Starphoenix
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2402
posted
are reading this in the wee hours of the morning because they are so hyped they have no prayer of getting sleep before the sun comes up?
I have suffered with depression for years. It is managed with an antidepressant. My father is bipolar, and I always wondered if I would become so myself.
I've had manic episodes in the past, but I didn't recognize them as such. Now, it is undeniable. My Lyme psychiatrist identified it, and she said it is due to the Lyme. My official diagnosis is "Organic Brain Syndrome Secondary To Lyme." My disease(s) progressed since I haven't had appropriate treatment. (Now, I have a good protocol.)
Doc put me on generic Neurontin. I'm taking 900 mgs., but it's not stabilizing my moods, and it's not helping with pain and sleep, either. (She said it would.) I may not be taking enough, but it has greatly increased my appetite, and I have gained weight. The urge to eat has been irresistible. I don't want to take a higher dose. I wondered if I should even be on this since it's not helping now and, if it were to help, it might cause confounding with my treatment, e.g., "Am I feeling better from the ABX, or the Neurontin, or both?!"
I asked about another mood stabilizer, Depakote. After reading about it, though, I got scared of potential adverse reactions.
Did you get relief fairly soon into ABX treatment? What do you take to manage your moods?
I swear. I can be dancing around the livingroom at 3 a.m. and crying hysterically the next afternoon. I am having rapid cycling, but mainly mania now.
I'm fortunate to not have delusions, hallucinations, or loss of judgment.
Steph
-------------------- Learning to love, and loving to learn. Posts: 1318 | From Shohola, PA | Registered: Apr 2002
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
Hello Star,
So sorry you're having a rough time. Depression, moodyness and scewed perception are almost everyones problem.
Some worse than others.
I've been on antibiotics for 8 months and xanax for over 2 years.
I got up at 5am this morning for no reason. I'm sooo tired.
Anyway I started getting relief after 5 weeks on biaxin and just recently have been experiencing less panic.
Lately just use the xanax as a sleep aid.
Hope that helps. Feel better soon.
Heather
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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i'm new to lyme, but an old hat at psych meds. neurontin is one of those meds that many people can not properly break down and absorb. for some people it's awesome for seizures/moods/neuropathic pain, for others it may as well be a sugar pill.
900mgs isn't that high of a dose, as a side note(some people take very high doses of neurontin, but usually for seizures not for mood) but i understand your concern about the munchie effect.
there are a LOT of mood sabilizer options out there, but yeah, they all have some scary side effects attached. side effects you may or may not want to tackle at the same time as abx treatment?
i use xanax xr to keep my anxiety in check. i really like the new extended release formula, and doctors seem to be more comfortable rxing the extended release b/c supposedly abuse potential is lower. of course xanax is not a mood stabilizer.
i take omege 3 fatty acids for my mood, and they have helped a LOT. (honest a lot lot)
Starphoenix
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2402
posted
Heather: I'm so glad that you are seeing lessening of panic with Biaxin! And thank you for your comforting words.
Borealis: First, I want to say welcome! These boards have been shelter in the storm for me, and I hope they provide you with information and support.
I appreciate your tips! My psychiatrist suggested Omega 3. I found it hard on my tummy, but I'll be taking so many other things harder on the tummy. I would rather use this natural aid as opposed to the drugs if it's helpful.
She mentioned the Omega Brite, so I will investigate that for sure.
Steph
-------------------- Learning to love, and loving to learn. Posts: 1318 | From Shohola, PA | Registered: Apr 2002
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Oh yeah,
I suffered from the giddyup and woes for a long time...abx helped...but in between time I tried an assortment of sri's and finally landed on lexapro... For me at least it has helped a lot...10mgs twice a day.... I'm a big boned guy though and you may only need less... In the past the neurontin and gabapentin and amytriptaline and xanex and so on and so on made me very hungry all the time...especially the anti seizure stuff...but did not help anything else....
good luck.......zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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Starphoenix
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2402
posted
Thanks for the validation, Zman!
I'm glad the Lexapro has helped you. I take it, too, for the depression. I still need help with the "giddyups," though. I like that expression for mania!
I got a message from the manager at my psych's office. Unfortunately, it was garbled. She was telling me how to taper the gabapentin. I do want off of it.
I will consider Omega 3 for the mood stabilizing properties.
Steph
-------------------- Learning to love, and loving to learn. Posts: 1318 | From Shohola, PA | Registered: Apr 2002
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Katie G.
Unregistered
posted
Star, When I had my first appointment with my LLMD, she prescribed xanax right out of the gate, mostly for sleep, as Heather said.
I had never taken anything prescription and initially refused. She explained that anxiety is part of Lyme, and she said I needed every part of me working together: body, mind and spirit.
So I took it. I can sleep through the night with this, and unlike other posters, it took away my appetite. I've lost about 14 pounds in the past few months. I guess every one is different.
A few nights ago, for the first time, I could not sleep. Tossed and turned all night. My mind raced, and it wasn't pretty. All my thoughts were turned against me.
I couldn't figure this out. But later that day, I found the little xanax by the night table; it had somehow fallen off before I had taken it.
In a way, that episode was a gift. I realized how horrible it would have been for me if I hadn't taken her advice. As it is, I sleep soundly for 9 hours each night. I only take the xanax at night.
I hope this is helpful and hope you find some relief.
It is very important to determine if you have Bi-Polar or Depression. They are NOT the same and are not treated the same.
The possibility that Bi-polar can be made WORSE by taking a SSRI's is often.
It is important to get "stable" first then attack the depression. There are several NEW stableizing meds that are very affective.
Mania {gitty up} is specifically triggered by anti depressants.
900 mg of Nuerotin is not a very high dose. I was on 3600 mgs for my skin burning. It did not touch it so I Discontinued it. It is not intended to be used as an anti-depressant. It is a seizure med, but can help with nerve ending pain.
I do encourage you to read the side affects on all the meds that you take, but keep in mind one of the most problematic meds is Tylenol. Read those side affects.
3,6 and 9 oils, Vit B are helpful. If you go natural you can look at valerian, hops, kava kava, primrose oil, GABA for sleep and relaxing.
Too bad we can't drink the wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beating Lyme is a trade-off. Sometimes we have to take things that are very scarry.
I am considering a witch doc. I think Hiker and I in IL will form a new support group focussing on voodoo!!!!!!!!!!
Hope this helps.
Good luck
Peace, BJG
Posts: 468 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2003
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lyme_suz
Unregistered
posted
Hi Starphoenix,
Wish you could send me some of that extra energy! Alas, its feast or famine.
Hi Illinois guys,
I grew up on a farm in IL which is why I didn't let a little rash worry me...
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Starphoenix
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2402
posted
I can't take Xanax or other drugs in its class (benzodiazepines) due to a severe sensitivity/withdrawal issue. They wouldn't help, anyway. It's not anxiety, but true mania. I do have bipolar disorder due to Lyme.
It's funny, BJG: My husband mentioned going to a witch doctor if my current practitioner can't help me (overall for the TBDs)! You do the voodoo that you do so well!
The psych said to taper off the Neurontin. I think the schedule she gave will be too intense for me. I'll see how it goes. Meanwhile, I will consider fish oil.
Thanks, all.
Steph
-------------------- Learning to love, and loving to learn. Posts: 1318 | From Shohola, PA | Registered: Apr 2002
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
The omega fish oil tablets seem to be not so rough on the stomache if taken right smack in the middle of a meal.
Sometimes it repeats on me. MMMMMMmmmmmm. Tastes like rotton sardines!
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Over the counter 5htp really helps me but you cant take it if your on an SSRI.Ativan(addicting)has also been a life saver for me.I do the fish oils too and swear they help.
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
First, to Katie G. Xanax is very physically addictive. I swore that wouldn't happen to me and was astonished when it did -- it wasn't a pill that I could take for anxiety or sleep now and then when I needed it (though I know people who can). With me, when the dose tapered off, my body would actually start going into some type of rebound withdrawal. Jumping heart, shakiness, feeling as if I needed to cut myself just to let the anxiety out and get some relief. A new doctor suggested I get off Xanax and try something different, so I went back to an old standby, Tranxene (initially went off that and onto Xanax when I lost Rx insurance, since Xanax was so much cheaper). I had to wean off Xanax first. I fear that drug.
As for the bipolar -- Neurontin works pretty good for some folks as a mood stabilizer, for others not. It does help me with the burning neuropathic pain, I'm at 2100mg/day. It's very true that it can cause weight gain. So can most of the others, except Topomax, but I couldn't tolerate the side effects of that. I finally ended up on Trileptal. My bipolar is pre-Lyme. I also need to take Prozac, risky as the SSRIs can be in triggering mania. It's a hard disorder to manage. Let alone managing it with Lyme. But there's a lot of good information out there.
Posts: 459 | From Connecticut - just across the river from the Lymes (Old Lyme, Hadlyme, East Lyme, South Lyme & Lyme) | Registered: Oct 2000
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Starphoenix
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2402
posted
I appreciate your good input! I'm thoroughly exhausted tonight, so I won't give answers per person. I'll just bunch everything together.
I plan to use Omega Brite. It, supposedly, has no aftertaste. I am on an SSRI (Lexapro). I can't take Ativan as it is one of those benzodiazepines. I tried Topamax once for another issue, but I had to stop due to a rare eye effect. In fact, it was reported to the FDA.
I'm hoping that with ABX treatment, my moods will stabilize soon.
Steph
-------------------- Learning to love, and loving to learn. Posts: 1318 | From Shohola, PA | Registered: Apr 2002
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Laurie, I read your post and was curious about tranxene. When I read the description, it seemed just about as addictive as xanax, but your post indicated you found it to be less so.
Also, how did you finally wean yourself off the xanax. i really hate taking this stuff but don't want to do anything to jeoparadize my body's ability to heal.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Good luck with the Omega Brite. It takes a while for it to help, but it really has stabilized my moods. (obviously not as strongly as one of the anticonvulsants or other meds for bipolar.)
I just wanted to add that you should keep it in the fridge. A lot of people on omega supplements complain about fish oils burps, and often that means that the oil has gone rancid. (i think omega brite is flavored to aid in avoiding the burps... i know nordic is.) so yeah, super important to keep it in the fridge.
posted
Andie, all of the benzo tranqs do have the potential for addiction, you're right, it'll say that in any drug book or online. I've known people who are addicted to Valium and other people who can take a Valium now and then and it doesn't act that way for them. We are talking more physical dependency than psychological. I do not know why they work this way for some, not others. I do know that Xanax has the reputation for the King of Addiction/Physical Dependency. I scoffed at this when I started taking it. Because I was never dependent upon the Tranxene, I didn't think I'd get dependent on the Xanax. But I did. My doctor gave me instructions for weaning down. It took about a week or so. Pharmaceuticals are mysterious. I hope I never get dependent upon the Tranxene -- I've taken it off and on since a 1976 hospitalization -- but I'm not saying it couldn't happen. Maybe with a time-release there is less chance of that, but I did try the long-acting Xanax and just walked around like a zombie. I know people who have great good luck with Ativan and Klonopin. Who knows...I guess it's trial and error.
Posts: 459 | From Connecticut - just across the river from the Lymes (Old Lyme, Hadlyme, East Lyme, South Lyme & Lyme) | Registered: Oct 2000
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