AliG
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posted
I have finally given in and asked LLMD to give me a Rx for an anti-depressant.
He has Rxd Cymbalta.
I would appreciate knowing the thoughts on this med, from those who have taken it.
Do you feel it helped? How?
Did you have any problems with it?
Thanks in advance.
Ali
[ 18. January 2008, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: AliG ]
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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dmc
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posted
supposed to help w/pain too. I couldn't get up to recommended dose...totally wiped me out.
I know some people like it. What works for some doesn't work for others.
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lymebytes
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posted
I have heard time and time again that most w/LD can never reach the "regular" doses of antidepressants.
I can't tolerate them at any dose. Once I tried low dose Prozac and felt like I was losing my mind and had to quit quickly.
Low doses are usually recommended for those of us w/LD.
AliG
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posted
My Rxd dose is 30mg -1x/daily.
I'm not sure how that ranks with the "recommended" dose.
I know I sure don't need to be any more wiped out than I already am. I hope that doesn't happen to me.
I also DON'T need to lose any more of my mind. That's a VERY scary thought.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I take 60 mgs a day of cymbalta -- it definitely helps with mood/anxiety stuff, and has pretty much eliminated my propensity for panic attacks. I don't really know if it helps the pain or not... hard to say on that one. But, I haven't had any problems with the drug itself.
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Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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CD57
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I take 10mg Lexapro (half dose) that has really helped my anxiety. I still get a little depression but can deal with that; the anxiety I could not.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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AliG
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posted
Thanks Mini & CD57, I appreciate the input.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
My brother takes it (he doesn't have Lyme that we know of) and he is doing GREAT on it! He was completely not functioning at all and he is doing WAY better on it! He never used to leave his room, and he's changing a lot! I hope that helps!
Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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AliG
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posted
Thanks Knshore.
I notice it seems to have an awful scary listing of possible side effects/adverse reactions.
It's so bizarre that it can ACTUALLY cause the Sxs that you'd be taking it to resolve.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I was on this , 60 mg for 2 yrs. Before we knew I had lyme, I was given it for fibro. It helped with sleeping better and some of the pain.
Then it stopped working and I said enough.I had been on antidepressants for almost 10 yrs, by this point. Changing doses, brands etc.
Hope it helps you. Take care.
-------------------- Take Care, DakotasMom01 Posts: 371 | From NJ | Registered: Dec 2007
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Cass A
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posted
Yes, the side effects are very scary!!
Have you tried high-dose B Complex and some extra B1??
These REALLY help mental/mood problems!! Any drug, including antibiotics, eat these up, and then all hell breaks loose in the dreams/moods/emotions sector!!
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Vermont_Lymie
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posted
Hi Ali,
I just recently conceded this battle too -- I figured I might need an AD since I am supposed to start rifampin soon, and I already have anxiety issues.
I am trying very low dose prozac; I was RXed the liquid version so that I can try just a few (4) drops each day. I do not know how much this is in terms of dosage, but it is well below 10mg/day. I know I could not take the full adult dosage.
It is helping, and since it is such a small amount, the side effects are minimal. Hope that helps! Good luck and let us know how you fare with the cymbalta. I would start on a low amount.
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sometimesdilly
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posted
hi sweetie-Ali:
maybe it would help to think of an anti-depressant as just one more med,and one you can more readily dispense with than abx if it doesn't suit you.
i've only tried prozac, so can't help with cymbalt or whatever it is called. for me, prozac actually has helped significantly, especially in unexpected ways.
within a few days of going on it, almost all of my heart irregularities stopped, and have not returned.
for a long time,anyway, the prozac also eliminated my out of the blue Lyme rages.
i think 10 mg is the lowest possible dose for prozac, anyway, and i have gone as high as 40mg without feeling worse for it. looks like this is another of those we- are- all different things.
i hope you asked why that particular AD was prescribed rather than another, as they are NOT all the same, even the choices within a single category of AD's.
i also agree with the advice to take heavy-duty B's supplements- i can feel a big difference for the worse when i'm running low- but i seem to remember that even that is controversial.
thinking about you...
dilly Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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AliG
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posted
I'll have to try some extra Bs.
I have not spoken w/LLMD himself. I left a message of concession saying that I really believe I need help. I told them of my problems with Effexor-XR.
This one is another SNRI, so I hope I do not have the same problems in the event I should miss or be late with a dose.
Dilly dear, I seem to have put myself in quite a pickle. The last thing on earth I would want to do is cause another person emotional pain. I think it would seem I need some help controlling my thoughts/emotions. I really hope this can straighten my head out.
Thanks for the hug & the thoughts.
Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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Truthfinder
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posted
Ali, PLEASE be very mindful of any worsening of mental symptoms, or any suicidal thoughts. Cymbalta is one of those strange drugs that can make some people suicidal, and they don't even realize they are heading in that direction. It seems to be a very small percentage affected this way, so chances are very slim that it will happen to you.
Just be sure your family and/or friends know when you start to take it so they can help watch for any adverse signs. It's just a good back-up safety precaution to make sure you don't get into trouble without realizing it.
Best of luck on this, Ali!!! I know this particular med works very well for some people.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Hi Ali- I have been on a "hampster" dose of Zoloft for over ten years now. Just within the past few months it seemed to not be working as well. I believe my depression was worsening because of the severe chronic pain issues I am now dealing with.
So LLMD (and my other docs also) wanted me to switch to Cymbalta. I was on a low dose. I had trouble getting to a higher dose because of stomach issues. Anyway, after giving it a go for about 2 weeks....I can say that my depression actually got much worse on it and for that reason, I switched back to Zoloft.
I need to stress.....for ME, the depression DID get much worse and caused very bad suicidal thoughts while I was on the Cymbalta. Funny thing is...it did seem to help with my pain issues somewhat. But was not worth the trade-off.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Daughter takes 60my a day of Cymbalta. She says it doesn't feel like it does anything, but then nothing helps her. How would she know? I am thinking maybe she should wean off of everything and start over.
Then maybe she will know what helps and what doesn't. She is just miserable with whatever she does.
I do know she was on Lexapro, Efexor (sp), Paxil and maybe one more I can't remember, but she hated them all and said they made her feel like a zombie.
The only thing I can advise is try it, you might do well, if not you can always stop taking it. Who knows, it might help. Everyone is different.
Hope that is some help,
HUGS,
-------------------- ICEY Posts: 468 | From Las Vegas NV | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
My fiancee has lyme and VERY bad luck with Cymbalta, both being on it, and almost losing her mind trying to get off of it.
My recommendation would be to look into some research on St. John's Wort(hypericum perforatum). DO NOT get the cheap stuff at the grocery store as it will basically do you no good. Get a high-grade brand, like Serofin(my fiancee and I both take this and it's great) or Kira(highly recommended).
Research shows that it has equal or better efficacy than prescription anti-depressants, regulates a much wider range of brain chemicals, and has much fewer side effects.
Look into it. I'm not completely against prescription anti-depressants, but have had and seen many more bad experiences with them than good ones. If you stick with Cymbalta, closely monitor how it affects you and try a different dose or drug if it's causing you any significant problems.
posted
Believe it or not, pimples. I got thousands on my face, arms, chest and back. I'm 50 and haven't had pimples for 30 years.
Posts: 12 | From Maysville, KY | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
Please be careful if/when you decide to come off this med or reduce your dose. I think I did a post about it called "Cymbalta beware" if you do a search. I would not wish that agony on my worst enemy.
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The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
I'm really sort of glad I decided not to start taking it yet, last night. I'm REALLY having second thoughts about this anti-depressant.
Especially knowing that I didn't really feel much help from the Effexor-XR in the past & really had some nightmarish withdrawal issues.
I actually had the most benefit from low dose Zoloft. I had to stop that because it turned me into a "Stepford Wife". I didn't think it was good for raising a child when Mommie COULDN'T look upset by something that she SHOULD be upset about or react with alarm to dangerous situations. Drs just don't think about these things.
I couldn't rouse a reaction to ANYTHING and absolutely NOTHING phased me, even things that really should have. It was really creepy.
Thanks so much for pointing out your thread, Alison. It REALLY gave me something to think about.
I had used "Holy Basil" (aka Tulsi) to get off of Zoloft and thankfully remembered it when I actually started "weaning off of" the Effexor. I do believe that it really saved me from a potential nightmare, knowing the problems I had with just a late dose.
I wish I knew about it when you were going through your ordeal. I feel so bad knowing you had to go through that.
Since I have a tendency to get any of the "rare" side effects to things, I probably should not do this med. I swear I am the 1% on all medication warnings. It makes me feel like such a freak sometimes.
Cori- Maybe some "Holy Basil" (Tulsi) might help you, in low doses, with the Zoloft? Your post really unnerved me. I DON'T need something to be making me suicidal at this point.
I did print out all the warnings for DH, so he could keep an eye out, in case I had a bad reaction & didn't realize what was happening. He read it & told me he didn't like the idea of my taking it.
I just have NO idea what to do right now, but somehow I think the Cymbalta might not be the answer. I wonder if the LLMD will have me "committed" when I tell him I changed my mind & decided NOT to take it.
The ST John's Wart scares me a bit too because I know it can have some bad interactions with other medications. I'm not sure why I'm so afraid of that when I won't generally take any medications besides ABX. I think I'm just a touch med-phobic.
You know, something just dawned on me. I realize that I have told several people about the Holy Basil lately. Perhaps I should just fish mine out & start taking it again. I really HATE these darned "memory issues" sometimes.
I do think I'll try that, at least until I can have an in depth conversation about the SNRIs vs SSRIs with the LLMD. The Cymbalta really scares me.
Thanks everyone!
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
My daughter was on 60mg of Cymbalta for quite some time. She liked it pretty well.
But, with most teenagers, their brains are changing rapidly, so things that worked last month may not work now.
She weaned off Cymbalta and transferred to Wellbutrin. She's up on a pretty high dose (Mepron was VERY hard on her).
I don't remember the transfer from Cymbalta to Wellbutrin being very hard.
The transfer from Seroquel to Geodon was HARD.
With any of these drugs, you will feel wiped out the first couple of weeks.
If you are suicidal, or super depressed for a long period of time, it's worth saving your life.
We would love to have my daughter get off of these drugs some time, but she is operating so well now, why rock the boat?
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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AliG
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posted
One thing that really scares me is that I seem to remember reading SOMEWHERE(? ) that they think long-term anti-depressant use may permanently alter the brain's ability to properly function without them.
I would be so afraid to use them in a growing child. I would fear that the brain would adapt to having them & develop in a manner that depends on them.
I don't think they have been around long enough for them to really foresee all the long-term consequences yet.
Just another thought on meds with withdrawal sx:
When Valium first came out it was prescribed to housewives much like anti-depressants are today. There were an awful lot of drug-addicted women being taken advantage of & abused by unscrupulous doctors back then.
Not that I don't trust my LLMDs, because I do believe they are good men. I just NEVER want to place myself in a position that I have seen others suffer through. The mere thought of a doctor abusing their position of trust sickens me and things like that DO unfortunately happen and often go unmentioned.
I think that any time you take a medication that has nasty withdrawal symptoms, you run the risk of placing yourself in a bad situation.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
AliG...when your child is having night terrors, hallucinations, OCD and anxiety so bad she's scrubbing her skin away, dreams of slashing her body, fear of leaving the home, and suicidal...the medication was the quickest solution.
There was no "bucking up, you'll be okay". She was in the 11th hour.
There was no option to experimenting with homeopathic remedies or natural herbal supplements.
Of course, we also did cognitive therapy, which helped a great deal.
With bi-polar (including prison sentences and suicide) on both sides of our family, I'm guessing the bacteria went to the weakest organ and set up house.
If my daughter needs to stay on medication the rest of her life (albiet in lower doses), I am certainly not opposed to it.
Neither is she. It saved her life, she smiles and has HOPE again.
If you can cope without it, do so. But, if you can't DO NOT FEEL SHAME, there are those who love you and want you to be in their lives.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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AliG
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posted
Kelmo,
I'm so glad for you & your daughter that they have made such a difference. I have no doubt that for people who absolutely need them they CAN provide great benefits.
I guess I kind of went a little astray thinking of the ducks who prescribe them for any issue a housewife or new mother comes in with or any teen struggling with some peer-related sadness.
I'm sure that stuff happens. I guess I was thinking more about ducks thinking they have such a "miracle pill" in their arsenal to make patients think they are better when they haven't really resolved any problems at all.
They are serious medications & not all ducks treat them that way. Thanks for pointing out that they ARE necessary and truly helpful in some instances.
I guess I feel that my duck's Rxing them to me for pain initially was not exactly the best thing to do in my situation at the time. At that time they actually caused MORE problems for me and I didn't see any real benefit.
I'm starting to think that my reasons for wanting to take them again are not really justification. I am still having some obsessive thinking issues, but now I'm not really sure that I shouldn't be.
I'm just really confused. I don't know what's actually caused by my Lyme or just caused by my life anymore. I'm "just a ball of confusion" right now.
[ 21. January 2008, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: AliG ]
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I know there is quite a bit of controversy about antidepressants in general (not only on this board). But the way I personally see it....for myself....I look at it as a diabetic who has to take insulin for the rest of their lives. That's me with an antidepressant. My body and mind needs the extra help to be able to really be myself. Without it, I end up in a corner. Literally. I take 50 mg a day of Zoloft and that most times is fine for me. Right now I am taking 75 mg. because I am going thru a very difficult time with pain. The kind of pain that really makes me feel I am losing my mind. I do not worry about the long term "unknown" effects. I cannot let myself do that. I need this medication to survive. But that is just me and that is just MY body.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
AliG. I once felt the same way as you.
In fact, I wanted to stay as far away from pills as possible, as I saw abuse in my family.
But, one day, my husband and close friends intervened to take me to the hospital because I was planning my death, and I begged them to tell me not to do it. I could no longer make healthy decisions.
I have been on 150mg of Wellbutrin for the past seven years. I'm careful who I tell, but I hope to never lose this medication. The fear of the other shoe dropping isn't happening any more.
That experience helped me when my daughter needed it. If I hadn't gone through that, I wouldn't have been able to be by her side when she needed support.
It's not a crutch or weakness, like someone said, it's like insulin to a diabetic. There is some funky stuff in our brains with this disease, and the reality is we sometimes need help.
You need to make that decision for yourself, but we don't want to read about you on Melanie's list.
sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
ali-
you've lost me, girl, taking a turn to the left when i thought you were going straight, or some such.
i'm not sure now if your llmd ever suggested an antidepressant, and if so, if cymbalta (?) was the one chosen, or why you think (thought) you needed one but don't now.
can't keep up. all i know is that like any other med, if you need it your body will respond well enough to it,and if your body doesn't need it, you will know very quickly/
as far as antidepressants affecting your brain- well, yes they do, but no more so by a long shot than Bb's & Co., that's for dang sure.
as you well know, nothing comes for free in this fight...
dilly
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AliG
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posted
Dilly, my dearest friend in the world,
I'm so sorry to be leaving you in the dark. I can not even talk to you right now about what is REALLY going on in my head.
I'm not sure I even know what's going on in there & I can't sort it out because I feel that I do not have the freedom right now to talk openly with ANYONE about my thoughts or feelings.
My posts ARE being watched and, though it makes me sad to feel cut off from my support, I DO understand it.
to quote a friend: "nuff said".
PS- Why were you up at 1:11 am? You'd better back off those Provigil before you burn yourself out again, sweetie! I sure hope you were able to get some sleep.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
Kelmo & Corinne-
Thank you. You both have very healthy views with regard to these medications.
I am NOT in a good place right now.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Hi AliG. You mentioned being afraid of the St. John's Wort because of interactions with other medications. You're right, but as far as I can remember, the main interactions are with certain AIDS drugs and with other anti-depressants(because one or the other is already trying to balance your brain chemistry and by taking two drugs trying to do this, you can actually overload certain chemicals). You're right to be cautious, but I really would look into it.
posted
Yes, love you Ali. We are here for you. You have always been there for me, with valuable information, links, jokes and friendship. I will keep you in my heart even more during this tough time.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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Cass A
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Member # 11134
posted
Dear AliG,
Thinking about you and wondering how you're doing.
Sometimes, getting into looking inward so much about how I'm feeling just makes me go down the chute!!
A nice walk outdoors looking at the buildings and the trees and the mailboxes and cars or in a park helps me a lot! I walk around looking at things until I am looking outward and not worrying about what's happening with ME.
This helps things to cool off.
Do well.
Love,
Cass A
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) that they think long-term anti-depressant use may permanently alter the brain's ability to properly function without them.
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