Question:
Anyone here have Sleep apnea along with their depression? Which came
first the sleep apnea or the depression?
I've been treated for depression for about 4 years now. In January, I
was diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) and got a CPAP
machine. The meds aren't working any more and I have still been
feeling depressed. Now I'm not sure which path to go. I don't know if
the depression is a result of sleep deprivation or ????
Can cymbalta (60mg/day) cause feelings of depression if one is not
chemically imbalanced anymore?
I guess I am wondering if I should reduce/stop the cymbalta and see if
I feel better instead of worse.
My GP is about as helpful as "breasts on a steer" on this topic. He
wants me to see a psych but am getting the run around between "accepted
by your insurance" and "No new patients.
Answer:
i have central sleep apnea, with 42 events per hour. i think i
was depressed first, though i can't be sure about that. they
have some relationship, in that my depression's worse if i've
been having trouble sleeping, waking for longer periods during
the night. long-term sleep difficulties cause me to feel really
awful, which depresses my mood further than it already was.
my depression's been much better on this dose of my med, and
while i still wake frequently, i go back to sleep quickly. maybe
there's a relationship, maybe not. i also went off narcotics
recently, which the sleep docs thought might be contributing to
my sleep apnea.
I have PLMD and depression, which is a little different, but I know
some about sleep disorders in general. It sounds like the depression
could be the result of you sleep apnea. My depressive illness is
actually called organic mood disorder, which means it is derived from a
medical condition. I don't know if it is chemically, or situational, or
a combination of both. It may be helpful to add a second antidepressant
to help with insomnia, such as Trazedone or Remeron.
First, are you sure the CPAP is actually resolving your apnea? You
should have a sleep study done with the CPAP to confirm that it is
adjusted properly. This is very important.
Second, you should see an endocrinologist (not your GP), to have your
thyroid gland, testosterone, estrogen (if you're female), iron, etc.
levels checked. Endocrine disorders can cause lots of problems, are
mostly easy to treat, but can be difficult to diagnose.
I've had it for over 30 years. What most people find, I think, is that
it takes about 10 years to find the right doctor and medication.
Depression causes me to sleep all the time. However, a strong cup of
coffee helps; except when I'm too depressed to get out of bed.
