The Human Side of Lyme - An Inhumane Disease of the Brain
Deliberations of a psychiatrist who evaluates and possibly diagnoses Neuroborrelios euroborreliosis and other tick-borne diseases of the mind, sharing case histories . . . . -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- There are other ways to manage the symptoms for which you may have wanted prozac to work.
Some take it to improve mood or lift energy. For many with lyme, though, even a tiny dose can have harsh reactions. You might want to scroll down here to the articles on how to manage symptoms, or find a complementary doctor to guide you.
posted
It did a number on me, as did Wellbutrin and Topamax.
They all send me right over the edge to the point that I'm happy with my regular Babesia & co manic-ness ANYDAY.
If you read up on any of the SSRIs or talk to an HONEST health care professional, they will admit they are not entirely sure how any of them actually works!
Seriously.
They can give you a broad spectrum idea, but if you ask enough questions, they are stumped. I know this from first hand experience.
Posts: 192 | From New England | Registered: May 2011
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I don't usually post my own personal experiences as they are just too much effort to write about (and I would rather present other links to help people make up their own minds after reading from a variety of sources) . . .
However, before I knew I had lyme and wanted more energy against my CFS diagnosis, I took Prozac.
Even a tiny dose - exactly at the 3 week mark - set my brain on some kind of a souped up sizzle. It was terrible. Absolutely terrible. But I persisted and never managed to make it work, even at very low doses.
I also had similar horrible effects (separately) from Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Xanax sent me into a suicidal event. All also seems to damage my ears, with sensitivity beyond the scope of anything I ever would have thought possible.
Mostly, each one made me MORE depressed. All that went on for a few years before I learned I had three tick-borne infections, and celiac (so my body was deficient in nutrients).
I also learned I had two kinds of porphryia. So that means my body simply could not process many kinds of medicines and created a terrible cascade of events. (Porphyria is mentioned in the naturopathic thread link in previous post.)
Now, I know those psych Rx increased the toxic load, the stress on the liver and adrenals and altered brain chemistry in ways that seemed unnatural. Never again. Never. Ever.
Although I have a long way to go to regain my health regarding lyme & other chronic infections, my mood is just fine (as long as I reasonably accept my situation and put it in perspective).
When I'm sad, that's okay, too. I'd be insane were I not to be sad about some of this, really. But I've learned HOW to manage the full range of emotions.
I've found so many other things that help and a style of herbal and nutritional "medicine" that is just marvelous for me. It's what I needed all along: nutrients - and less toxins in my body. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
thanks. i was asking for someone else. my experiece is like yours except i gave up after one pill. i hate the way they maked me feel. prozac and another one---i hate it.
i got suicidal and very depressed-crying etc when txing bart so i know about that too
so he was prescribed the prozac for severe depression with compulsive thoughts and he feels it is making him more paranoid...not helping depression. he is taking something else for anx that doesnt seem to help or hurt
he tried st johns wort before the meds and didnt feel any different
his dx are fibro and chronic fatique
im pretty sure he will decide to stop the prozac gradually...
thank you for info and resources...i thoght others were going thru similar stuff as me but cant trust my memory-thanks aagain
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- St. Johns wort did not work for me, made me hyper and lowered the startle & seizure threshold.
Fish oil, magnesium and antioxidants all seemed to work better than even "natural" things intended to directly affect mood.
Taking a Qi Gong class was also very helpful. Amazingly so, actually. Very balancing.
I hope you can refer him to that naturopathic thread as, even for those without lyme, there is some good information there. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
Ugh, gave me the worst headaches and really did nothing for me. That was before I knew I had lyme.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Everyone's reactions are different with all the psyche drugs. If you are severely depressed, it could be helpful, but you might have to go up and down and several before you find the right fit for you.
Paxil led to a suicide attempt for me. Wellbutrin saved me. It's all very personal.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
thanks
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic