has this been effective helping with depression or neuropathy in neuro lyme?
barb
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Hi Barb,
This is a pretty debated issue for lyme disease sufferers.
Some say it will not help because the depression from the lyme. It can also be toxic.
IMO though I didn't mind giving it a try. I have done several over the years and have switched to Cymbalta a few months ago.
It has helped me. I take it mostly for anxiety though.
I do have to say though that when I had depression just recently from the Mepron it did not help at all. I just had to get off that abx.
So, it's hard to tell if it will work for you or not. I gave it a try though because I was really far gone in terms of anxiety.
Good luck to you..I for sure know how terrible the depression can be.
P.S. Have you tried b12 shots for it?
kit
Posted by Nessa1815 (Member # 15697) on :
I was on it for a long time. It did NOT help me a BIT. I just now quit taking it. The only thing that helps me is the unfortunate Benzos. It really helps with my Neuro Pain.
Posted by MommaK (Member # 10376) on :
Hi! My daughter took cymbalta with lyrica and ultram er for neuralgia and neuropathic pain. She did get some relief and worked up to pretty high doses. She had been on an antidepressant from the beginning and did not really not have a problem with depression.
She has traded the cymbala for welbutrin xl now though but still takes the others and feels they do help the neuropathic issues. The welbutrin is supposed to also help with clearer thinking and fatigue. Not sure about that, as she hasn't been taking it for long.
The reason I responded is to let you know that I read the drug info on cymbalta and found three contradictions for her taking it. The pharmacist said they were three levels of contradictions and her's were only moderate so they did not flag not to take the drug. We decided since she had three possible problems to stop the cymbalta.
We were warned not to stop the drug suddenly, however, once when she was hospitalized her primary care dr stopped all meds due to polypharmacy! He added some back slowly and gave her cymbalta at a low dose.
The pharmacist also warned about seratonin becoming dangerously high also. He said he had a 92 page drug info printout, I was reading a 17 page one from the internet.
If I remember the issues we were concerned about had to do with it not being used with GI motility problems and my daughter has gastroparesis. I think orthostatic hypotension was another and I think the third was that it could effect the blood levels of the antibiotic she was taking.
Still I would be inclined to try it, I was just wanting you to know that I think cymbalta has more possible drug interactions. Especially the more drugs you take. Remember everyone is different, and your dr and pharmacist are good sources of info.
Good luck! MommaK
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
I tried a low dose for neuropathy for about 2-3 weeks. It didn't seem to be that effective for me.
It also has side effects like naseau (for some reason I can spell this tonight)...
It's also addictive - they say you have to wean your self off of it slowly if you want to stop but in my book that means addiction.
I've read people get some nasty reactions when they try to stop.
Posted by barbarame (Member # 16423) on :
decided to tough it out and not take it.
thanks all, barb
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Just wanted to let you know that I take this for peripheral neuropathy. It helps, when nothing else even came close to touching the pain.
Started it right when starting Lyme treatment, and haven't had any problems with depression, and very little anxiety - even while on Mepron.
We're all so different.
Getting off of it looks to be a bit tricky, so go with your instinct on this one.
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I take it for depression, but my LLMD chose it for the possibility of it's addressing other issues, like neuropathy.
It's really helped the depression, but hasn't touched the neuropathy as far as I can tell.
Posted by James Marschner (Member # 13073) on :
PLease FORGET the SSRI's and anti-psychotics.
Benzo's work!: Valium= best, Xanax= much less effective, Klonopin= hardly effective at all, Ativan= hardly effective at all.
Are you all worried about a possible addiction to prescription meds like Benzo's and opiates?
OR is getting rid of Lyme disease first, more important to you?
I think the question is obvious. Anyone who says otherwise, isn't very sick.
I became suicidal because of Dr's that were obsessed w/ not prescribing ANYTHING that could POSSIBLY become addicted....taking all my money!!
CAn you tell I'm a little upset with naieve Dr's?
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Benzo's ARE addictive. Most people have to keep taking more and more until they no longer work at all. They are physically addictive and can be abused, like street drugs.
Cymbalta is NOT addictive. When going off it, you have to do it slowly because it can cause some symptoms if abruptly stopped.
There is a HUGE difference between "discontinuation syndrome", experiencing some uncomfortable side effects when stopping a medication if it is stopped too abruptly, and addiction, which is a mind altering, physical problem that can become permanent.
I have taken 90 mg Cymbalta for years. For me, it has been a lifesaver. It cut my pain about in half, and helped immensely with anxiety and depression.
I have never had any side effects whatsoever from Cymbalta. I think it is unconscionable how people here scare others away from anti depressants when they can make such a drastic difference in your quality of life.
Many medications will cause you a problem if it is stopped abruptly. This is not unique to anti depressants. They are NOT addictive, they do not make you high, you cannot abuse them.
Benzos are designed for short term usage. Anti depressants work on fixing the problem, not masking it. They level out the brain chemistry to where it needs to be.
Posted by SmurfyMom (Member # 13688) on :
I started Cymbalta when I started treatment a little over a month ago.
I ran out of it, though, and did not know at the time that I should NOT do that.
I did call the doc to get a new script called in a couple of days later (on a Fri), but the office was closed.
By Monday, I'd decided to just bring it up at the next appt. I'd been off it almost a week by then.
I noticed that for the first time since starting treatment I was hungry. (I had been before treatment, just not since.)
I also noticed that I was *feeling* more than I had in several weeks.
Hard to explain but it was like I could feel more than just "blah" again.
I hadn't really noticed it while ON the Cymbalta, but once off, I realized that those weeks with it I hadn't felt much of anything...
Sure, no anxiety or depression, but no happy or excitement about anything, either. No real feelings at all, actually.
I just somehow felt more 'animated' and less blah after running out of it.
I couldn't tell for sure that it had helped with any pain either, and that was one of the reasons it had been prescribed.
At my LLMD appt a couple of days ago, I mentioned I'd run out, but then noted that I couldn't tell that it had done anything for pain and that I'd gotten hungry again after running out.
I did not get more, and that was ok with me.
Would I mind taking an anti-depressant for the depression and anxiety symptoms?
No, but I don't want one that will make me never want to eat and not *feel* anything at all.
Chris
Posted by HollyM (Member # 15386) on :
I took cymbalta for 2 weeks and it was not helpful for me at all. This is because I have some lyme indused problems with my sympathetic nervous system, so cymbalta made me feel crazy and I was hallucinating! It was a week long cycle of panic attacks, migrains, and nausea. Everyone is different but if you are having panic attacks or have a fragile nervous system, I would advise against it. I have better luck with ativan, I use it as needed in low doses.
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
quote:Originally posted by cactus: [QB] Just wanted to let you know that I take this for peripheral neuropathy. It helps, when nothing else even came close to touching the pain.
Started it right when starting Lyme treatment, and haven't had any problems with depression, and very little anxiety - even while on Mepron.
We're all so different.
Getting off of it looks to be a bit tricky, so go with your instinct on this one.
Oh yes It does help!
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
quote:Originally posted by SmurfyMom: I started Cymbalta when I started treatment a little over a month ago.
I ran out of it, though, and did not know at the time that I should NOT do that.
I did call the doc to get a new script called in a couple of days later (on a Fri), but the office was closed.
By Monday, I'd decided to just bring it up at the next appt. I'd been off it almost a week by then.
I noticed that for the first time since starting treatment I was hungry. (I had been before treatment, just not since.)
I also noticed that I was *feeling* more than I had in several weeks.
Hard to explain but it was like I could feel more than just "blah" again.
I hadn't really noticed it while ON the Cymbalta, but once off, I realized that those weeks with it I hadn't felt much of anything...
Sure, no anxiety or depression, but no happy or excitement about anything, either. No real feelings at all, actually.
I just somehow felt more 'animated' and less blah after running out of it.
I couldn't tell for sure that it had helped with any pain either, and that was one of the reasons it had been prescribed.
At my LLMD appt a couple of days ago, I mentioned I'd run out, but then noted that I couldn't tell that it had done anything for pain and that I'd gotten hungry again after running out.
I did not get more, and that was ok with me.
Would I mind taking an anti-depressant for the depression and anxiety symptoms?
No, but I don't want one that will make me never want to eat and not *feel* anything at all.
Chris
makes me animated and hypomanic while taking care of my anxiety! Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
too many opinions on this board, sorry
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
quote:Originally posted by cactus: Just wanted to let you know that I take this for peripheral neuropathy. It helps, when nothing else even came close to touching the pain.
Started it right when starting Lyme treatment, and haven't had any problems with depression, and very little anxiety - even while on Mepron.
We're all so different.
Getting off of it looks to be a bit tricky, so go with your instinct on this one.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
It really helps with my Neuro Pain.
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