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Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Dr. Gabrielle Melin, board certified in general psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, is looking for ways to empower patients and families dealing with chronic mental illness. She encourages patients to commit to working together with their physicians and health care teams.
Dr. Melin completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. She completed both her psychiatry residency and consultation-liaison fellowship at Mayo Clinic before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 2001. She is medical director of Mayo Clinic Psychiatry Emergency Services in Rochester, Minn. She has special interests in emergency psychiatry, adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.
"Instilling hope is one of the most important things we can do for patients and families. Mental illness can be chronic and significantly impacts lives. Our goal is to provide the best treatment and education so that patients can manage their symptoms more effectively," she said.
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Depression blog
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Sept. 23, 2009
Blog: Smoking cessation medications and depression: Be cautious
By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
It's well known how difficult it is to quit smoking.
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The FDA has issued an alert regarding the use of varenicline (Chantix) and buproprion (Wellbutrin or Zyban). In some cases, people using these medications have had suicidal thoughts and behaviors. That doesn't mean no one should take them, but you should have a discussion with your health care provider if you're taking them, especially if you've been diagnosed with depression or another mental illness. The FDA has warned that in some cases those with psychiatric conditions, such as depression, had more severe depressive symptoms if they were taking these medications.
If you are taking these medications, your provider should monitor you for any emerging symptoms. Stop taking these medications and contact your provider immediately if you experience agitation, depressed mood or any other significant behavior changes.
6 comments posted
November 10, 2009 7:52 a.m.
I wonder if the new personal vaporizers could help? I have researched them and they seem like a potentially powerful tool for smoking cessation, however, the existing eliquids are possibly over purified. The liquid contains only the nicotine and the other alkaloids are processed out. The result is that some smokers still have problems quitting altogether while others have no problem and some even quit using any nicotine in them. Possibly someone here could weigh in on the reason for that and the possible benefit to those trying to quit smoking.
- frankie
October 14, 2009 7:33 p.m.
After a hysterectomy 10 years ago, I was put on depression medication in leu of estrogen. I used Chantix (for 6 weeks) 3 month ago, and I am a walking disaster. The chemical imbalance that my brain has created from Chantix, Lexapro, other meds. and the lack of nicotine in my system has turned my life inside out. I don't know who I am anymore. I became severely depressed, I was in the hospital for shortness of breath, blood pressure was high, chest pains etc. All checked out. I now have panic attacks, I can't think straight, it is effecting my work and my personal life. I have had suicidle thoughts but too stubborn for this to take me down. Yet I only have questions and no one really has answers. God Bless all of you and remember this: With addictions of any kind, we fight the same battle and it starts in our mind.
- Bonnie
October 14, 2009 1:15 p.m.
While I was not aware any increase in depression I did experience severe chest pain. Contacting Cantix providers I was told there had been other reports of chest pain . Be aware.
- Lynn
October 6, 2009 2:52 p.m.
10-07-09 Thanks for the warning on the products to stop smoking. I successfully quit in 1975 and did it by fasting, sweating, and water. It was rough a few days thereafter, but I continued with determination. There is no excuse for smoking something that can addict you to kill you. However, I did not know these products like Zyban could cause a person suicidal tendencies. Here is another one:Suppra. I just completed a food workshop. The product is made allegedly from cow milk and is better for us than those chemical sweetners? Suppra also can cause depression, and a few other things as well. Compound THAT with the zyban that causes the depression and you could be finishing the killing that the cigareetes were doing to you in the first place!
- Valerie
September 30, 2009 11:26 a.m.
My husband has had a heart attack and a stroke and still smokes. He used Wellbutrin under the name Zyban to help him quit smoking before and it improved his mood tremedously. He was clinically depressed at the time and didn't know he was taking an antidepressant. Now after the stroke I'm afraid for him to try Wellbutrin again since it has a small chance of causes seizure. So does the brain damage from his stroke. Not a good mix. A therapist has been recommending the Chantrix to him, so I'm glad to see some information on it. Marcia is right, nicotine is a powerful addiction. It took our doctor 5 times to quit. I don't allow my husband to smoke in the house or anywhere around me. I'm sensitive to the smoke, and yes it stinks and when it's humid, it clings to his clothing. Sometimes I tell him to go back outside and air himself off. Quitting isn't easy. That's why there are so many products on the market to help smokers. But they have to be willing and ready to quit. My husband is down to 2-3 cigarettes/day. To me it seems silly not to quit now. But it's his body and his lungs. Just keep it away from me.
- Anita
September 29, 2009 3:04 p.m.
I AM ON DEPRESSION MEDS AND TRIED TO TAKE CHANTIX. MY ADDITUDE, I WANTED TO SCREAM, I HATED EVERY THING THAT GOT IN MY WAY. THAT WAS NOT ME. WITH CHANTIX MY WHOLE THINKING CHANGED. SO BE CAREFUL TAKING CHANTIX.
- MARCIA
6 comments posted