My boyfriend of one and a half years suffers from depression he is on medication for it but I don't know if it is doing what it is meant to be, he is 16 years older with me and hasn't seen his kids in nearly 3 months because of his ex wife, he pays maintenance each month even if it leaves himportant with out food for the month, I am finding it hard as he hardly talks to me about it and he has been rather distant with me over the last week I don't live with him but over the last week or so I have been at his pretty much everyday when I say would you like me to stay or go home he looks at me with a look as no I want you to stay, and says its up to you darling. Also he has been finding it hard to concentrate at work or even go to work he has been sleeping a lot more the normal I mean he can go days where he will sleep allay and night and only get up to go to the toilet and also not remember things or conversation he has had with me that day its like he is completely missing days please help

My boyfriend of one and a half years suffers from depression he is on medication for it but I don't know if it is doing what it is meant to be, ....... I am finding it hard as he hardly talks to me about it and he has been rather distant with me over the last week I don't live with him but over the last week or so I have been at his pretty much everyday when I say would you like me to stay or go home he looks at me with a look as no I want you to stay, and says its up to you darling. Also he has been finding it hard to concentrate at work or even go to work he has been sleeping a lot more the normal I mean he can go days where he will sleep allay and night and only get up to go to the toilet and also not remember things or conversation he has had with me that day its like he is completely missing days please help

Sounds as though he has classic symptoms of major depression. What medication is he on... for how long?

He has been on a few over 10 years or so, the last one on the list is the one he is on now
* Fluoxetine

* Fluvoxamine

* Sertraline

With mood disorders it is always wise to consider the side effects of antidepressants. Adverse reactions can be caused by the specific medication (even change to generic), under- or over-prescription.

Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI meaning it alters serotonin levels and requires close patient monitoring. All of the medications you list are of this class. Following are a couple of websites that will acquaint you the side effects. If he has been taking antidepressants for some time, with good results, then a change in behavior can sometimes be traced to dosage or brand.

PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001017/)

Medicinenet (http://www.medicinenet.com/sertraline/article.htm)

Also, 10-years is a very long time to remain on antidepressants. Has he tried any type of psychotherapy in conjunction with the medication?

No just medication, he overdosed back in Feb on
* Fluvoxamine 75mg tablets 3 times a day, this is why the doc changed his medication, I suffer with very very mild depression but I snap in and out quite quickly, but he can't seam to pull himself out of this slump he is in

No just medication, he overdosed back in Feb on
* Fluvoxamine 75mg tablets 3 times a day, this is why the doc changed his medication, I suffer with very very mild depression but I snap in and out quite quickly, but he can't seam to pull himself out of this slump he is in