Who is on them? What kind? Dosage? Hx before Lyme?
Posted by cstar (Member # 28698) on :
ME: 1. put on Lexipro for a year (did nothing) -actually stopped taking it after 6 or 7 months. then went to Effexor 35mg, didnt do much. was upped to 70mg, still not muchwent to 150mg then finally 300mg now for two months. At first I didnt feel much better, then one week, something clicked and I felt a lot better.
Never on them (or needed to be) prior to having Lyme
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I'm very glad Effexor works for you and I'm not trying to change that. Just be careful with it. If you notice any anxiety, sounds sensitivity, etc. be sure to tell your LLMD.
Effexor nearly killed me and may have permanently damaged my ears with severe hyperacusis. But, many drugs cause totally different reactions. Just be aware of warning cues in case you ever need to know.
Liver support is important for anyone on Effexor as Effexor is ototoxic (toxic to the ears as detailed in Bauman's book: Ototoxic Drugs). Liver support can sometimes help a person manage if they have to take a drug that is hard on the ears.
As for the various Rx choices for depression, those do work for some.
For many, though, it seems to have the opposite result. That can be due to many reasons but often liver stress or added push of energy that can result in exhaustion of the endocrine system.
Bottom line: be sure infections are being adequately addressed, your body is being supported with nutrition and nutritional supplements that are like condensed food for your organs, etc.
A gluten-free diet turned depression around for me. It also helped lessen pain.
For mood: Gotu Kola, Magnesium, Fish Oil, SAM-e, Gingko, B-vitamins . . . are some of the considerations.
Low magnesium is common with lyme - low magnesium CAUSES depression and pain. -
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I was put on 20mg of Prozac before I was diagnosed with lyme. That is because clearly all of my problems were due to stress, anxiety and depression
That being said it was a good drug for me.
Came off of it 5 weeks ago and feel good.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I've been on 20 mgs Paxil for 18 years. I have a family history of anxiety and depression so I have a double whammy!
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Oh my Mojo! I don't know how you have stood Paxil for that long.
It made me yawn CONSTANTLY! I took it for a couple of years and then I couldn't take it anymore.
I guess it affects people differently.
Effexor was a good drug for me. I feel like it damaged my brain in some way though. The longer I was on it, the worse my brain fog got.
I finally weaned myself off and now I just deal with my anxiety. I'm really good at talking myself down because I know that I'm really not dying, just feel like it sometimes.
Posted by Anneke (Member # 7939) on :
I've struggled with terrible depression before and since the disease. I tried many different antidepressants before landing on two that are doing WONDERS for my well-being: Lamictal and Abilify together.
Best wishes, and DO NOT GIVE UP on searching for a great psych. and drug/drugs. Depression itself along with chronic pain damage the brain.
Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
Before I got Lyme.. 1995-1998: Luvox for OCD/Depression. Saved my life! Made me yawn a lot & decreased libido.
2006-2009: low dose Prozac for OCD/depression/ anxiety. Works very well, decreased libido.
August 2010: Lexapro. Minimum dose for anxiety associated with Lyme. Went from a 2 to a 10 on a scale for anxiety in a month. Wiped out libido & sex drive completely!! Zilch, zero...even using testosterone cream & estrace cream. What the heck...it's worth it to feel normal & not stressed out!
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
quote:Originally posted by kidsgotlyme: Oh my Mojo! I don't know how you have stood Paxil for that long.
It made me yawn CONSTANTLY! I took it for a couple of years and then I couldn't take it anymore.
I guess it affects people differently.
Effexor was a good drug for me. I feel like it damaged my brain in some way though. The longer I was on it, the worse my brain fog got.
I finally weaned myself off and now I just deal with my anxiety. I'm really good at talking myself down because I know that I'm really not dying, just feel like it sometimes.
Paxil changed my life! I had social anxiety and also suffered from depression. I started to wean off very slowly and got down to about a half dose and started feeling like I did prior to taking the Paxil. It wasn't a good feeling! My hubby panics when he thinks I want to go off of Paxil. I'm so lucky that my Dr. found the correct med the first time.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I take cymbalta and abilify. Still depressed but rages are less on abilify.
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