I know this is old news, but I have really been struggling with depression. I have been taking an antidepressant and also I take a medication for my mood swings.
About a week ago we upped my dose of antidepressant. I am hopeing that in a few weeks that will make a difference for me. It takes 4 to 6 weeks they say for it to work. It hasn't worked on a lower dose, so we will see.
A part of me keeps wanting to get off my meds and try some natural remedies; but then another part of me thinks I need to give the meds a fair run. If this upping the dose doesn't work, my doc wants to change the antidepressant to something else. I think if that doesn't work, then I will get off of antidepressants.
I was just wondering what you would do? Stay the course for another month or two, or stop now and try something natural?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Why not just add something natural to the antidepressant and then if that helps try stopping the antidepressant.
SAM-e or tyrosine should be fine with any of the antidepressants. But if you are taking an SSRI then there might be reasons not to take 5 HTP or P5P (activated form of B6) or St John's wort.
If the problem is low serotonin then you may need to take resveratrol (Japanese knotweed source) to prevent side effects from increasing serotonin.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences. Hubby has done everything I have listed at one time or another. SAM-e is the one absolute he wouldn't want to be without.
An adaptogen such as eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) would be another option. Or rhodiola or ashwaganda. Just keep trying one thing at a time and you should be able to find someting natural that will help.
Of course if you have extra cash then you could get your neurotransmitter levels tested through NeuroSciences Lab or test your amino acids through MetaMetrix or Genova Diagnostics.
Bea Seibert
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Thanks Bea, Sam-e was something I was thinking of looking into. I just starting adding in omega 3, 2 days ago. I have read that it is also good for depression. I was one in a million that wasn't already taking omega 3. I don't know much about Sam-e yet.
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
Read my post about the MINERAL ( not a drug ) lithium OROTATE and the amino acid Sam E . I purchase thru vitacost at big discount . My moods and concentration are GREATLY improved !
There is an excellent book on Sam E and depression, which is used extensively in Europe for depression.
Even better , I added lithium MINERAL tablets , which is a micronutrient . So far this combo beats the heck out of the AD's I have taken . I was amazed at how much the Sam E helped two struggling women I knew, and tried it . I found improvement the THIRD day . I take 400 mg daily on an empty stomach . ( you must have a decent VIT B level for this amino acid to improve neurotransmitters, but I always take extra VIT B. I was amazed at how fast it worked.
I am also taking very low dose of the mineral lithium orotate , which started working REALLY fast . L O stabilizes the electrical system of the brain and calms or balances the brain. It is safe as it is a cousin to calcium or potassium. It is cheap .
I read hundreds of reviews on these two supplements written by people of all ages who explain their moods were more level , experienced more mental focus, and less depression or anxiety . I read these over and over at Vitacost , amazon, iherb , and even on some physician websites . Two docs stated the neuroprotective properties of the mineral lithium orotate , and say they take it because they see evidence of it preventing alzheimers.
You can compare brands, but I found the nature made Sam E to work well, and the advanced research brand ( developed by a German physician Dr Hans Nieper ) of LO to be effective .
I am about to try the Doctor's Choice Sam E as it is lots cheaper at Vita cost , and the reviews are excellent .
These two products have significant science behind them , that is available if one researches . They also have NO side effects .
From my reading they do not interact with any drug .
Do yourself a favor and check them out .I feel a million times better and CAN think much better, and my moods are much more cheerful and less prone to irritability or anxiety . This is a hell of a lot better than anything I experienced with prozac or zoloft , and they are good for my body .
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
This is very interesting. I wish I had never started the antidepressants now, and tried this first.
I'm still a little nervous about taking it while on other psych meds. I am going to do some reading and maybe ask my doctor about it. That is if a doctor even knows about something natural.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
all i know is antidepressants make me really wierd
when i get depressed i make myself walk...even if it is only up and down the hall or to the mailbox or a little farther and then farther
one step in front of the other...that is the only thing that brings me out of it
in feb i was on 1200mg clind...i went into deep depression. it took a therapist to help me figure out the abx was killing bugs in my braine and the herx was coming out as depression
so that time i stopped the abx...i took 1/2 dose and it was ok
every situation is different-but for me...mostly i just have to force myself to move. good luck
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
Read Dr Jonathon Wright's article and blog "Lithium: The Misunderstood Mineral " at the Tacoma Clinic blog . There is more info from three other physicians who have their own websites that I found .
At some of the reviews I read at iherb and vitacost , there were folks who said their orthomolecular PSYCHIATRIST told them to use the L. O . They try to treat depression without drugs.
I personally had huge reservations, til I saw 2 people have great results who had serious issues with depression/ one with bad mood swings .
My personal experience is that it is really working for me, and I am almost off prozac and doing much better .
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
Are you on a gluten free diet? I was on an a/d but didn't need it when I went on the GF diet.
I could tell within a few days that I didn't need the Lexapro any more. I felt sort of giddy on it. I tapered off from it fairly quickly without any problems.
I have to be very strict about the GF diet to get the effect. If I have any by mistake, it can take weeks to get over it.
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
I took Omega 3's for depression. Never used antidepressants. I have been taking omega 3's for several years. No signs of depression since the original episode.
(my husband is treating for Lyme - undiagnosed for over 10 years)
Posted by searching4truth (Member # 28481) on :
I take a natural antidepressant called stabillium. It took about a week for me to notice a difference, but it has helped a lot. I have never taken a pharmaceutical one though, so I have nothing to compare it to.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Thanks for all the responses!
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
I love Elavil/amytriptalyne.
Cymbalta made me kinda mean and I felt weird on it.
Elavil helps with physical pain too.
I have taken up to 150mg doses.
Bartonella treatment helped me get rid of the depression type symptoms.
i never really feel depressed, but my moods would go way up and way down. I would also cry 8 hours straight , even though I felt really happy.
After being on Rifampin for 3 months, I saw a huge difference.
I herxed while on Rifampin, and it made everything worse for a month or two.
I even had suicide thoughts but never did anything.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I suggest meditation CDs in addition to the supplements suggested.
Even though I am a Christian and not all the meditations on my CD correlate with Christianity. This meditation stuff has changed my life. I listen to this CD every night (and one other about wellness) before going to bed.... Sacred Pause by Karen Sothers. If was recommended by my integrative medicine MD. She (my MD) also does hypnosis and I am thinking of doing the hypnosis.
I am learning how to shut off my mind. Of course, I am doing many other things for my emotional state, such as, therapy, Rhodiola, exercise, sunshine and vitamin D, plant based low fat diet. I know we've heard it all before.
I say start with the meditation and try to wean yourself off of the AD.
Posted by fadingout (Member # 32511) on :
I probably have a bartonella infection and suffer from depression and anxiety. Benecar actually has an antidepressive effect in this condition for me and I prefer to take it as it boosts my immune system which is normally suppressed (raises low body temperature 1.5 degree F). I take it off label 10 mg every 4-5 hours whenever I feel depression starting to come one.
I've also noted that low meat intake (including soy) helps minimize depression and SAM-e is also effective if taken 200 mg to 400 mg 30 min before a meal.
The last thing you can do is if you feel a carb craving when depressed eat some carbs plus a low fat protein like whey powder-this will maximize tryptophan absorption and act as an anti-depressant by restoring your neurotransmitters.
For chronic bartonella the depression is automatic and no amount of counseling stops it. You just have to deal with it and get the underlying condition cured.
I wouldn't stop medication. Better to taper off. You'll know if you have too much if you start to feel hyper and nauseous (known as serotonin syndrome). If so cut the anti-depressants back. Sam-e and diet work much faster than rx medications.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Love all the responses. I am really interested in the Sam-E. First I am going to give antidepressants their opportunity to do their job and it this fails, I will look into Sam-E.
I have to wonder if I am still struggling with Bartonella, even though I am so much improved physically. I have a few lingering symptoms. I am on Doxy right now.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
txing bart gave me a herx that made me suicidal...i think it can have strong psyc sx
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
During this lastest relapse since April I've been struggling with anxiety/depression. It was in part due to the macrolides (Zith & Biaxin) I was on. However, since I've been off Biaxin a week, there's still no improvement.
However, I've been treating babesia with Zhang's Art, and boy has that been rough. Makes the depression come out and all other symptoms.
I'm going to try the lithium and see how I do. Same-E is too energizing.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
up
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
Hi. I stopped rifampin 12/18. Did 2 mos. llmd not happy I stopped but had to live in meantime. Depersonalization crazy, OCD, nxiety, depression. Im on klonopin n Luvox. Want o gt off luvox, not doing anything for me. Hard to liv like this. Tme distorted bad, minute magnified. Jut restarted zith at 250. Physical much, but don think I can tolerate Bart treatment. Rifampin opened he Bart, cant finis. . Your not alone. Good luck, god bless.
[ 01-02-2012, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: lyme in Putnam ]
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
Well, fish oil (high dosages of omega 3) really help me. Also adding Japanese Knotweed has been an extra plus.
Depression is a big problem for me as well as no sleep. When I don't take the omega 3's, I come unglued both with depression and concentration. The Japanese Knotweed works with the Lyme to shutdown the pathway Lyme uses to propogate itself. The Knotweed also helps with inflammation in the brain and nervous system, which can and does cause depression and poor cognitive function.
During my first appointment with LLMD, the doc recommended a product called "Kavinace" made by Neuroscience Inc. which uses GABA to balance the neurotransmitters. I haven't started on this yet. But you have to purchase it from your doctor or use the doctor's name when purchasing from the company.
There is a good book called "The Instanct to Heal: Curing Stress, Anxiety and Depression without Drugs and without Talk Therpay", by David Servan-Schreiber, M.D, PH.D.
One of the things he recommends is Fish Oil (omega 3) for severe Depression and/or BiPolar disorder. He discusses how it lowers inflammation and reverses nerve damage in the brain, even encouraging the growth of new healthy nerves in the brain and better communcation between brain cells.
Lots you can do.
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
A SAD light helps me immensely. As well as Fish Oil and Vitamin D.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
Took kavinace. My llnd temporarily took me off and replaced it with therma GABA.
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
Lots of good advice here! Thanks! I do not feel so depressed as I do listless, unwilling to do much of anything. But taking a very small dose of Nuvigil in the AM helps me get moving.
A daily walk is my goal and I think it should be one for anyone who suffers from depression. Some psychiatrists won't treat anyone who is unwilling to do some form of exercise. It's almost like walking out of your pain.
I was hypnotised 7? times by an experienced man in Berkeley. It was amazing. I was trying to learn to relax enough to sleep. I still use his suggestions when I am too wound up...the visualizations, breathing, etc.
I like the New Age music you can find.....or just rain sounds or ocean sounds.
Meds that help me: Lamictal keeps those terrible mood swings away. Resperidone helps with anxiety. I take low dose Elavil at bedtime.
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
You need LDN - [email protected] It really helps after some weeks.
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Please do not go off the meds without talking with your doctor!
In addition to the meds, sunlight helps a lot, and if you can't get much of it, there are special lights that mimic sunlight. Also may want to look into folate (deplin).
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
I take sam E , 1 lithium orotate tab ( mineral not drug ) 2 LARGE fish oil aacpsules and a TINY dose of zoloft . Depression runs in my family many generations . I think the supplements help a lot , which is why I need only a small dose of zoloft .
Frankly , I understand not wanting to take an antidepressant if it can be avoided, but to be able to function , laugh , have motivation, to be able to ENJOY life- a little zoloft pill is a VERY small price to pay .
Life is too da-- short to be perpetually , glum, despairing , pessimistic and without a spark of motivation or incentive . Feeling like there is a black cloud of gloom over our head or like something bad is always about to happen is a sad human condition that can most often be omproved .
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Anyone know how sutherngrl is doing? She just disappeared from Lymenet one day. I'm curious.