Introduction
Mental health issues are one of the critical factors affecting the population and impacting the quality of people’s lives. Depression disorder is a common condition affecting individuals across their lifespan. The disease might lead to numerous adverse effects, such as reduced mood, problems in interacting with others, inability to have positive emotions, suicidal thoughts, and even death.
Older adults with depression belong to a specific risk group because of their increased vulnerability to depression, peculiarities of lifestyle, and relations with close people. Selecting the appropriate medication treatment option is critical to achieve the desired outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to create a patient medication guide for treating depression by using appropriate medications. It will assist vulnerable groups in making informed decisions and attaining better outcomes.
Major Causes and Symptoms
First of all, the depressive disorder might be caused by various factors. It is a specific type of mood disorder that can impact relations with other individuals, harm individuals’ performance, affect eating and sleeping, and predispose serious mental health issues (Doc Snipes, 2022). Unfortunately, despite numerous research studies analyzing the case, there is still no comprehensive understanding of why the disease emerges.
Currently, there is an idea that there is no single cause that might trigger the development of depression. These might include stress, thyroid or endocrine system diseases, head injuries, and systemic diseases that affect the individual’s mood (Doc Snipes, 2022). As a result, they develop specific symptoms that may aid in diagnosing the condition under discussion. The signs might include depressed moods, weight loss or gain, disturbed sleep patterns, fatigue, constant thoughts of death, or suicidal thinking (Doc Snipes, 2022). The symptoms might also vary among individuals because of personal characteristics and specific mental health issues or problems.
Diagnosis for the Vulnerable Population
Older adults are considered one of the vulnerable groups at a higher risk of acquiring depression. It is associated with several typical causes in this age group. First, as people age, they start spending more time alone (Vishwakarma et al., 2023). It might lead to social isolation and higher risks of depression development (Vishwakarma et al., 2023).
Furthermore, normal aging is followed by cardiovascular and neurological changes (Vishwakarma et al., 2023). It influences the work of the central body systems and affects a person’s well-being (Vishwakarma et al., 2023). As a result, the depressive moods and thoughts might prevail.
Additionally, vulnerability to depression comes from the numerous chronic conditions and thoughts about death peculiar to this age. Diagnosing depression among older adults might require using standard and specific approaches. For instance, preoccupation with body complaints is one of the significant signs (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Second, a specialist looks for a cluster of depressive symptoms, such as changes in appetite, insomnia, or mood changes (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). It helps to recognize depression in older adults and start treatment.
Medication Treatment
At the moment, there is a wide range of methods that can be used to treat depression. Medication treatment options imply using antidepressants following the therapist’s recommendations. Thus, second-generation antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) demonstrate high effectiveness in various population groups (Stahl, 2021).
The investigations show that the medications in this group have a reduced risk of side effects and are safe, even when the incorrect dosage is used (Stahl, 2021). It means that in case of overdose, there is a chance for successful treatment and absence of severe outcomes. For instance, citalopram is an FDA-approved drug used to manage symptoms in patients (Stahl, 2021).
The risks include dry mouth, sweating, headaches, nausea, or feeling tired (Stahl, 2021). However, some benefits justify the use of medication. These include reduction of symptoms of depression, better sleep, appetite, and absence of suicidal thoughts (Stahl, 2021). That is why SSRIs or SNRIs can be recommended for older individuals.
Medication Considerations
In this way, given their effectiveness and reduced side effects, these medications can be prescribed. For instance, citalopram, or Celexa (brand name), is one of the antidepressants that can be prescribed to older adults to manage depression symptoms (Howland, 2008). Its use helped achieve remission and contributed to the patient’s overall improvement in feelings and emotional states.
Furthermore, fluoxetine, belonging to the SSRI known as Prozac (brand name), can be another choice for treating depression in older adults. Based on the results of recent studies, the FDA approved the use of the drug for managing the main symptoms of depression (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, n.d.). There are no geriatric-specific problems that limit the drug’s applicability to the elderly population.
Finally, the specialist can recommend escitalopram (Lexapro) for the cohort. Factors impacting the choice of medication include specific patient characteristics and a history of previous treatment (Stahl, 2021). It means that currently, therapists have a wide variety of options to assist older adults with depression. The table below structures the information about the possible drugs:
Importance of Monitoring
Nevertheless, when using antidepressants and struggling against depression, it is essential to control the patients’ state and draw specific attention to several issues. First, the constant intake of antidepressants might lead to the emergence of side effects and increase the risks of diabetes, high cholesterol, or higher triglyceride levels (Stahl, 2021). For this reason, it is critical to perform continuous blood work monitoring to ensure the prescribed treatment is effective and that there are no critical changes in the patients’ condition.
Second, older adults have numerous chronic diseases that might require additional attention because of the higher risk of comorbid medical issues. For instance, using antidepressants might increase blood sugar levels, which is especially dangerous for patients with diabetes (Piacentino et al., 2022). For this reason, controlling the state of patients and constant testing are critical when using antidepressants to treat depression and its symptoms.
Special Considerations
There are also special considerations applicable to older patients with depression. First, from an ethical perspective, it is critical to ensure the patient uses prescribed drugs correctly and adheres to the prescribed dosage. Second, it is vital to remove dangerous means of suicide if the client has thoughts of this sort. Following HIPAA and informed consent basics, the privacy, security, and breach notification rules should be observed. It means that the therapist should not share data without the client’s permission (Grando et al., 2020).
Moreover, the patient should be informed about the treatment’s benefits and side effects (Grando et al., 2020). Additionally, the patient’s culture and treatment preferences should be considered to avoid using methods that are unacceptable to them (Yasuda et al., 2008). It will foster a positive and supportive atmosphere.
Sources of Additional Information
Finally, patients with depression who need support and assistance can acquire additional information that might improve their decision-making and self-care. First, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is available to all individuals seeking additional information. Second, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) can help patients and family members to gather support and find a needed specialist. The clients can also use a mental health hotline (988) in case symptoms are too strong.
Patients who have depression might be provided with the following prescriptions:
Prescription 1:
- Citalopram 20mg tablets
- Disp #1 (one)
- Sig: Take 1 tablet orally once daily at the same time.
Prescription 2:
- Fluoxetine 20mg tablets
- Disp #1 (one)
- Sig: Take one tablet by mouth once a day at the same time each day.
Prescription 3:
- Escitalopram 10mg tablets
- Disp #1 (one)
- Sig: Swallow one tablet orally once every day at a consistent time.
Conclusion
Altogether, major depressive disorder is one of the common issues in various population groups. Older adults can be considered a vulnerable cohort because of the changes in their lifestyles, chronic diseases impacting their well-being and quality of life, and their moods. For this reason, it is essential to ensure they understand all the risks of the condition and receive appropriate treatment. Possible medications include citalopram, fluoxetine, and escitalopram, all approved by the FDA and suitable for the selected population group. When using the medication, it is essential to monitor blood work and changes in patients’ moods and responses to different stressors.
References
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