• Cerebrovascular disease and depression?

I suspect I have cerebrovascular disease. I also have major depression. I have tried a couple of antidepressants now but they all give me headaches (Wellbutrin, Abilify, Sertraline, Amitriptyline). I don't know the exact reasons why but I have found that anything that has a constricting action on the blood vessels around my head (caffeine, too much sugar, the antidepressants I've tried, some pain medications) gives me headaches. I have read a bit about the relationship between CVBD and depression and supposedly there are some antidepressants out there that have a neuroprotective effect on older patients who have had a stroke because of their CVBD. Hopefully, I understood the abstracts right. I'm only 28 and I'm really scared that I'm doomed to be depressed and have headaches for the rest of my life, I would like some advice to remedy my issues and if possible, some antidepressant recommendations to look into that don't exacerbate CVBD. Thank you in advance!

3 Answers

  • Psychologist
  • Miami, Florida

Dear Madam, 

Sorry to hear that you are suffering and some of the meds have not been effective. As medicine is not my area of specialty I would suggest you contact a neuropsychiatrist, a neurologist, and a neuropsycholgoist (who has prescription privileges) in your area and consult with them. 
Take care and remain safe. 

Dr. Lata Sonpal

  • Phychiatrist
  • Cambridge, MA

This question is far too complicated for this forum. You should see both headache specialist---headaches in themselves do not equal cerebrovascular disease--and a psychiatrist for a thorough evaluation of your symptoms, which may or may not be connected.

  • Psychologist
  • Fort Myers, Florida

It looks like you have reviewed the research on this. This is outside my expertise, sorry. I do not know if you've looked at this article, but take a peek:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22801433/

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