Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

Medications for mood

Options
Belle60
Belle60 Member Posts: 71
25 Likes 25 Care Reactions 10 Comments First Anniversary
Member

DH is in stage 5 EOAD. He takes 100 mg of Zoloft for depression and anxiety. It mostly helps but he continues to walk around the house saying he is lonely and nobody wants to be with him. I am always there except when I work. I have caregivers in the house so when he says he lonely I remind him I am right here. I actually think he is bored too but all this sometimes comes to a boiling point of outbursts, etc. I was wondering if any one's LO takes another mood stabilizer in addition to anti depressants? He mutters to himself alot sometimes while we lay in bed at night until 11 or 12 midnight. Makes it hard to sleep and I have to be up at 5 each morning.

Comments

  • Cranddi
    Cranddi Member Posts: 19
    10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions First Anniversary 5 Care Reactions
    Member

    My wife if on 75 mg of Zoloft for mood/depression. She started on 25 mg and it's been increased about every 4-6 months when mood/depression symptoms begin to break through. She's also on 15 mg of mirtazapine for sleep. It's been amazing, allowing her to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly.

  • blacksparky
    blacksparky Member Posts: 113
    100 Care Reactions 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Likes 10 Comments
    Member

    My DW is stage 5/early stage 6 with EOAD. I think we finally found the right combination and dosage now. She is on 100 MG Zoloft morning and night and 100 MG Serequol morning and night. This works most of the days but occasionally she still has some bad days. Keep working with doctors to figure out what works for your DH. 👍

  • Karen711
    Karen711 Member Posts: 151
    100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Likes 25 Care Reactions
    Member

    I’m no help on your question Belle60, but I’m interested in what others are doing as well. I just started giving my wife Seroquel for bad sundowners agitation. My problem is she refuses to take anything new I offer her (anosognosia). She will only take the meds (for bp and cholesterol) she’s been on for years. So I’ve crushed the Seroquel a few times and put it in an ice cream cone for her. But I can’t do this regularly, adjust dosages, give am/pm, or add an antidepressant, etc. The agitation and anger are getting hard to take.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 1,034
    1000 Comments 250 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Care Reactions
    Member

    Could you tell her the doctor added a second blood pressure pill or something like that?

  • LearningCurve
    LearningCurve Member Posts: 17
    10 Comments 5 Likes
    Member

    Hello. Today my DH was prescribed 15 mg of mirtazapine by his physician. Besides good sleep (Hooray!) has this Rx appeared to have any other effects? I'm still on a big learning curve, thank you.

  • Chammer
    Chammer Member Posts: 185
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Care Reactions
    Member
    edited July 4

    @Karen711 im not sure what stage your DW is or her food preferences. Are you able to crush and put in cottage cheese or oatmeal for breakfast and a little ice cream treat every night? When MILwAD began to refuse all meds, I used the individual ice cream cups, put in a little crystal bowl to make it beautiful, crushed meds, stirred it in, topped w some whipped cream morning and night and told her what a queen she was to be able to have ice cream for breakfast and dinner! She ate it up literally and figuratively cause she loved ice cream and being pampered. I was not usually there in the mornings so I always mixed up her morning "treat" the night before and left it in the freezer for caregiver or FIL to give on the mornings I wasnt there.

  • CindyBum
    CindyBum Member Posts: 456
    500 Care Reactions 250 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Comments
    Member

    My DW is on Gabapentin for anxiety along with Lexapro for depression. The anti-anxiety med really helped her sundowners.

  • Cranddi
    Cranddi Member Posts: 19
    10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions First Anniversary 5 Care Reactions
    Member

    It has caused her to put on weight, mostly in her belly. I think about 15 lbs over the last 2-3 years. There have been no other side effects that I have noticed.

  • Dio
    Dio Member Posts: 843
    250 Likes 250 Care Reactions 500 Comments Third Anniversary
    Member

    My DH's mood stabilizer was Depakote. But it doesn't work for everyone. With all meds, there are certainly a long list of side effects. Question is which ones can you live with.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more