscule and appear to be very rare.

Final point: So far, it is not clear how this Norwegian study was funded. In the last decade, almost every study supported by drug companies has shown extremely favorable results for the drugs.  Does anyone believe that doctors who get paid lots of money by pharmaceutical companies will ever come up with negative results?

Acne depression may not be due to Accutane: Part 1

Acne is a very distressing disorder and can cause loss of self-esteem and lead to lack of confidence. Acne is a very common complaint and affects 4/5 of all teenagers and adults. While most mild cases of acne usually resolve, at least 20 percent of individuals develop severe acne. The treatment of acne is abysmal. So far, there is no ideal product and almost every week a new product is available on cyberspace.

One of the more effective treatments for acne has been the use of retinoids, like accutane. However, during the earlier clinical trials it was obvious that accutane not only improved acne but it also affected behavior in some individuals. These behaviors changes included suicidal ideation, depression and severe anxiety. These emotional warnings have been on the accutane packaging since it was first introduced into the North American market. Every now and then, there are isolated reports about individuals who have committed suicide while taking accutane.

Now, some European researchers claim that the these reports of depression and suicidal ideation are overblown, because it is the acne which is responsible, not the drugs. The latest study from Norway revealed that levels of depression and suicidal ideation were 2-3 times higher in individuals with severe acne compared to those who had no skin problems. The researchers claimed that the depression previously associated with accutane was in fact are from the acne itself.

"There is a pretty strong and consistent association between acne and symptoms of depression or mental health problems," said Jon Anders Halvorsen of Oslo University Hospital, whose study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Anti Depressants only work for severe symptoms: Part 1

The majority of individuals with depression have been tried on many different types of anti depressant drugs. The constant complaint by most individuals is that the drugs simply do not work. Well, perhaps these people were right in the first place. The latest study reveals that drugs for depression only provide relief in individuals with severe depression. For the majority of other patients with moderate depression, the drugs were no more effective than a sugar pill.

While the drugs may help some individuals with depression, it appears that the overall benefits of these drugs have been exaggerated in the past. The problem in the past has been that most of the trials were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies. We now know that these companies (e.g. like Pfizer) have no qualms about fudging the data.

Looking back it appears that data showing that anti depressants did not work may have been hidden or never published. Antidepressants are a multibillion dollar business and no drug industry is going to release negative data because the name of the game is –money.