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QUESTION: When my father died, my mother went all to pieces
After 55 years
of being together we thought her depression was understandable, but now the
doctor who takes care of all the people at her home wants to put her on
lithium as a treatment for depression
Isn’t that kind of strong medicine for
a natural reaction? With all the stories about too much medicine for older
people, we thought your advice would be most helpful.

ANSWER: Your obvious concern and anxiety, plus the circumstances as you
describe them, make a “second opinion” from another physician a wise and
appropriate course of action
This very potent drug can be useful in treating
depression in the elderly, but it should be used only for psychiatric
conditions that cause depression
You are right when you say your mother’s
reaction is understandable after the loss of her husband of many years, and is
probably normal, as depression is often a big part of grieving
The elderly
often become depressed because of loneliness, a reaction to loss, or a
negative reaction to medications.
There are, however, other types of antidepressants besides lithium that
can be used effectively at these times.
If your mother is indeed found to be suffering from a manic-depressive
illness, then lithium can be helpful, as it is being used successfully in some
elderly patients
She should get regular checkups and have follow-up lab work
done frequently for the lithium to be used safely.
Lithium should not be given to patients with severe kidney or
cardiovascular disease, or be taken with diuretics, as the drug could become
toxic under these circumstances
You can see that, when obtaining another
opinion, it is most important that you present all the history about your
mother, including a list of medications she may be taking presently
And it
is most important in situations such as this that you continue to monitor the
progress of your mother
Your frequent visits may be more therapeutic than
the medications, and you can personally verify her mental state more
accurately.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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