My mum is 62.
for 2 years she has suffered depression. this started with feeling down, spending more time in bed, but being absolutely fine when amongst others.
After starting sertraline for a month, she ended up in hospital with a stomach ulcer bleed. When she came out she didn't take it any more.
She was down, but we knew she had been through a lot physically so just let her carry on. a few months later, there was a rapid change in her behaviour. psychotic. However, we learned within a few days it was related to a UTI. After forcing her anti-biotics, she calmed down.
That was a year ago, but she has never really recovered. she spend most the day in bed. She doesnt watch tv. She shudders with sudden sounds and movements (even if her children approach her fast). she feels guilty she doesnt make food, but does have spells where she can. She cannot leave the house without extreme anxiety. When she is downstairs she paces around. It is like she is extremely anxious.
She doesn't care about things either. We have faked cried and she just ignores.
She just isn't the same person. her life has become nothing really. its very hard to see.
She has now been on Sertraline for 4 months. first 50mg, now 100mg for 2.5 months. We also tried Mirtazapine for a couple of months but that was not good for her as she was worse. She takes a gastro tablet to mitigate risk of bleed.
But nothing is working . there was some change from sertraline in that she can hold a conversation if she needs to. Her memory is good, she can recall things. But she is very defensive.
When she had a UTI she had this illusion that the government were out to get us.
Her GP is rubbish with this kind of thing. She won't talk to anyone councelling wise. she'll just refuse to answer or hang up.
We just won't know where to go next.