1. Depression, Heart Disease May Raise Death Risk
Sept. 15, 2010 -- Patients who suffer from depression and who also have heart disease are almost five times as likely to die as people who are mentally and physically healthy, a new study shows. Researchers in England, Finland, France, and the U.S. examined data from about 6,000 middle-aged adults f
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2. Exercise for Depression: How It Helps
Five years ago, after ending a long-term relationship, Anita became seriously depressed. It benched the once-physically active writer, who asked that her last name be withheld to protect her privacy. She stopped running and began gaining weight and falling out of shape. It was not the first time she
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3. New Parents at Risk for Postpartum Depression
Sept 7, 2010 -- Both moms and dads are at an increased risk for depression during the first year of their infant's life, finds a new study of parents in the U.K. Close to 40% of new moms and 21% of new dads in the U.K experienced a bout of depression during their child's first 12 years of life, but
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4. Is Depression Wrecking Your Weight?
They are both heavy burdens - weight problems and depression. And they often go hand in hand. Some people gain weight when they're depressed. Others lose weight, to an unhealthy degree. Which comes first? And how can you untangle the link between depression and weight -- especially if depression has
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5. SAM-e May Boost Effects of Antidepressants
Sept. 3, 2010 -- SAM-e plus prescription antidepressants may spell relief for hard-to-treat depression, according to a new study published in the August 2010 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Short for S-adenosyl methionine, SAM-e is a dietary supplement that is often used in the treatmen
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6. Saving Your Sex Life When You're Depressed
Chronic depression affects every part of daily life, including sex. It curbs sex drive, yet sex can boost your mood and is important for relationships. And some depression drugs can curb your libido. Breaking this cycle can be hard. How to get out of this funk? There's no one-size-fits-all approach.
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7. Pets for Depression and Health
Traffic was unbearable, the workday was long, and the boss unreasonable. But minutes later, as your pet dog wags his tail and yips his welcome, your symptoms of depression lift. It's not a coincidence, according to psychologists, veterinarians, and researchers, who concur that pets can be good for o
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8. Natural Depression Treatments
While therapy and medication are key in controlling depression, there’s also a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Making changes to your own behavior -- your physical activity, diet, and lifestyle -- can be effective natural depression treatments. “Lifestyle changes are a very important part
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9. Clues Help ID Depressed People at Risk of Bipolar Disorder
Aug. 17, 2010 -- Researchers have discovered clues that may help identify which people with depression are at risk of developing bipolar disorder. The new findings appear in the online version of The American Journal of Psychiatry. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition characterized by the extreme
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10. Internet Overuse May Cause Depression
Aug. 2, 2010 -- Teenagers who are addicted to the Internet are more likely to develop depression or other psychiatric problems than teens who are classified as normal Internet users, a new study says. Researchers in Australia and China studied pathological or uncontrolled Internet use and later ment
# Getting Started: Exercise for Depression
If you’re feeling depressed, it can be difficult to get yourself off the couch, much less exercise. But exercise may be one of the best things you can do for your depression. Physical activity can make you feel better, improve your mood, and help you sleep better. Many studies have shown the benefit
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# Eating Disorders and Depression
Eating disorders often begin with the best of intentions -- a desire to lose weight and control eating. But in some people, those good intentions go badly wrong, resulting in anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, or other disorders. Why some people are at risk for eating disorders isn’t clear. Bu
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# How Your Depression Medicine Can Affect Your Life
If you’re being treated for depression, taking an antidepressant may be part of your treatment plan. Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. These depression medicines can help improve your mood, help you sleep better, and inc
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# Depression and Insomnia
Can’t sleep? Feeling depressed? You’re not alone. Both insomnia and depression are surprisingly common complaints. About 15% of adults suffer from chronic insomnia. Nearly as many suffer occasional bouts of depression. Insomnia and depression often go hand-in-hand. Although just 15% of people with d
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# A Holistic Approach to Treating Depression
If you’re depressed, taking medication is only one of many treatment options. A holistic approach focuses on treating your whole being -- body and mind -- to help you feel better. A healthy diet, exercise, and talk therapy are a few of the holistic approaches you can use, along with your medication
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# Getting Started: Talk Therapy for Depression
Many studies have found that talk therapy, or psychotherapy, can help treat depression. Talk therapy can help you learn about your depression and help you find ways to manage your symptoms. “Talk therapy can give you the skills to help handle your depression, so for many people it’s a very empowerin
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# Coming to Terms With Depression
You’ve just been diagnosed with depression. You may feel as if you are the only person in the world with this problem. That kind of feeling is just one symptom of the illness. Of course, you aren’t alone. Nearly 17 million adults in the U.S. suffer from depression. It affects people of all ages, rac
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# Getting Started: Eating Right for Depression
If you’re feeling depressed, what you eat can affect your mood and your health. “A healthy diet is one of the most important facets in treating depression,” says Rosa Schnyer, DAOM, LAc, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas College of Pharmacy in Austin. “If your body isn’t gettin
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# How Long Should You Take Antidepressants?
If you are considering taking an antidepressant, you may be concerned about how long you’ll need to stay on it. Even if you feel that it will help treat your depression, you may not like taking any medicine if you can help it. You may wonder about side effects or long-term effects of taking a drug t
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# Depression Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
July 6, 2010 -- Older people who suffer from depression have nearly double the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a new study finds. Researchers followed elderly participants in the ongoing Framingham Heart Study for up to 17 years to explore late-life depression and dementia# Depression: Coping With Anxiety Symptoms
Depression and anxiety might seem like opposites, but they often go together. More than half of the people diagnosed with depression also have anxiety. Either condition can be disabling on its own. Together, depression and anxiety can be especially hard to live with, hard to diagnose, and hard to tr
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# Exercise and Depression: Expert Q&A
Depression is draining. It can make any type of exertion -- going to the grocery store, cleaning up the yard, or exercising -- seem daunting. "Energy loss is one of the key characteristics of depression. Some people feel that it’s the key characteristic of depression," says Robert E. Thayer, PhD, a
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# Antidepressants Linked to Miscarriage Risk
June 2, 2010 -- A Canadian study of more than 5,000 women shows an association between taking antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft, and an increased risk for miscarriage. But researchers caution that this association does
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# Survey: Talk Therapy as Good as Antidepressants
June 1, 2010 -- Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for treating both anxiety and depression, but talk therapy appears to work just as well as the medications, according to a new survey. People who both take medicine and get therapy fare even better. Nearly 80% of survey respondents with depress
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# More 'Doctor Time' Helps Ease Depression
May 26, 2010 (New Orleans) -- Simply spending more time with the doctor may help people with depression feel better. That's according to researchers who analyzed data from major studies pitting the antidepressant Effexor against placebo in people with depression. Patients on placebo experienced subs
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# Yoga May Help Fight Depression
May 26, 2010 (New Orleans) -- Yoga may be helpful in the treatment of depression, researchers say. In a small study of healthy people with no psychiatric problems, yoga produced greater improvements in mood than walking, suggesting its beneficial effect is not just from physical activity. "We think
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# Hay Fever Linked to Depression
May 25, 2010 (New Orleans) -- If you suffer from a mood disorder and hay fever, don't be surprised if your mood worsens when pollen season rolls around. Preliminary research shows that people with depression or bipolar disorder who are allergic to tree or ragweed pollen experience worse depression w
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# Long-Term Antidepressants to Prevent Depression?
May 24, 2010 (New Orleans) -- Long-term use of antidepressants may not always be needed to prevent future bouts of depression. So say researchers whose preliminary study shows that at least two-thirds of depressed patients who will relapse do so in the first six months after stopping antidepressant
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# Dads Get Postpartum Depression, Too
May 18, 2010 -- Although postpartum depression in new moms is well known and well documented, slightly more than 10% of new dads also become depressed before or after their baby’s birth. The new findings were presented at a news conference sponsored by the American Medical Association and appear in
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# Craving Carbs: Is It Depression?
Does a bad day at the office or a tiff with your spouse send you marching to the cookie jar or the corner bakery? Or do you find yourself at the vending machine every day precisely at 4 p.m. for some crackers or candy? If either scenario fits, you're not alone. Many people crave carbohydrates -- esp# Cognitive Therapy for Depression
Almost everyone has dark thoughts when his or her mood is bad. With depression, though, the thoughts can be extremely negative. They can also take over and distort your view of reality. Cognitive therapy can be an effective way to defuse those thoughts. When used for depression, cognitive therapy pr
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# Foods to Help You Feel Better
Are you feeling down in the dumps? Are you irritated at how often you’ve been irritable? Perhaps it’s time to look at the foods and drinks you consume to see if they are trashing your mood. Nutrition experts say that the foods you eat can help you feel better -- or feel worse -- in the short-term an
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# Magnet Treatment for Depression Works for Some
May 4, 2010 -- A controversial new treatment for depression, rTMS, helps some patients, a rigorous government-funded study finds. The treatment is called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. It's basically an electromagnet. When applied to the skull just behind the left forehead, the device
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# More Chocolate Means More Depression, or Vice Versa
April 26, 2010 -- Indulging in chocolate may help lift one’s mood, but a new study has found that people who eat the most chocolate have a greater likelihood of depression. A study of 931 men and women in the San Diego area showed that people who ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month
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# Can Antidepressants Work for Me?
How effective are antidepressants? That's a question that many people with depression have asked -- and research suggests that the answers aren't simple. It's a question that's relevant to millions. About one in 10 Americans takes an antidepressant, now the most commonly prescribed type of drug in
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# Depressed People Smoke More, Quit Less
April 14, 2010 -- Depressed people are more likely to smoke and less likely to quit, a CDC survey suggests. The findings don't prove that depression causes smoking, or that smoking causes depression. But the data, from nationwide surveys of adults conducted from 2005 through 2008, show there's a str
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# Teen Suicide Risk Similar Among Antidepressants
April 12, 2010 -- The heightened risk of teen suicide doesn’t vary among users of different antidepressants, a new study finds. Researchers say the finding supports the FDA’s current "black box" warning on all antidepressants detailing the increased risk of suicide attempts and suicides in children
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# Do Antidepressants in Pregnancy Affect Baby?
Feb. 23, 2010 -- Babies born to women who take antidepressants during pregnancy may experience small delays in reaching certain developmental milestones, but it is not clear if these delays are clinically significant, a study shows. Compared to children born to women who did not take antidepressants
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# Acupuncture Eases Depression in Pregnancy
Feb. 22, 2010 -- Acupuncture may be an effective way to reduce depression during pregnancy, a new study shows. Many pregnant women who have symptoms of depression worry that taking antidepressants might harm their unborn babies -- so they stop taking their medications, say researchers at the Stanfor
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# Internet Addiction Spins Web of Depression
Feb. 4, 2010 -- Internet users who are compulsive about going online and have more social interactions in virtual worlds than the real one may be depressed, according to a new study. Some Internet users retreat from real-life interaction and opt for chat rooms and social networking sites, and this #
Sadness. Irritability. Obsessive thoughts. Extreme moods. The symptoms of depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder often seem the same. It's not always easy for doctors to determine which mood disorder, or combination, a patient has. Here are some questions that will help both you and your
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# Antidepressants: Best for Severe Depression?
Jan. 5, 2010 -- Some antidepressants may work best for people with very severe depression, according to a new analysis, but may provide little or no benefit over placebo for those with mild, moderate, or severe depression. ''For patients with very severe depression, the medication did have a potent
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# Americans With Depression Are Undertreated
Jan. 4, 2010 -- A new study shows only half of Americans with depression receive any type of treatment for it, and certain minorities may face even greater difficulties in getting the treatment they need. Researchers found only one in five Americans suffering from clinical depression receives treatm
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# Depression and Divorce
The 20-something couple, married just a few years, was eagerly looking forward to the birth of their first baby. Labor and delivery went fine, and the baby was born healthy. But problems began when the new mom, overwhelmed by motherhood, suffered depression. "The husband had to take care of everythi
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# Antidepressants May Raise Stroke Risk
Dec. 14, 2009 -- Older women who take antidepressants may have a slightly higher risk for stroke and death. In a new finding from the large study known as the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), postmenopausal women who took tricyclic or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants had
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# Antidepressant Paxil Also May Affect Personality
Dec. 7, 2009 -- Besides treating depression, the antidepressant Paxil may affect personality traits in positive ways, a new study suggests. Researchers say Paxil and likely other antidepressants in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve higher levels of
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# Seasonal Mood and Hormonal Changes
Many women report mood changes linked to their monthly menstrual cycles. Between 3% and 9% of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), often with severe depression symptoms. How are these monthly mood changes -- mild or severe -- affected by seasonal weather and
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# Tempted to Quit Antidepressants?
Antidepressants are designed to boost mood and relieve sadness, but for some patients, their side effects fuel another emotion: frustration. Just ask Maryland resident Jane Niziol. Her doctor prescribed Paxil after a difficult breakup left her feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Niziol recalls the me
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# Lifestyle Tips for Treatment-Resistant Depression
If you have treatment-resistant depression, getting expert medical and psychological treatment is crucial. But recovery isn't only about dutifully taking your medicine and seeing your therapist. There is actually a lot that you can do on your own to support your treatment. "Because some treatments h
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# Treatment-Resistant Depression: Your Continuum of Care
If you've been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, you might be wondering what happens next. You've already tried some medications. Maybe you've already tried talk therapy, too. They haven't helped. So what now? "Having treatment-resistant depression is a terrible burden for people," says
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Saturday, September 18, 2010
WebMD Home next page Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression Email a Friend Print Article Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression From Our Sponsor:Sy
Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
Worldwide, it's estimated that more than 121 million people are affected by depression. For some, finding the right treatment for their depression can be more difficult.
There are many medicines that help to treat depression. But some people have a type of depression called Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). A person may have TRD if, during an episode of depression, he or she has had little or no response to treatment with 2 different antidepressants. This may happen even when the person takes the right dose for the right amount of time.
The Impact of TRD
If you are living with TRD, the condition can make your life more difficult. You may even feel that you are the source of your problems, and not your condition. After several unsuccessful attempts to treat your depression, you may feel skeptical that anything will be able to help. But without treatment, your TRD symptoms may continue to have an impact on your life.
Seeking Help
If you are affected by the condition, the first steps toward getting relief can be learning more about TRD and talking to your healthcare professional about TRD. You can also learn more about Symbyax, the first antidepressant approved by the FDA for acute treatment of TRD.
To help you talk to your healthcare professional about your depression experience and to learn if you could have TRD, complete and print the online Doctor Discussion Guide.
Next Article:
Important Safety Information about Symbyax® (olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl)
Please read the Medication Guide that comes with Symbyax before you start taking it and each time you get a refill
What are the possible side effects of Symbyax?
Like all medicines, Symbyax is associated with possible side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effect that concerns you.
Symbyax may be associated with the following serious risks:
* Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, adolescents and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when changing the dose. No increased risk has been shown for adults over age 24, and risk decreased for those over age 65. All patients starting therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for new or worsening depression symptoms, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or unusual changes in behavior. Symbyax is not approved for children and adolescents.
* Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia (a brain disorder that lessens the ability to remember, think, and reason) are at increased risk of death when taking certain mental health medicines (such as Symbyax) compared with a sugar pill. Symbyax is not approved for these patients.
* Suicidal thoughts or actions. Persons taking Symbyax may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when Symbyax is first started or the dose is changed. People close to patients taking Symbyax can help by paying attention to changes in patient's mood or actions. Contact the doctor right away if someone using Symbyax talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself or has sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. If you are taking Symbyax yourself and you start having any of these symptoms, tell your doctor about this right away.
* Strokes and "mini-strokes" called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). These are more common in elderly people with psychosis related to dementia. Symbyax is not approved for these patients.
* Severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you get red itchy welts (hives) or a rash alone or with fever and joint pain, while taking Symbyax. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have swelling of your face, eyes or mouth, and/or trouble breathing.
* Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). This is a rare but very serious condition that can happen in people who take certain medicines for mental health problems, including Symbyax. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. The symptoms include high fever; excessive sweating; rigid muscles; confusion; and changes in breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms.
* High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can occur if you have diabetes already or even if you have never had diabetes. In rare cases, this could lead to ketoacidosis (build up of acid in the blood due to ketones), coma, or death. Your doctor should do lab tests to check your blood sugar before you start taking Symbyax and during treatment. In people who do not have diabetes, sometimes high blood sugar goes away when Symbyax is stopped. People with diabetes and some people who did not have diabetes before taking Symbyax need to take medicine for high blood sugar even after they stop taking Symbyax. If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions about how often to check your blood sugar while taking Symbyax.
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) while taking Symbyax:
o feel very thirsty
o need to urinate more than usual
o feel very hungry
o feel weak or tired
o feel sick to your stomach
o feel confused, or your breath smells fruity.
* High cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood (fat in the blood). These have been observed in patients treated with Symbyax, especially in teenagers (13-17 years old) who received olanzapine, one of the components of Symbyax. Symbyax is not approved for use in patients less than 18 years old. You may not have any symptoms, so your doctor should do blood tests to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels before you start taking Symbyax and during treatment.
* Increase in weight (weight gain). Weight gain is very commonly seen in patients who take Symbyax. Teenagers (13-17 years old) who received olanzapine, one of the components of Symbyax, were more likely to gain weight and to gain more weight than adults. Symbyax is not approved for use in patients less than 18 years old. Some patients may gain a lot of weight while taking Symbyax, so your doctor should check your weight regularly. Talk to your doctor about ways to control weight gain, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, and exercising.
* Tardive dyskinesia. This condition causes body movements that keep happening and that you cannot control. These movements usually affect the face and tongue. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop taking Symbyax. It may also start after you stop taking Symbyax. Tell your doctor if you get any body movements that you cannot control.
* Serotonin syndrome. This is a condition that can be life threatening. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: agitation; hallucinations; problems with coordination; racing heart beat; over-active reflexes; fever; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
* Abnormal bleeding. Tell your doctor if you notice any increased or unusual bruising or bleeding while taking Symbyax, especially if you take one of these medications: the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin.
* Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood (hyponatremia). Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: headache, feel weak, confusion, problems concentrating, memory problems, feel unsteady.
* Decreased blood pressure when you change position, with symptoms of dizziness, fast or slow heart beat, or fainting.
* Decreases in white blood cells (infection fighting cells) have been reported in some patients taking antipsychotic agents, including SYMBYAX. Patients with a history of a significant decrease in white blood cell (WBC) count or who have experienced a low WBC count due to drug therapy should have their blood tested and monitored during the first few months of therapy.
* Seizures.
* Trouble swallowing.
* Problems with control of body temperature. You could become very hot, for instance when you exercise a lot or stay in an area that is very hot. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms of dehydration: sweating too much or not at all, dry mouth, feeling very hot, feeling thirsty, not able to produce urine.
Common possible side effects of Symbyax include:
* Tiredness
* Feeling weak
* Increased appetite
* Sleeping for long periods of time
* Blurred vision
* Tremors (shakes)
* Dry mouth
* Swelling of your hands and feet
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you have questions or if you have any side effects that concern you, talk with your doctor and/or pharmacist.
Who should not take Symbyax?
* Do not take Symbyax if you already take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) or if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks. Do not take an MAOI within 5 weeks of stopping Symbyax. People who take Symbyax close in time to an MAOI can have serious and life-threatening side effects, with symptoms including: high fever, continued muscle spasms that you cannot control, rigid muscles, changes in heart rate and blood pressure that happen fast, confusion, unconsciousness. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is an MAOI.
* Do not take Symbyax if you already take Mellaril (thioridazine) or within 5 weeks of stopping Symbyax. Mellaril can cause serious heart rhythm problems and you could die suddenly.
* Do not take Symbyax if you take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap).
Other important safety information
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant while taking Symbyax. It is not known if Symbyax will harm your unborn baby. You should not breast-feed if you are taking Symbyax.
Tell your doctor if you are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs including vitamins and herbal supplements. Symbyax and some medicines may interact with each other and may not work as well, or cause possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Symbyax without talking to your doctor first.
Symbyax may not be right for you. Before starting Symbyax, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.
If you take Symbyax, you should not take any other medicines that contain olanzapine (Zyprexa or Zyprexa Zydis) or fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, or Sarafem). You could take too much medicine.
Take Symbyax exactly as prescribed. To prevent serious side effects, do not stop taking Symbyax suddenly. If you need to stop taking Symbyax, your doctor can tell you how to safely stop taking it.
Symbyax can cause sleepiness and may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Symbyax affects you.
Avoid the use of alcohol while taking Symbyax.
It is not known if Symbyax is safe and works in children under 18 years of age.
Worldwide, it's estimated that more than 121 million people are affected by depression. For some, finding the right treatment for their depression can be more difficult.
There are many medicines that help to treat depression. But some people have a type of depression called Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). A person may have TRD if, during an episode of depression, he or she has had little or no response to treatment with 2 different antidepressants. This may happen even when the person takes the right dose for the right amount of time.
The Impact of TRD
If you are living with TRD, the condition can make your life more difficult. You may even feel that you are the source of your problems, and not your condition. After several unsuccessful attempts to treat your depression, you may feel skeptical that anything will be able to help. But without treatment, your TRD symptoms may continue to have an impact on your life.
Seeking Help
If you are affected by the condition, the first steps toward getting relief can be learning more about TRD and talking to your healthcare professional about TRD. You can also learn more about Symbyax, the first antidepressant approved by the FDA for acute treatment of TRD.
To help you talk to your healthcare professional about your depression experience and to learn if you could have TRD, complete and print the online Doctor Discussion Guide.
Next Article:
Important Safety Information about Symbyax® (olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl)
Please read the Medication Guide that comes with Symbyax before you start taking it and each time you get a refill
What are the possible side effects of Symbyax?
Like all medicines, Symbyax is associated with possible side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effect that concerns you.
Symbyax may be associated with the following serious risks:
* Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, adolescents and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when changing the dose. No increased risk has been shown for adults over age 24, and risk decreased for those over age 65. All patients starting therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for new or worsening depression symptoms, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or unusual changes in behavior. Symbyax is not approved for children and adolescents.
* Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia (a brain disorder that lessens the ability to remember, think, and reason) are at increased risk of death when taking certain mental health medicines (such as Symbyax) compared with a sugar pill. Symbyax is not approved for these patients.
* Suicidal thoughts or actions. Persons taking Symbyax may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when Symbyax is first started or the dose is changed. People close to patients taking Symbyax can help by paying attention to changes in patient's mood or actions. Contact the doctor right away if someone using Symbyax talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself or has sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. If you are taking Symbyax yourself and you start having any of these symptoms, tell your doctor about this right away.
* Strokes and "mini-strokes" called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). These are more common in elderly people with psychosis related to dementia. Symbyax is not approved for these patients.
* Severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you get red itchy welts (hives) or a rash alone or with fever and joint pain, while taking Symbyax. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have swelling of your face, eyes or mouth, and/or trouble breathing.
* Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). This is a rare but very serious condition that can happen in people who take certain medicines for mental health problems, including Symbyax. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. The symptoms include high fever; excessive sweating; rigid muscles; confusion; and changes in breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms.
* High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can occur if you have diabetes already or even if you have never had diabetes. In rare cases, this could lead to ketoacidosis (build up of acid in the blood due to ketones), coma, or death. Your doctor should do lab tests to check your blood sugar before you start taking Symbyax and during treatment. In people who do not have diabetes, sometimes high blood sugar goes away when Symbyax is stopped. People with diabetes and some people who did not have diabetes before taking Symbyax need to take medicine for high blood sugar even after they stop taking Symbyax. If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions about how often to check your blood sugar while taking Symbyax.
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) while taking Symbyax:
o feel very thirsty
o need to urinate more than usual
o feel very hungry
o feel weak or tired
o feel sick to your stomach
o feel confused, or your breath smells fruity.
* High cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood (fat in the blood). These have been observed in patients treated with Symbyax, especially in teenagers (13-17 years old) who received olanzapine, one of the components of Symbyax. Symbyax is not approved for use in patients less than 18 years old. You may not have any symptoms, so your doctor should do blood tests to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels before you start taking Symbyax and during treatment.
* Increase in weight (weight gain). Weight gain is very commonly seen in patients who take Symbyax. Teenagers (13-17 years old) who received olanzapine, one of the components of Symbyax, were more likely to gain weight and to gain more weight than adults. Symbyax is not approved for use in patients less than 18 years old. Some patients may gain a lot of weight while taking Symbyax, so your doctor should check your weight regularly. Talk to your doctor about ways to control weight gain, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, and exercising.
* Tardive dyskinesia. This condition causes body movements that keep happening and that you cannot control. These movements usually affect the face and tongue. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop taking Symbyax. It may also start after you stop taking Symbyax. Tell your doctor if you get any body movements that you cannot control.
* Serotonin syndrome. This is a condition that can be life threatening. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: agitation; hallucinations; problems with coordination; racing heart beat; over-active reflexes; fever; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
* Abnormal bleeding. Tell your doctor if you notice any increased or unusual bruising or bleeding while taking Symbyax, especially if you take one of these medications: the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin.
* Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood (hyponatremia). Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: headache, feel weak, confusion, problems concentrating, memory problems, feel unsteady.
* Decreased blood pressure when you change position, with symptoms of dizziness, fast or slow heart beat, or fainting.
* Decreases in white blood cells (infection fighting cells) have been reported in some patients taking antipsychotic agents, including SYMBYAX. Patients with a history of a significant decrease in white blood cell (WBC) count or who have experienced a low WBC count due to drug therapy should have their blood tested and monitored during the first few months of therapy.
* Seizures.
* Trouble swallowing.
* Problems with control of body temperature. You could become very hot, for instance when you exercise a lot or stay in an area that is very hot. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms of dehydration: sweating too much or not at all, dry mouth, feeling very hot, feeling thirsty, not able to produce urine.
Common possible side effects of Symbyax include:
* Tiredness
* Feeling weak
* Increased appetite
* Sleeping for long periods of time
* Blurred vision
* Tremors (shakes)
* Dry mouth
* Swelling of your hands and feet
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you have questions or if you have any side effects that concern you, talk with your doctor and/or pharmacist.
Who should not take Symbyax?
* Do not take Symbyax if you already take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) or if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks. Do not take an MAOI within 5 weeks of stopping Symbyax. People who take Symbyax close in time to an MAOI can have serious and life-threatening side effects, with symptoms including: high fever, continued muscle spasms that you cannot control, rigid muscles, changes in heart rate and blood pressure that happen fast, confusion, unconsciousness. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is an MAOI.
* Do not take Symbyax if you already take Mellaril (thioridazine) or within 5 weeks of stopping Symbyax. Mellaril can cause serious heart rhythm problems and you could die suddenly.
* Do not take Symbyax if you take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap).
Other important safety information
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant while taking Symbyax. It is not known if Symbyax will harm your unborn baby. You should not breast-feed if you are taking Symbyax.
Tell your doctor if you are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs including vitamins and herbal supplements. Symbyax and some medicines may interact with each other and may not work as well, or cause possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Symbyax without talking to your doctor first.
Symbyax may not be right for you. Before starting Symbyax, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.
If you take Symbyax, you should not take any other medicines that contain olanzapine (Zyprexa or Zyprexa Zydis) or fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, or Sarafem). You could take too much medicine.
Take Symbyax exactly as prescribed. To prevent serious side effects, do not stop taking Symbyax suddenly. If you need to stop taking Symbyax, your doctor can tell you how to safely stop taking it.
Symbyax can cause sleepiness and may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Symbyax affects you.
Avoid the use of alcohol while taking Symbyax.
It is not known if Symbyax is safe and works in children under 18 years of age.
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