posted
Does anyone take Effexor and have Lyme? Of course my dr has me trying the effexor because of the anxiety, but I hate the side effects.
Posts: 12 | From Farmington, MN | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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I have read that one person here at LymeNet does well with this.
However,
Effexor nearly killed me - even a low dose. But I stuck with it for six months. It never got better for me.
Before I knew that lyme was the problem, effexor raised the sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) to heights from which I have never recovered.
It made the startle reactions FAR worse and then seizures started to get triggered by the startles.
It kept me from sleeping for weeks. I felt "wired" and like I had electricity running through every cell in my body in pulses. It was horrible.
Magnesium is a far, far better antidepressant for me. So was a gluten-free diet and B-vitamins.
This may work for some, but you say you hate the side-effects.
Whatever they are, it's your body talking to you. Chances are there are nutrients missing or low.
Or - toxins high. Liver support is a fabulous mood lifter as are adrenal support herbs. If adrenal function is low (or thyroid), that can be the cause of so much trouble.
There is always a better way if one way is not working.
Best of luck.
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I mentioned magnesium above. Gotu Kola and d-RIBOSE are good, too. Fish oil / Omega's . . . required.
You might also search for Alan Gaby and his work on brain nutrients, in addition to the work of Perlmutter, below.
at the bottom of this page, you can see a video of Dr. Perlmutter on an "Oprah" program. David Perlmutter, MD, FACN is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition . . .
Dr. Perlmutter was awarded the 2002 Linus Pauling Award for his pioneering work in innovative approaches to neurological disorders. . . .
This is not meant to endorse this particular product - and this list is not the absolute list, if there were to be one. I had been impressed with one of the author's books I got years ago and while searching for him found this.
This is a nice outline of some of the nutrients for the nervous system. Much more info. in looking around his sites.
* Coenzyme Q-10 measurably increases the efficiency of cellular energy production, as demonstrated in studies performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital.1
In addition, it serves as a potent brain antioxidant. These effects explain why major institutions worldwide are vigorously evaluating coenzyme Q10 as a therapeutic aid in brain disorders.
* Alpha Lipoic Acid provides powerful antioxidant action and regenerates other important brain antioxidants including vitamins E, C, and glutathione.
Unlike other antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble, greatly enhancing its ability to be absorbed from the gut and penetrate into the brain.2
* N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) dramatically increases the body's production of glutathione, one of the brain's most important antioxidants.
NAC itself is a potent antioxidant shown to reduce formation of nitric oxide, a free radical implicated for a causative role in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders.3
* Acetyl-L-Carnitine, like coenzyme Q-10, enhances neuronal energy production by transporting fuel sources into the mitochondria -- the energy producing machinery of the neuron.
This particularly benefits damaged brain neurons, which are characterized by decreased energy production.
In addition, acetyl-L-carnitine acts as an effective antioxidant and been demonstrated to protect laboratory animals from developing parkinsonism when they are exposed to chemicals known to induce the condition.4
A report in a recent issue of Neurology found that acetyl-L-carnitine profoundly reduces the rate of progression of Alzheimer's disease in younger patients.5
* Vitamin E exhibits profound ability to limit free radical damage in the brain -- the likely explanation of why it outperformed a highly touted "Alzheimer's drug" in clinical trials reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.6
Diets rich in Vitamin E (be sure it's not synthetic) have been shown to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease by an incredible 61%,7 and to dramatically slow disease progression in already-diagnosed patients when supplemented with vitamin C.8
* Gingko biloba, one of the most extensively studied nutritional supplements for neurodegenerative conditions, directly improves brain metabolism, increases brain blood flow, and provides antioxidant action.
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
Gingko biloba not only stabilized Alzheimer's disease, but in addition, many subjects demonstrated an actual improvement noted in various standardized psychological tests.9
* Vitamin D may have even greater ability than vitamin E to quench brain free radicals, as described in several reports. Deficiencies of vitamin D have been found in cases of Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.10
* Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) is critical for maintaining myelin, the protective coat surrounding each neuron. As with Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with neurodegenerative conditions.
* Phosphatidylserine produces marked memory and learning improvements in demented patients, according to research conducted at Stanford University.11 Like acetyl-L-carnitine and coenzyme Q-10, phosphatidylserine plays an important role in neuronal energy production and chemical communication.
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This is just a beginning to the possibilities of what can help.
posted
Iam on Effexor.. This is my 2nd time on it.. The first time I was on it for 2 years and this time I have been on it for about a year and a half.. I had terrible side effects for about the first 10 days both times and then they went away.. Iam on the lowest dose and it helps me alot with the anxiety issue
Posts: 28 | From Long Island | Registered: Nov 2007
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
i am on effexor, but not by my own choice (long story). i've been on SSRIs in some form for about 12 years now. i would never, ever, ever recommend them to anyone, but that is, of course, based only on my own experience.
posted
when i was on it when i was younger i just had bad nightmares and i felt dependant on it. thats all. i think it helped though in other ways.
Posts: 39 | From south jersey | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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my question is do we really want to boost norepinephedrine ? Doesn't that create a stress reaction if adrenals are already shot?
The main difference between Effexor and the SSRI drug class is that Effexor also has the ability to boost norepinephedrine levels similar to tricyclides. . . .
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I tried effexor and thought I would die. If you have anxiety, it is the wrong antidepressant for you. If you don't have anxiety then it will probably work okay. It has properties that will increase anxiety in people that have it.
I took it for 2 months and it took 2 months to wean off of it. The withdrawals were horrid!
Of course I hate all antidepressants. I have tried several and I hate them all. Will not take them unless I turn into a complete looney tune. I do take Xanax however for my anxiety.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I am on Effexor and do fine on it. I have been on one antidepressant or another for 15 years or more. I have not really noticed any side effects really.
I would hate to have to get off it though. If I am so much as a few hours late taking it I have horrible dizziness and ringing in my ears amongst other stuff.
Right now I don't have to worry about it though as I am ok on it. That's just me though.
Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
The untold story on SSRIs is that they can become addictive--meaning that you can't get off them easily, not that they are "craved."
Recent posts on this thread back that up.
Paxil, which was heavily promoted for people following the 9/11 attacks, is probably the worst--some people who took it, thinking it would be for the short term can't get off it.
I'd go for the vitamin and supplements first. B complex, B 1, calcuim and magnesium, can be very helpful. Brewer's yeast also.
Lots of times, there is a great B vitamin deficiency caused by the meds you're on for Lyme.
So, I think it's important to work that angle first before treating what may be a side effect of medications with another drug that has even more potential side effects, including excessive weight gain, diabetes, suicidal thoughts, movement disorders that don't go away, etc.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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