Finding help for depression

November 5, 2015 by Cynthia McMullen

VCU School of Pharmacy faculty, alumni and students have provided the Dr. Rx column for Richmond’s Fifty Plus magazine since December 2009. We now share those columns on the SOP website, as well, for those who might not have seen the most recent issue.

Serving as Dr. Rx for October 2015 was Ashley Street, a fourth-year Pharm.D. student who earned her bachelor of science degree in anthropology at VCU. Her interests include medication safety and transitions of care.

Q.: I haven’t felt like myself lately. I haven’t been able to sleep, and I don’t enjoy any of my hobbies anymore. Is this just what getting older is like?

A.: It is normal to feel sad or down once in a while, but usually this feeling will go away by itself. Depression, however, can last for months or even longer.

As we age, our risk of depression increases, but depression is not a normal part of aging! Depression is a medical condition that is treatable, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. Left untreated, depression can affect the mind and parts of the body, such as the immune system or heart.

Some older adults have a higher risk of depression. Women are twice as likely as men to develop clinical depression. Other risk factors include having been widowed or divorced or having other medical conditions such as hip fracture, macular degeneration or heart problems.

Depression can look different in older adults, and it is easy to mistake it for another medical condition such as a thyroid disorder or dementia. Some people will complain of sadness, but others will not. So it is important to keep in mind that there are other symptoms of depression. These include appetite changes, sleep changes, memory problems and social withdrawal.

If these signs sound like something you have experienced, it is important that you speak to a doctor. A physical exam will determine if your symptoms are related to another condition or to depression. A medication review is also useful to see if any of your medications could be causing your symptoms.

Luckily, many affordable options exist for treating depression. Therapy has proved to help many individuals with depression, either by itself or in combination with medication. Moderate exercise can also help reduce symptoms.

You may be prescribed an antidepressant to help you feel better. Antidepressants do not begin working immediately, especially in older adults; it might take up to eight to 12 weeks before you see effects. Always remember to take your medication exactly as directed to see the full benefit.

Medications can cause side effects, so it is important to ask your doctor or pharmacist what to expect when starting any new medication. As is true with conditions such as diabetes or arthritis, depression can be a chronic disease. Your doctor may want you to continue taking your medication or going to therapy, even after you have started feeling better, to prevent another episode from occurring.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, seek help immediately. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department or call the toll-free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8225) or TTY at (800) 799-4TTY (4889) to speak to a trained counselor.