Are The Meds to Blame For My Husband Depression?

[dolcevitazz]

My husband of nearly 25yrs had emergency heart surgery last July, with the result that he had two stents put inserted. Prior to this he was a fit healthy 45yrs old who was playing competitive squash…loved sports full stop.

Almost a year on, he has been displaying symptoms I have read about on discussion boards listing the following: Extreme irritability, depression, mood swings, and behavioural changes. All of which have been devastating for me, as he now says that he wants a divorce. My teenagers and I are having our world turned upside down, due to what has happened to my husband. He is taking 80mg of Lipitor and has a very low cholesterol reading. He takes lots of other med too.  I am desperate to change the course my life is taking. The bottom line is that I believe that the meds are not allowing my husband to think clearly or rationally.
One dreadfully sad lady.  

[dolcevitazz]

My gut feeling are that the Lipitor are to blame. Prior to his heart attack my husband never took any kind of tablets...barely ever an asprin.

Well the bottom line is is that my husband has now left our home...he looked dreadful and I am very worried. I guess being a man... he won't admit that he feels depressed.

I really don't know what the future for us will be...I just hope that he will go see his consultant.

So many reports on the internet have convinced me that the meds are not good for mental wellbeing.

Thanks for everyones comments... they have really meant a lot to me at this time.
x

[condoline]

It could be the Lipitor. There have been doctor reports of depression, anxiety, personality change, and even psychoses in various drug databases because the brain needs CoQ10 (which the body makes, but in lower and lower amounts the older we get) and statins deplete this (see Merck's patents #4933165 and 5082650 where they apply for patents on pills combining CoQ10 and small amounts of statin, saying "it is clearly evident scientifically that there would definitely be a decrease in immune functions, as well as other metabolic functions which are intrinsically dependent upon adequate tissue levels of coenzyme Q10" when CoQ10 levels are lowered by their statin. They never made the pills and nobody else can either because of these patents that Merck is sitting on).

[dolcevitazz]

Just to say a big 'thank you' for your kind replies. You have made some good points, many of which confirm what I am thinking myself.
  I am trying to convince my husband to go for a further evaluation of the meds he's taking...maybe seeing his consultant again....will let you know the outcome.
Thank you so much

[ed34]

I would firstly talk to your Doctor about the lipitor. It is becoming more and more apparent that when cholesterol is too low it affects the mental state of a patient. The brain uses a lot of cholesterol, there are millions of cells which require connections to be made every day. People on high doses of Lipitor have even noticed memory problems. So, I would ask the Doctor to consider 40mg and see how the levels respond. Try to explain to him that his medication is not helping matters and to hang in there before making any drastic decisions that he may later regret. From some cases I have read, patients have felt much better within 2 weeks of having lipitor reduced.
If he had treatment last July, and is on beta blockers, then ask the Doctor about coming off these. They make you feel "cant be bothered" and I was so glad to be off those things. It was like I was continually drugged up on cocaine or something. I couldn't be bothered with anyone or anything, everything was a real effort.
I hope everything goes well for you, and don't hesitate to ask any more questions.

[Flycaster305]

I'm sorry for your sadness and your situation.  

Speaking from the experience of having several heart attacks and eight stents, it usually affects how one looks at life.  In my case, even being eleven years older than your husband when I had my first cardiac moment, I denied that the doctors made a correct diagnosis, and set out to prove them wrong.  I believe depression is very, very common with people diagnosed with heart problems, certainly I was in that catagory.

I haven't heard of Lipitor as a drug that changes mental state.  However, other drugs, such as beta blockers affect athletic performance, sexual abilities, etc and these can have great impact on one's outlook on life.  

Certainly it sounds to me that meetings with your doctor, perhaps a councilor is needed, and the discussion should be frank and open as is your post.  My guess, and it's just a guess based on personal experience and as a peer navigator at a hospital in a CUCV wing, a combination of factors are at work.

What beta blocker is your husband taking?