Depression

[fredboy]

HOW related IS apnea to depression?

I have had some probs with equipment lately and day drowsiness, but I also noted this HORRIBLE depression too!
Hopelessness, helplessness the whole bit!

It thankfully has abated

Did the apnea cause this?

[user from Singapore]

Unfortunately this is quite possible. You don't get good rest and it affects many of your body functions including your mood and emotions.

[-tim]

There is a significant relationship. Talk to a doctor about it.

[SleepyToo2]

Are you able to see the data from your machine? Your doc may (should) ask about your numbers during the time you were depressed. They may also ask about the number of hours you sleep/slept each night, and whether there were any significant events in your life that may have contributed to your depression. Depression is a serious medical condition, but it can be treated effectively. In some cases by talk therapy, in others medication is needed for a short or longer period. Whichever, any time you are at the hopeless/helpless stage, you need to talk with your regular physician. If they don't understand depression, have them refer you to someone who does. It is not something you can treat on your own.

[VikingGnome]

One study showed that 60% of sleep apnea patients also suffered from depression. It is not known if the apnea CAUSES the depression but there is certainly a relationship between a person's sense of well-being and adequate sleep.

[jillj]

I've been on meds for depression for years and now have a CPAP mask and machine since Febr. I find I can easily sleep 11 or 12 hours if I'm not working, which sucks, I thought that would improve with better quality sleep.

[jlklinko]

Hi there
1) I was diagnosed with severe depression, but recently have found my depression lifting more.
2) I feel better overall with the CPAP treatment and have more energy and motivation to go do things.
3 I haven't had daytime drowsiness since starting CPAP and that definately helps the depression!

[BlackSpinner]

Once you are doing well on cpap you should really confer with your doctor about the levels of your medication. Many people find that with proper sleep and O2 the meds might be too strong.

[avi123]

You can see that depression is correlated with sleep disorders by entering this in Google: depression and sleep disorders

Sleep Doctors are not as qualified to deal with depressions as Psychiatrists, who deal with drugs, are.

As to RES (Residual Excessive Sleepiness), during the daytime, according to a French survey 12% of those who are treated with CPAPs, suffer from it.

[jen4700]

For those of you on depression meds. At what point did you talk to your doc about adjusting your Rx? I know that seems like a silly question, of course it's going to vary by person. Sleepiness and lethargy have been a huge part of my depression diagnosis. I don't feel GREAT with CPAP yet, but just curious about other people's stories of when they changed (lowered) their meds.

[avi123]

I have just posted this in another conversation, it might fit in here.

When I started CPAPing 18 months ago one of my Internists/Geriatrics gave me to take 100mg Trezadone in the evening and give up the 10 mg Zolpidem (generic Ambien) that I been taking before for almost a decade for sleep, in addition to taking 10 mg of Paxil in the morning. But the Trez did not put me to sleep as the Zol did within 15 to 30 min. So I stopped the Trez and went back to the Zol. After 3 months I have decided to withdraw from the Zol even though the Zol did a good job for about 4 hours. To fall asleep again I took half the dose once more. My new Psychiatrist suggested that I take Alprazolam (generic Xanax) 0.5 mg ER twice daily and also 300 mg Gabapentin, only once before sleep, and drop the Zol but continue taking the 10 mg of Paxil. In the meantime I convinced the Shrink that I should drop one dose of the Xanax and take it only once daily in the evening. It works good. I been sleeping soundly for 7 hours with the CPAP and have two breaks for peeing with no problems falling back to sleep. After 7 hours I stop the machine and continue sleeping with the chinstrap for another hour. I read that a chinstrap stops snoring by lifting the chin. But I continue to suffer from some RES (Residual Excessive Sleepiness) after breakfast till noon.

Doing two night studies recently, if I could not fall asleep within 30 min, I got permission to take 10 mg of Zolpidem tablet [again], which put me to sleep in 15 min.