Sleep Apnea and Depression

[joelrk35]

Just found this article on Yahoo and thought it might be of interest to some on the fourm.

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/hsn/obst ... depression

[noSLEEPforYOU]

I know I have major depression. That is one of many symptoms of sleep apnea. The one main symptom that didn't affect me was feeling tired. I had no problem staying up until 3am and waking up at 6am. The constant fatigue and sleepiness didn't start until about a year ago.
I wish there was some way to quantify the damage done by sleep apnea. I don't know if I had the problem for years or it just started last year.

[Captain_Midnight]

Joel, here is a url for a slightly more detailed description of the same study. It's apparently a retrospective epi study of the old HHANES data, but I can't be certain from the info. It should be published in April; and, there should be a good pubmed abstract before then.

CDC appears to be a bit self-congratulatory, here, but IIRC, absolutely none of this is news. (Yes, it's quite important, it's just not novel info.)

And, maybe I should re-read to be sure, but I don't think that they looked at xpap therapy, and it's a biggie.

Like many here, I found my mood, in general, to be improved on xpap, (and in my specific case, I was not depressed before.)

Interesting and important topic.

.

[Captain_Midnight]

Ooopps, here's that url...

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sl ... depression

[pharm30]

I definately think there is a relationship, and the treatment medications may make it worse?
I have been treated for depression since in my early 20's. multiple medications. I remember some causing insomnia, night sweats, nightmares, getting up to urinate multiple times (wish I would've been aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea back then!) Probably didn't help I was self medicating with alot of alcohol, which made it all worse (effect of alcohol on sleep at the least).
Late 2010, pysch MD wanted to add Cymbalta...after starting Cymbalta, that's when everything got worse.
Taking 1-2 naps a day when off work, almost dozing off at work, dozed off at a stoplight on the way to work, memory got worse, cataplexy.
That's when I went to Dr and got my referral for sleep study.
Got diagnosed with moderate complex SA, been using an ASV machine for around a year.
Been off antidepressants for 8 months or more. People have definately noticed a personality change for the better since I started treatment.

[portiemom]

I too had a similar experience with Cymbalta, but was taking it more for Spine health, getting off that med was pure hell, and would NOT recommend this med for anyone who may every want to get off of it!