I'm trying to figure out if the Lunesta is causing the increase in my depression (dark, scary kind).
My bed-time concoction has me concerned that maybe I'm taking too much stuff that can have negative effects that outweigh the positive.
I've been fighting the Lyme/Babs crap for about 4 years and have only recently added sleeping pills (lunesta) to my regemine. I have also increased doxepin to 100 mg. per night. I also take 700 mg of Soma and 12 mg. melatonin per night. Enough to knock out a hippo I think, yet I don't get good restoritive sleep and I'm sinking into a deep depression.....and I'm scared.
Soma-700 mg Doxepin-100 mg. Melatonin-12 mg. Lunesta-don't have the mg in front of me
I do feel more rested when I take Lunesta, but the depression is too much.
I also take 150 mg of zoloft every am. which I increased not too long ago. I would like to switch to a different one, but my Lyme Dr. isn't comfortable with me doing that, cuz we are states apart. I don't know what kind of Dr. to go to for this. I'm afraid to see a phyciatrist who doesn't understand Neuro Lyme.
I've struggled all along with depression but I'm trying to figure out why it is worse.
Do any of you take these same meds and since the Lunesta is new for me, I'm wondering if it could be the culprit.
I hope this makes sense as I feel desperate and my mind is reeling!
Any insight will be mucho appreciated.
Posted by sofylyme (Member # 7900) on :
I have been taking lunesta since it first came available in the US but it never caused depression but I dont have a depression problem my brain problems are all cognitive and memory and that has gotten so bad that tomorrow Im being tested for alzheimers.
I live in new england and the doc say he has lots of lyme patients.
Posted by tmmort (Member # 14013) on :
up
Posted by tmmort (Member # 14013) on :
thanks sofylyme for your reply. Glad you don't have a depression problem, however I'm sorry for your cognitive/memory problems and the possible alzheimers. Why do you think you have alzheimers and not just neuro-lyme? I hope it goes well at your testing tomorrow!
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Lunesta didn't give me any side effects. I took it for years. I recently stopped it just because I thought I'd see if I could get along without it.
I was hoping when I stopped Lunesta some of my fatigue and cognitive stuff would get better, but it's actually been worse lately, leaving me to conclude it wasn't from the Lunesta at all. Probably just from tick diseases or yeast or some other factor.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Oh, i just noticed you're taking Melatonin.
Melatonin DID give me an increase in depression. That's why I don't take it.
Your brain may not need more melatonin....could be throwing off the balance between seratoninin and melatoninin, but that's just a guess on my behalf.
I'd try stopping the melatoninin if I were you and see if it gets better!
I think Rozerem (prescription that I think may bind to melatonin receptors) makes me more depressed for that reason too.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
PS--I don't know anything about those other two drugs, so it could be those too.
Posted by eagle (Member # 19278) on :
Tmmort, I suggest doing a search on here for Lunesta. I seem to recall reading awhile back that Lunesta has caused depression for some people (but not sure if it was on here).
There is a lot of discussion on here about sleep meds, so a Lunesta search should give you some helpful info even if it doesn't directly answer your question.
I do know from personal experience that most sleep meds linger in the body longer than the 8-9 hours of sleep. So even if you feel well-rested, the Lunesta could be lingering well into the following day and causing you to feel "down".
I recommend trying a few nights without the Lunesta to see if the depression lifts. Your increased Doxepin dose combined with the Lunesta could also be resulting in some unpleasant psychological side effects?
Posted by heatherliveswithlyme (Member # 14890) on :
Hi tmmort,
I take lunesta also. and recently had a meltdown. I do have alot of issues going on and I suppose a meltdown would be normal. HUH!
Anyway my Doc said that I could ween off Lunesta and take zanex to sleep like I used to.
He mentioned that he has been getting reports on Ambien and sleep walking etc with his patients and he was not sure about Lunesta yet.
Really good Doc. very open. I'm hoping for an LLMD conversion.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
The Lunesta 'sheet' does say contact your doc immediately (all bold) if any of about 6 things occur, including "chest pain, depression & mental or mood changes". I took it for a week here & there w/o issue. Just that bit o' metallic taste & occ. drowsiness in morning. If it is a side efect for you, I suspect it's pretty rare. But I'd do what the sheet says & "call your doctor". Posted by tmmort (Member # 14013) on :
Thank you for your replies, they are helpful! I think I will cut back on the Melatonin and see if this dark cloud will lighten up some. I know this dark depression could be the result of so many different factors. My goal is to sort out what medications really help and stop the ones that don't. How the heck to do this is beyond me!
Does anyone take 700 mg of Soma? I think this one needs serious consideration....I've been taking taking muscle relaxers for 10 + years and I still have a lot of muscle/joint pain. Geez, what a freaking puzzle.......I hate puzzles!
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Soma's an olde drug (A lot of EMTs under 40 don't even know what it IS!)
I used it w/ some success controlling neuro/muscle symptoms, but as I got it "sideways" in a 1/2-labelled vial, i was always very careful with it. I ran out & my PCP shrugged off a suggest for a 'script. We went another route.
Posted by tmmort (Member # 14013) on :
How about cold medicine?
I'm just getting over a nasty sinus infection and remembered I have been using Afrin to breath.
Have been using it longer than it is recommended, because I haven't been able to kick the sinus infection to the curb and I absolutely have to breath through my nose when sleeping.
Anyone have wierd depressive symptoms when using cold medicine?
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