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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 25, 2009 at 2:25pm

It is very common for people with sleep apnea to be diagnosed with depression. I was routinely having trouble getting out of bed before my diagnosis of sleep apnea, and has no energy for anything in life that wasn't obligatory. No energy for socializing, going out, etc. I had a feeling of being trapped in my circumstances, and a sense of inevitable suffering. Little things took me over the edge, and I just trudged through every day without the ability to feel joy.

With CPAP, the difference was not immediate, and I had my struggles fending off the misinformation out there and difficulties entailed getting the right treatment, but CPAP did turn around my life. I felt energized each day, totally ready to tackle anything that the day threw at me. My friends and family asked me what had changed. True, there were other positive things in my life going on at the time too, and i'm not sure what contributed to what precisely. But I'm sure CPAP played an important role.

This article on Sleep Apnea Depression might interest you...

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Permalink Reply by Rock Conner RRT on April 25, 2009 at 6:31pm

Hi Belinda:

"Up to 20% of all patients presenting with a diagnosed depressive syndrome may also have OSA, and vice versa," taken from:
http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articlerender.cgi?artid=404521

I have known depression as well as OSA, though I don't know in my case which causes or exacerbates the other. CPAP & anti-depressants help me with both. I see many patients who are also in the OSA/depression boat with us.

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Permalink Reply by Diane Hausch on April 25, 2009 at 7:09pm

Hello Beejam,

I have been taking antidepressants for many years. I think it is in my genes, however since I finally have gotten used to the cpap machine and actaully sleeping every night, all night with it on, I have more energy and I am not as depressed. Even though, I have a daughter that is going through a really rough time with some medical issues and I am feeling stress, I am coping better than I would have before the machine. I really think I am seeing a difference, I am not tired all day. Hallejuia.
Diane in IA

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Permalink Reply by Belinda Haman on April 25, 2009 at 7:17pm

Thanks for the information Rock this was most informative......I don't feel so alone now:)

Belinda

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Permalink Reply by PD Laire on May 2, 2009 at 4:42am

I was being treated with 40 mg of prozac before CPAP and since being on CPAP have cut it down to 20 mg with the same effect. i could probably go off the prozac altogether at this point.

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Permalink Reply by Ashutosh on May 2, 2009 at 9:11am

Untreated central sleep apnea (CSA) could possibly have an association with several other disorders including ‘bi-polar-disorder’, ‘paranoia’, ‘stress’, ‘mood -swing-disorder’, and even ‘complete nervous breakdown’. In many cases, the use of anti-depressants has been observed as responsible along with the sedentary lifestyle full of drinking and smoking habitual patterns.
A detailed illustration can be visited here;
http://sleepapneadisorder.info/?p=201

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on May 3, 2009 at 3:10am

Rock did you notice a big difference in your depression levels once you started CPAP? Have you tried going without the medication since starting CPAP?

Rock Conner RRT said:

Hi Belinda:

"Up to 20% of all patients presenting with a diagnosed depressive syndrome may also have OSA, and vice versa," taken from:
http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articlerender.cgi?artid=404521

I have known depression as well as OSA, though I don't know in my case which causes or exacerbates the other. CPAP & anti-depressants help me with both. I see many patients who are also in the OSA/depression boat with us.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on May 4, 2009 at 7:57am

Depression runs in my family. My mom was bi-polar, severe, and in the last 15 years or so of her life was pretty much housebound. I have 5 siblings and we all felt that mom had other mental issues beside bi-polar, but have no concrete evidence such as diagnosis since her last doctor would not share any info with us. Mom passed away in 1995.

I have a son with personality disorder, bi-polar, and is often in a depressive state. One daughter is bi-polar.

I have depression and currently take 100 mg. of Zoloft daily. Off and on, most of my adult life I have taken anti-depressants. Winter time is exceptionally bad.

My last appointment with my psych doctor was last April. At that time he dismissed me as he felt that I know longer needed to see him. I asked to stay on a low dose of Zoloft to help ward off any depression and he agreed with my history that would be okay.

Since being treated for OSA, I do feel better and have not been as depressed. I started treatment in 2007 and do know that I sleep better and that is a tremendous mood lifter right there for me.

I am thinking that I may try to go off the Zoloft this summer to see if there is a difference. My family doctor is aware of the Zoloft and actually did my last script. I will ask her opinion next time I have a visit with her.

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Permalink Reply by Belinda Haman on May 4, 2009 at 10:50am

Thanks for sharing your stories, this has helped me so much......I can relate so much to your stories it just amazes me how many people have gone through such ordeals, doctors really need to be better informed....

Our stories are proof that severe lack of sleep can cause all sorts of emotional/physical ailments....who knows maybe this site can be a stepping stone to educating the public/doctors (GP's and mental health professionals) wouldn't that be wonderful if we could do that for the upcoming generations.....I know for myself I am definitely requesting that all of my children get tested......

I had to almost beg my doctor to get a sleep test done, I told her several times that my mother has severe sleep apnea.....she kept refusing because I didn't fit the description......after many months of bugging her she finally sent me and sure enough I was diagnosed with mild/moderate sleep apnea.....(go figure) this was after being off work for a couple of months because of lack of sleep and severe fatigue and depression......since then she thinks I should just be sleeping and feeling better-- my first order of business is now to educate her and thanks to this site I feel empowered enough to do this......as I am sure many other of her patients probably are going through what I went through......

sorry to go on and on about this but, the public really needs to be properly educated on this disease....

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Permalink Reply by sandman on May 12, 2009 at 7:11pm

Hi Belinda,

Yes, it seems that depression and anxiety are both symtoms of sleep apnea if unsuccessfully treated over a long period of time. I have struggled with both, along with short term memory loss. I have tried many forms of anti depressants to deal with the symtoms, most with little success that I believe is due to the root cause of the illness being the physical blockage of my throat. I continue down the road of discovery and am working with a fleet of doctors to determine the correct path of treatment. I'm honestly very tired (no pun intended) of treating the symptoms and am considering structural surgery to help reshape my breathing passage. For me no machine, minor surgeries or medications will solve the situation. The big battle for me will be to deal with the insurance company on the cost of what I consider to be an essential surgery.

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Permalink Reply by Duane McDade on May 13, 2009 at 7:07am

Here's the weird thing putting it simple anti depressents may introduce alpha into your brain waves as you sleep. Alpha is what your brain makes when your'e awake with your eyes closed. So.....not good for your sleep because it may keep you in a lighter stage of sleep. Kind of a double edged sword there....You can't win for losing, but in some patients no extra alpha.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on May 14, 2009 at 2:17pm

also, aren't many anti-depressants based on increasing transmission of serotonin, the "happy" hormone? and this hormone as i understand it awakens us just as melatonin puts us to sleep. i'm seeing serotonin and melatonin as opposite sides of the same coin in terms of the sleep-wake cycle and the circadian rhythm.

Duane McDade said:

Here's the weird thing putting it simple anti depressents may introduce alpha into your brain waves as you sleep. Alpha is what your brain makes when your'e awake with your eyes closed. So.....not good for your sleep because it may keep you in a lighter stage of sleep. Kind of a double edged sword there....You can't win for losing, but in some patients no extra alpha.

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