About Libby Bonner Expertise I am a member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. I can suggest publications, websites, and support groups, answer basic financial questions, answer general questions about meds. I can answer both practical and clinical questions. My 40 year-old daughter has bipolar illness, primarily depressive, and anxiety. She was diagnosed at age 21. I also have a library master`s degree and worked for many years as a clinical/hospital librarian answering reference questions from professionals and the public. My expertise concerns the serious mental illnesses: bipolar disorder; depression; and schizophrenia. I also know about what kinds of care to expect from different professionals/providers. I am not qualified to help families with patients under 18 I cannot answer questions about herbal remedies.
Experience Familiarity with the healthcare system. Working at a large hospital with a pscyh in-patient unit and an affiliated mental health center. Having a daughter with a chronic mental illness. Knowing many consumers, many diagnoses, when they were doing well and not-so-well. Taking, and now monitoring, the NAMI Family to Family class. Facilitating NAMI caring and sharing support group for family members.
Question Our doctor just prescribed Zoloft for my Mother for depression. Can you tell me anything about it? I did a search on the internet, but did not find much. Thank you.
Answer I am so sorry for the delay in answering you - the question got delayed getting to me.
Quick answer is that Zoloft is one of many drugs used for brain-chemistry disorders like depression, to correct those chemical problems. It won't start working for 2-3 weeks, perhaps a bit longer, so your mom will need encouragment about this from doctor and family, about not feeling better right away.
It's likely that she'll do well w/ this drug but, if not, the doc will try another. If the second doesn't work, or her condition worsens, you might want to consider someone w/ more experience w/ these drugs [a psychiatrist] rather than a family doc.
You can get some medication info at www.rxlist.com, and some info on depression at www.nami.org or www.ndmda.org
Thanks for writing. I hope your mother's life will be much brighter soon. Write again if I can help.
