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Dealing with Depression/medication
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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.
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.
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Answers by Expert:
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.
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