LymeNet Flash: Anyone on SSRI's, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft??

This is topic Anyone on SSRI's, Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft?? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by auntybiotic1499 (Member # 2998) on :

Anyone taking the SSRI antidepressants?? I f so what dosage and for how long??

Are you also taking antibiotics for lyme. What meds??

I am curious if anyone has sucessfully weaned off a SSRI and not gone on another one.

Rosieland, Where are you?? I know you have gotten off of Paxil.please e-mail me with the weaning details and how long it took to get back to nnormal moods after taking it.

Did anyone notice a gradual decline in their lyme symproms after starting SSRI's??

Thanks

aunty

Posted by duramater (Member # 6480) on :

In 1997, I was treated with IV Primaxin followed by some orals (don't remember what) for recurrence of meningitis and 1st time with related neuropsych symptoms. Shortly after starting the IV, I also started Effexor (tried a few others first). About 6 months later we added Depakote, both E & D to help manage neuropsych symptoms. These helped very much.

Stayed on E&D for a year or two beyond IV treatment just to be safe, and first weaned off the Depakote. About 6 months later, weaned off the Effexor (that was a little rough for a couple of weaks, lots of nausea & vomiting).

Anyway, stayed quite healthy in all respects until Jan. 2004 (pretty good, eh?). Continue to have ZERO neuropsych symptoms now although I am now having a recurrence of the Lyme (neuro symptoms are mostly autonomic nervous system stuff this time, no psych manifestations).

So, no decline in Lyme symptoms with Effexor or Depakote. Weaned each med over a couple months, only effexor was a bit miserable (when I went to zero), but that cleared in a few weeks. On NO antibiotics from 1998-2004 (except for occassional sinus infection).

Posted by Sue vG (Member # 3143) on :

Aunty,

It's great that through your own adversity you come here to help others. I hope everyone reads your post to Amareo about the P-450 pathway.

It's possible that my husband's terrible withdrawal from Effexor was due in part to his taking ibuprofen on a daily basis.

Keeping you and A. in my thoughts,

Sue

Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :

Hi
Paxil is diferent than the other anti-depressants you mentioned.
You must go off of it slowly.
There is a new SSRI, Cymbalta, which is also being used for nerve pain.
BJG

Posted by GEDEN13 (Member # 4151) on :

i take lexapro 20mgs daily...nortriptyline 40mgs daily....iam using the dyragesic patch 50 every 72 hour's....also taking percocet as needed daily.....will that help you? ....gary

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Posted by IBelieve (Member # 6834) on :

I take 150 mg of effexor. I don't believe that it had any impact on lyme symptoms.

I take a maintenance dose of 200 mg of doxy.

Posted by auntybiotic1499 (Member # 2998) on :

Thank you foryour replies. has anyone sucessfully stopped taking a SSRI.if so how badwere the withdrawals.

aunty

Posted by ibrakeforticks (Member # 6785) on :

Auntybiotic,

Do you have the link to that chart that shows all the drugs and the detox pathways? I was looking for it on prozactruth.com and couldn't find it. Thanks!

Posted by Lyddie on :

Aunty, as you know my daughter has gotten off SSRI's (two different ones) successfully by tapering off slowly. She did have bizarre withdrawal problems getting off zoloft, but not paxil, which was a surprise. The zoloft took longer to taper off as a result, but after 2 months she was fine.

How far along in withdrawal is your daughter?

For those who haven't read Auntie's previous posts, since the drug interaction of abx and lexapro caused a buildup of the lexapro in her system, withdrawing just the antibiotic would be the same as cutting the lexapro, and resulted in withdrawal symptoms.

Aunty, have you found an MD or pharmacist to help, or are you still on your own? Was your daughter's blood level of lexapro ever found to consitiute seratonin syndrome?

I'll say again, that withdrawal is not dangerous physically, and you can avoid problmes by carefully obseving and adding backa little lexapro if she is truly having problems.

My daughter preferred to keep going with the tapering even though she was having "brain zaps" and other issues. I reduced the zoloft a little more slowly (you can use a liquid) and also we used a tiny, tiny amount of another SSRI for a cushion for part of the withdrawal.

What is going on now with your daughter, Aunty? Is the school leaving you alone?

Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :

I was on effexor. I was able to get off . I did notice that I herxed for 16 days after dropping. I was told when you drop a med the antibiotics get absorbed better. One dr. in cal. that does mycoplasma research is against ssri. He says it interferes with the abx. I don't know how true it is.

Posted by Monica (Member # 224) on :

I was on Prozac beginning in May of 1994, before I had my LD diagnosis. Weaned myself off it in 1997. Big mistake. Had a huge relapse with Lyme symptoms.

Never let it be said I learn anything once. I weaned myself off Prozac in 2002 and had another horrible relapse. Never got the relief from Prozac again. Finally ended up on Effexor (after Lexapro that didn't work) and am on it today.

I have been on doxy, zith, biaxin, ceftin, suprax and now ketek.

I have no intention of going off anti-depressants since I know what happens when I do.

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