Got the Blues -- or Could It Be Something More?

Got the Blues -- or Could It Be Something More?

(ARA) - The struggling economy can be worrisome and may make you feel blue, but how do you know if it’s something more serious?

Dr. Phil Ninan, Vice President for Neuroscience Global Medical Affairs at Wyeth, as well as a psychiatrist specializing in anxiety and mood disorders with more than 25 years of experience researching depression and its treatment, reveals a few things to help you assess if you just have the blues or if you should speak to your doctor to find out if it’s something more. Fifteen million Americans experience clinical depression each year.

Q. Lately I’ve been sad, drained of energy, and tired all the time. I don’t feel like hanging out with family or friends. Could this be major depressive disorder, or am I just in a rut?

A. Under times of stress, people feel sadness or worry, and if these feelings persist, they may be more than just "the blues." Depressive symptoms become a depressive illness when they cross the threshold of greater intensity and durability, limiting the capability to pull ourselves out. Clinical depression is a treatable mental illness that is characterized by at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest in activities accompanied by four additional symptoms, such as significant weight changes, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, feeling agitated or sluggish, low energy or fatigue, trouble concentrating, or thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression can affect more than the emotional and physical areas of a person’s life. It can affect functional areas as well. The symptoms of depression can make it hard to function in daily life – whether at home, at work, or even with friends and family. If you believe you may have clinical depression, you should speak to your doctor, as he/she can evaluate your symptoms, and, if needed, outline a treatment plan. The important message is that clinical depression is a treatable mental illness.

Q. I have recently been diagnosed with depression. I would like to learn more about my condition and the treatment options available.

A. Depression can be treated in different ways by your doctor. People who are diagnosed with depression can get better with treatment. Because no one treatment works for every patient, you and your doctor may need to make adjustments to your treatment plan before finding the optimal one for you. Doctors often recommend prescription medication, psychotherapy (or "talk therapy"), or both.

The most commonly prescribed prescription antidepressants are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). SSRIs and SNRIs are both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat major depressive disorder.

PRISTIQ (desvenlafaxine) is an SNRI approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. PRISTIQ is believed to treat depression by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) called serotonin and norepinephrine. Information about PRISTIQ is available at pristiq.com.

Q. Are there side effects with antidepressant medications?

A. As with any medication, you may experience side effects when taking an antidepressant. All patients undergoing antidepressant therapy should be monitored and observed appropriately for clinical worsening, thoughts of suicide, or unusual changes in behavior especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times when there is a change in dosage. It is important to tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

In clinical studies with PRISTIQ at the 50-mg dose, side effects included nausea, dizziness, sweating, constipation, and decreased appetite.

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Important Safety Information for PRISTIQ

PRISTIQ (desvenlafaxine) is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults.

Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs

Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, teens, and young adults. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. PRISTIQ is not approved for use in children under 18.

People taking MAOIs should not take PRISTIQ.

All patients taking antidepressants should be observed closely for signs that their condition is getting worse or that they are becoming suicidal. This is very important when an antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed. Patients should be watched for becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, or restless. These symptoms should be reported to the patient’s health care professional right away.

Tell your health care professional about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking or plan to take, including:

* Medicines to treat migraines or mood disorders, to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition

* Aspirin, NSAID pain relievers, or blood thinners because they may increase the risk of bleeding

PRISTIQ may cause or make some conditions worse, so tell your health care professional about all your medical conditions, including if you:

* Have high blood pressure. Your blood pressure should be controlled before you start taking PRISTIQ and monitored regularly

* Have heart problems, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or a history of stroke

* Have glaucoma or increased eye pressure

* Have kidney or liver problems

* Have or had mania, bipolar disorder, or seizures or convulsions

* Have low sodium levels in your blood

* Are nursing, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant

Discontinuation symptoms may occur when stopping PRISTIQ, especially when therapy is stopped suddenly. Talk to your health care professional before you stop taking or reduce the dose of PRISTIQ.

Until you see how PRISTIQ affects you, be careful driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking PRISTIQ.

Side effects when taking PRISTIQ 50 mg may include nausea, dizziness, sweating, constipation, and decreased appetite.

For full Prescribing Information for PRISTIQ, please go to www.pristiq.com

Dr. Philip T. Ninan is Vice President for Neuroscience, Global Medical Affairs at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Wyeth, he was Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Ninan received his medical degree from Christian Medical College in Vellore, India.

Courtesy of ARAcontent