posted
In the years that I've been dealing with Lyme, I've covered just about the whole spectrum of possible symptoms- but somehow, I've managed to avoid a real depression.
Until now. In the last year I've lost to various accidents and diseases 9 people I loved dearly; my father is currently battling colo-rectal cancer (he also has not one but two hernias, as well as several huge kidney stones. And no health insurance. Mom says his warranty must have expired.) Major job stress. Grandmother appears to be in early stages of Alzheimer's. Etc, etc, etc.
Add that to the ongoing stress of dealing with my own disease, which had been showing marked improvement but the last several months has shifted back into high gear. And yeah, result is major depressive disorder.
Questions- for those of you on depression meds, how many did you have to try before you found a good fit?
What works for you with the least unpleasant side effects?
How long did it take your body to adjust- I don't know if these are adjustment symptoms or permanent adverse reactions?
Thus far I've tried the classic Prozac (didn't make much of a difference, but I gained 40 pounds in 5 weeks! Can't lose it, either.)
Cymbalta made me feel like I had a really bad flu that wouldn't quit.
Now I've been on Paxil for 4 days, so dizzy I feel like I'm going to fall off the earth. Insomnia, brain fog and tremor much worse than usual. Reading the horror stories of people when they try to come off of that aren't exactly encouraging, either.
Posts: 91 | From Atlanta, GA | Registered: Jan 2005
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I'm sorry to hear about everything you're dealing with. I tried Prozac myself and all I got were stomach cramps and weird dreams. I have never been on Cymbalta or Paxil. Zoloft was great, adjusted after a couple weeks and the only downside was sexual effects. Got dizzy when I tried to step off if too fast. Wellbutrin XL has been great, it doesn't have the sexual stuff for me and started to work rather quickly (2 weeks, maybe sooner). It has a bit of a stimulant function to it due to the way it works which has been greatly beneficial to me but it can aggravate anxiety in some people. I hope this helps a little.
Posts: 41 | From Toronto, formerly of CT | Registered: Apr 2003
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I can feel you pain. I have been really depressed recently as well. I wish I could help but I can't figure out what to take for depression either.
Almost every depression medication I have taken makes me crazy and sucidal. I have tried prozac & lexapro. I wish I could find a natural herb that would really work.
Maybe GiGi or Scott could help us out on this one and figure out what is a good herb to take. Because I have tried too many of those too. I took St JOhns Wort for a while but I am not sure it made too much of a difference. I also have used licorice root & valerian. But I was told not to stay on Valerian for extended time periods.
I also have anxiety so I need so somehow find that perfect mix- if it even exists
I will be praying that you will be brought some peace!
DR- Mercola came out with and article about st johns wort being ineffective for depression-
One more thing- I think fish oils are suppose to be good for the mood so you might look into those.
Hope this helped Heather
Posts: 74 | From Florida | Registered: May 2006
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter and I have been through a slew of them. We have both landed on Wellbutrin. Of course, it's very much a personal drug, unique to your chemistry.
Paxil and Prozac sent me to the hospital with suicidal thoughts. I've been on very low dose Wellbutrin for six years. My daughter is on Wellbutrin with 30mg of Cymbalta thrown in. Not sure why, but doc doesn't want to take her off it.
Expect a couple of weeks to adjust. You will feel sleepy for a while, then the clouds will part and life will become a bit more managable.
posted
We consulted with a LL psychiatrist via phone, who suggested to my daughter's local psychiatrist that she prescribe Trileptal for my daughter. It's technically not an anti-depressant, it's a mood stabilizer (frankly, I'm not sure what the difference is.) But it has made a world of difference for my daughter. Might be worth discussing with your doc.
Posts: 991 | From California | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I've been in treatment for 2 1/2 years, but it wasn't until this past summer that I started to succumb to panick attacks & depression. I have been on a very low does of Zoloft and it has helped tremendously.
Posts: 69 | Registered: Jun 2005
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I am so sorry to hear all you have been going through.
I was on Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Trazadone, some anti-anxiety med (can't remember the name), Straterra and Geodon.
I would say of all of them, Zoloft was the best for me, with the fewest side effects. I took it for many years. Then went to Paxil for 2+ years then back to Zoloft.
I tried Prozac way back when and it was terrible.
I took Trazadone for years (with the Zoloft). It helped me sleep and helped with depression, but was zombie like in the mornings.
Wellbutrin didn't do much for me.
My friend takes Wellbutrin and Trazadone and has shown improvement.
The geodon helped some when I needed it. It is a mood stabilizer.
I also went the natural way and had my neuro levels tested. I was on certain amino acids and 5HTP.
Right now I take Straterra, it makes me a little anxious, but gives me some energy. I still take the 5HTP too. It helps with the depression.
My father takes Cymbalta and says it helps, but there are some side effects that don't sound good. Especially the sick feeling.
It usually takes a good month or two to feel the full effects of most of these meds. Sometimes you will feel it in two weeks or so. You may also need dosage adjuments.
But, even with all the meds in the world, you may still need a professional to talk to and time to heal.
I hope you find something to work for you.
Lioness
Posts: 240 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
Hi, I take a small dose of lithium from vegetable culture for depression, Li-Zyme Forte from Biotics Research. It is a tiny amount, 150 mcg per tablet versus the 600 to 900 mg given for bipolar depression.
In the midst of sever depressions I take a tablet every hour for a day or two. Usually the depression lifts within that time.
For maintance I take one tablet four times a day. My moods have leveled off and there have been no side effects.
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Trill, zoloft and prozac have worked well for me and are now generic too. The best way to get acclimated is to start at a LOW dose , keep it low a little while, and slowly raise the dose . You will tepmporarily have some side eeffects , but they usually dissipate if you are patient . I never had weight problems with these two meds . At first I felt slightly wired , but added some trazadone for deep sleep at night . The wired feeling went away .
A low dose of trazadone ( safe and cheap ) helped my muscle aches too . I am so thankful for these meds and do not know what kind of life I would have if they were not available. Good luck!!
posted
Our daughter as tried several anti-depressants and only one has helped - Zoloft.
She started at 50Mg per day and is now at 100Mg per day.
She says it not only helps with the depression but also relieves some amount of Lyme joint pain.
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Trillian - If I were you, and you wanted to try an SSRI antidepressant, I would only recommend either Lexapro or Zoloft. They are the most "selective", in which serotonergic areas they affect, and have the least associated side effects.
There are theories now that the reason SSRI's help so much with overcoming depression, is because they increase NGF (nerve growth factor), as an indirect action of serotonin.
Provigil helps some people, but will be very expensive to get if you get it for depression.
There are also more "natural", and other alternative chemicals you could try. If you are interested at all on information those you can always PM me, and I'd be glad to tell you more sometime.
Good luck!!!
-------------------- "You know, the worst, meanest, nastiest, ticks in the world are politicks," - Steve Nostrum Posts: 242 | From South NJ | Registered: Dec 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jennifer Geddie:
low dose 10 zoloft and prozac have worked well for me and are now generic too.
A low dose of trazadone ( safe and cheap ) helped my muscle aches too .
zoloft and prozac generics is what i'm on too.
1 of meds listed above caused me to gain 25 lbs., and i can't lose either!
TRAZADONE bad news for me; while on it, i had a major reaction losing 4" x 6" patch of skin 4-5 times; had 4 biopsies during this time.
2 showed UNKNOWN BUG BITE! results from lab in MINN.
so whether it was a trazadone reaction or my LYME disease acting up; we'll never know!
2nd med is used for PANIC ATTACKS for me.
zoloft for mood swings; i can sure tell if i forgot to take it! ouch.
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