posted
I've had depression for years -- since I was a little kid. I didn't take meds for it, and I was functional for the most part.
In my early 30s it started getting really bad. This was also around the time that my first identifiable Lyme symptoms showed up.
I went on meds but kept getting worse, eventually becoming anorexic as well as had-a-plan suicidal and went into rehab.
Finally, for the last 10 years now, I've been on a med cocktail that has worked for the most part, with some minor low points and a short-lived crash that got better by adding another med.
I'm having some problems with depression again lately, which is what prompted this question...which I'll finally get to! ;-)
If depression gets better with meds, does that mean it's not Lyme? Or can Lyme-related depression also get better with meds?
Idk that any of this matters really -- there's nothing to do but stay on the meds for now anyway. If the worst part of the depression is Lyme-related, though...does anyone have experience with that symptom improving with treatment?
Posts: 112 | From USA | Registered: May 2016
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posted
Anxiety and OCD were two of my earliest Lyme Disease symptoms. I got diagnosed in my teens with OCD and was put on Paxil. I went off Paxil after 4 years on it because the doctor thought I was able to be off it. 7 years later is when my Lyme Disease symptoms completely came out and I became severely ill, that's when I realized I had lyme disease. I probably got it as a child.
The Paxil worked great again, even though my OCD and anxiety were ten fold now than they were when I was a teen. I think antidepressants and SSRI's do work for Lyme induced depression/anxiety because they help correct serotonin imbalances, which the Lyme Disease causes. It doesn't mean the anxiety and depression wasn't caused by Lyme, it just means the Paxil is helping balance out things that the Lyme disease made unbalanced.
definitely give it a try, its worth it. if it doesn't work or makes you worse you can always stop taking the antidepressants.
Posts: 995 | From somewhere out there | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I have anxiety, panic disorder, depression, etc, and have tried almost every anti-depressant and have only gotten little relief. Just because they don't work for me doesn't mean they wont work well for you though. Don't be afraid to keep trying new meds.
Posts: 85 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2011
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Lyme can cause all sorts of mental disorders including depression. Thankfully, you have found an effective combo to help you.
Considering what you said in your post it sounds like you should definitely stay on your medications.
Once you fully treat Lyme and are symptom free, you can see how things are at that point in life.
Then discuss the issue with your psychiatrist and LLMD. It would be great if they could consult together to best treat you in the future. Whether that means attempting to wean down on meds or continuing them, that is so based on individual needs.
It is completely unpredictable and yet there is always hope to see great improvements as Lyme and all coinfections are treated appropriately.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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