How many take and find antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs helpful living with lyme?
I take an anti-anxiety med and don't think I could function without it. No I am not addicted, dependent maybe but a need yes.. I am sure I have neuro-lyme still searching for answers..
phyl
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I did 20 mg of Prozac in the beginning. It helped me.
Posted by Beagle (Member # 29698) on :
Anyone take Wellbutrin? I need to make decision by Tuesday. But fear taking anything else that can screw up antibiotic treatment.
bcb, how long before your current meds helped your symptoms?
Thks
Beagle
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I can't take antidepressants. I do take Xanax and Risperdal.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
I take both antidepressants and antianxiety meds and have for years now. They absolutely do help me.
I have taken Wellbutrin - worked good but made me kind of hyper.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
quote:Originally posted by Beagle: Anyone take Wellbutrin?
i took this drug for 4 days or so a year ago. it was by far my worst experience with any drug ive ever had. terrible panic attacks and hyperventilating. once i stopped it went right away.
maybe youll have more luck. i wouldnt take it if u payed me.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
I felt no different on Wellbutrin. I'm recently back on 100mg Zoloft. I felt better the first day.
We should always start on low doses of these meds, as we can have atypical reactions.
Posted by phyl6648 (Member # 28522) on :
Beagle, I tried Wellbutrin once and had big time anxiety and couldn't sleep even at a small dose. But I am an anxious person.. I know a few who take it and have no problems. Maybe try a small dose to begin with.. Let us know.. Good Luck.
Posted by nell (Member # 18134) on :
I take Ativan. I don't have much anxiety, but it helps me sleep. And my LLMD says it helps with nausea, which weirdly is coming from my brain and not my stomach. It does help with that, though not as much as Marinol. And Ativan is very calming. I seem to be able to move the dosages up and down according to how I'm feeling without any problems.
Posted by murph257 (Member # 30456) on :
doctor is telling me my symptoms are because zoloft is not working for me anymore. Changed to cymbolta on friday. No difference. Got to get on abx
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Nell,
I take xanax for the dizzies and nauseau with my severe head issues of neuro lyme.
It absolutely works, but I refuse to take the doses they suggest and keep it to just 2 a day as needed. I was afraid of addiction but this is the sixth doc that told me that it is needed to treat the symptoms and I can gradually go off of it when I am feeling better.
I get very depressed, but my llmd never mentioned any meds for it. I am afriad of the anyway from all that I have read on here? I try to do something "fun" to get over it.
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
I researched the heck out of these meds and made many youtube videos in layman terms. If your interested in watching them goto:
Hope this helps you...
Posted by Igor's mom (Member # 29191) on :
i take wellbutrin, klonopin and remeron for lyme related anxiety and depressiona nd I am able to function, without them I couldn't. But I had to try several others before these. I am on mino and plaquenil. Don't know if I am better or not yet. So can't tell you they interfer with each other.
Posted by exdancer (Member # 30218) on :
I take Cymbalta and Ativan. Cymbalta helps mainly with the joint pain and insomnia while Ativan helps with the anxiety, concentration issues, and muscle tension.
Medications that did nothing to help me (or had adverse side-effects) are: Effexor, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft, and Risperdal. I guess I don't do well with antidepressants...
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Here�s some good stuff from the Web:
Alternative medicine You may be interested in trying to relieve depression symptoms with complementary or alternative medicine strategies. These include supplements and mind-body techniques.
Make certain you understand risks as well possible benefits before pursuing alternative therapy. Don't forgo conventional medical treatment or psychotherapy for alternative medicine. When it comes to depression, alternative treatments aren't a substitute for medical care.
Here are some common alternative treatments that are used for depression. Herbal remedies and supplements A number of herbal remedies and supplements have been used for depression. A few common ones include:
� St. John's wort. Known scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, this is an herb that's been used for centuries to treat a variety of ills, including depression. It's not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it's classified as a dietary supplement. However, it's a popular depression treatment in Europe. It may be helpful if you have mild or moderate depression.
� SAMe. Pronounced "sammy," this is a synthetic form of a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. The name is short for S-adenosylmethionine. It's not approved by the FDA to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it's classified as a dietary supplement. However, it's used in Europe as a prescription drug to treat depression.
� Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a diet rich in omega-3s or taking omega-3 supplements may help ease depression and also appears to have a number of other health benefits. These healthy fats are found in cold-water fish, flaxseed, flax oil, walnuts and some other foods. Keep in mind that nutritional and dietary products aren't monitored by the Food and Drug Administration the same way medications are. You can't always be certain of what you're getting and if it's safe.
Also, be aware that some herbal and dietary supplements can interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous interactions. To be safe, talk to your doctors and other health care providers before taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
Mind-body connections
The connection between mind and body has been studied for centuries. Complementary and alternative medicine practitioners believe the mind and body must be in harmony for you to stay healthy.
Mind-body techniques used to improve depression symptoms include:
As with dietary supplements, take care in using these techniques. Although they may pose less of a risk, relying solely on these therapies is not enough to treat depression. If you try mind-body techniques or other alternative therapies first to treat your depression but your symptoms worsen or don't improve, talk to your doctor.
Coping and support Coping with depression can be challenging. Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills, and try these tips:
� Simplify your life. Cut back on obligations when possible, and set reasonable goals for yourself. Give yourself permission to do less when you feel down.
� Consider writing in a journal. Journaling can improve mood by allowing you to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
� Read reputable self-help books. Your doctor or therapist may be able to recommend books to read.
� Join a support group. Connecting with others facing similar challenges can help you cope. Local support groups for depression are available in many communities, and support groups for depression are also offered online.
� Don't become isolated. Try to participate in social activities, and get together with family or friends regularly. � Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. � Learn ways to relax and manage your stress. Examples include meditation, yoga and tai chi.
� Structure your time. Plan your day and activities. You may find it helpful to make a list of daily tasks, use sticky notes as reminders or use a planner to stay organized. � Don't make important decisions when you're down. Avoid decision making when you're feeling very depressed, since you may not be thinking clearly.
Posted by fatherguido (Member # 25266) on :
I took Effexor at the beginning of Lyme treatment to take the edge off anxiety. Decided it was no longer needed after a few months of treatment.
Posted by elizzza811 (Member # 24713) on :
Are you sure your 'anxiety' isn't really an undiagnosed seizure disorder?
I spent decades on Klonopin and felt the same way...couldn't function without it...definitely 'dependent', though not addicted to it or abusing it in any way, shape, or form...and recently learned I was having partial seizures. And even I misdiagnosed them as 'anxiety' for the longest time. Partial or absence seizures can mimic anxiety or panic attacks...I learned the hard way.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I have taken anti-deps for many years now... have had Lyme even longer than that.
In many cases your anxiety will go away if you are on a proper anti-depressant.
I have never taken an SSRI... not sure I ever want to.
I am currently on trazodone and it works great for depression and insomnia.. and I would suspect it helps anxiety also.
Back when I first went on an anti-depressant, I had anxiety.. it went away .. and did not come back until I began Lyme treatment. Then treatment helped get rid of the anxiety. (really only had problems the first few months of treatment)
Hope this info helps someone.
PS.. Trazodone is considered a "tricyclic antidepressant".. There are many drugs in this class.
hmmm.. maybe not:
Trazodone Printable Version Active Ingredients: Trazodone Drug Class: Miscellaneous Antidepressants Rx Status: Available by prescription only Generic Available: Yes
------
The meds I was on before Traz were all tricyclics... thought this was too.