posted
Hello, I've had Lyme and co. for four years now. My LLMD started me on lexapro 4 years ago, and it has worked pretty well at keeping away the blues.
I had to stop taking it last month. My neurologist prescribed a triptan medication for my migraines, and I can't mix lexapro with it.
I've been a crying mess since I stopped lexapro.
I've tried zoloft, effexor, elavil, prozac...I'm currently on clonazepam, and it's not working at all. I cry for at least 6 hours every day.
I'm also taking lorazepam. That's not working either.
Today I burst into tears about my dog that passed away 17 years ago, and cried for 3 straight hours. EVERYTHING makes me cry.
Of course, I'm also taking biaxin, malarone, tindamax, and a whole bunch of other meds.
My question is, has anyone had any luck with a different anti-depressant than any that I've listed above?
I can't seem to pull myself out of this horrible depression that has started since I discontinued my Lexapro.
Any suggestions
Thank you, GP
Posts: 12 | From NW Ohio | Registered: Feb 2011
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear GP,
Lexapro and other psychotropic drugs can have this type of effect when you stop taking them, as they are actually physiologically addictive.
Some people who started Paxil after the attacks on 9-11 found that they couldn't stop, for example.
Your smorgaasboard of drugs looks like you have become a cash cow for the pharmaceutical industry.
Taking large doses of B Complex and B-1 can probably help with the crying. Walking around the block, looking at things in your environment will also help.
Also, be sure to get some good electrolyte replacement, like Emergen-C or Salt-C or Bioplasma, as tears contain minerals, and you could make yourself feel worse just from this depletion.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Lexapro needs to be tapered off, when you stop. Part of your current problem could be that you stopped too abruptly.
My daughter was taking Lexapro until we found out that if she went on the gluten free and dairy free diet, she didn't need it anymore. We tapered her off much more slowly than what most doctors suggest and she still had withdrawal effects at every med change. We waited 2 or more months between changes. Her doctor also said if she were going to have withdrawal effects, they would be over in 2 weeks. But in her case, they just started in the 3rd week.
My other daughter was taking Elavil for headaches. When we tried to work on her OCD with an SSRI, her psychiatrist did not want her to be on the Elavil, too. Her neurologist was ok with it, but it was difficult to work with the psychiatrist because of this.
I don't know about the interactions between a triptan and an SSRI, but it might be that a different doctor would work with you on finding the right combination that worked on your headache and your depression. My daughter now sees a LL psychiatrist in NJ. He tries to help with her headache and her psych symptoms.
Other a/d's to try are doxepin and Remeron.
My daughter's main symptoms are a continuous headache, fatigue, and psych symptoms. We've tried Doxepin twice and both times, she has seemed better. The first time, we thought it was her new Lyme approach working. We tried it again just to see if it had helped and she is again doing better. We have also changed her abx again so it isn't clear which one is doing what. Still, Doxepin seems to be a good one for her.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535
posted
I was put on an SSRI in 2001 ( for what was really Lyme, but didn't know it at the time ). I was NOT depressed before taking it. I was just greatly fatigued and sore....but I never cried, never felt sad.
But the bottom fell out when I stopped taking it four years later. It actually CAUSED the most gut wrenching black depression you could ever imagine.
Antidepressants and benzos change your brain chemistry, and when you take them away, your brain is in complete chaos.
I will never understand why doctors don't warn people about this and how hard they can be to stop. I know it happens more often than not, so when they say it's rare, that's bull$hit.
My aunt was put on Zoloft when her daughter was getting married. She had empty nest syndrome and her doctor said, "Here, take this for a few months." That was twelve years ago and she still can't get off it without losing her balance, vertigo, panic attacks, etc etc etc. And the crazy thing is her daughter now lives right next door to her but she's still stuck on the drug.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
Tried coming off of Zoloft several times. CAN'T DO IT!!, the have switched me to cymbolta and taken me off acts. Saying that those medications are the cause of my symptoms. Don't know who to believe anymore. They talked me into taking an LP which 3 different Dr.s had 3 different answers to the irregularities in the spinal fluid.
Murph257
Posts: 22 | From East Quogue, New York | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I would get some natural antidepressants asap. St. John's Wart, or even 5H-TP. First check with doc to see if these are OK with you meds, but probably are since they are not a prescription drug.
also, someone hear suggested L- Theamine for depression. over the counter supplements.
I took Lexapro and many others over the years but now I think they do more harm than good. So, although I am more depressed than ever now, with this illness keeping me housebound for the last 6 months, I just don't trust the antidepressants.
Posts: 348 | From MA | Registered: Dec 2010
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Antidepressants do work for some ppl. Everyone responds differently. I personally have had a hard time with SSRI's, but have seen others that respond very well to them.
You have to come off of them very gradually to avoid severe side effects. Your doctor should have guided you through this.
Do not take natural antidepressants while taking RX antidepressants!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I was put on Lexapro 3 years ago...I'm still not sure if it's done much...I guess my anxiety is a little lower than it was...They gave it to me before I knew of Lyme...I was told to just stay on it for now by LLMD.
Posts: 222 | From NH | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
Benzos like Klonopin and Ativan, which you mentioned you are taking, can cause depression and also make existing depression much, much worse. There is a lot of literature out there stating that benzos are contraindicated in people suffering from depression. I agree that your recent withdrawal from the Lexapro is adding to your current symptoms and may even be causing them, but the Ativan and Klonopin could very well be making a bad situation even worse. Good luck to you.
Posts: 51 | From Indiana | Registered: Dec 2009
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
hmmm I would see if there is a different migraine med. Seems the lexapro was working...
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
They gave me zoloft last week, broke it into a quarter and tried two nights...got so dizzy and felt so weird that I wont take it again.
I have been on xanax for years for severe vertigo. I was weaning myself off of it a quarter mg every two weeks but my LLMD wants me back on it for the vertigo. He said it is used to treat illnesses and I need to stop worrying about what others say about addiction.
He said addiction is when you take the recommended dose and start coming back for stronger amounts when the original dose was working. So far I have been on 2 mgs a day for many many years with no need to increase...even though they suggest 4mgs a day.
I say change the migraine med and take the lexapro if your body needs it to function with this disease. When your lyme is better you can gradually taper off with your docs help.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535
posted
quote:Originally posted by Loripink01: but the Ativan and Klonopin could very well be making a bad situation even worse.
Oh yeah! This is how it was for me. I felt terrible before them, but once they were added it was all downhill from there.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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