I was on Lexapro (in my 2nd of now 3 years of this dizziness) for anxiety and it did not help the dizziness.
I'd be willing at this point to try again with different dose/ssri. I plan to ask the doctor.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Hon, antidepressants have such terrible adverse effect profiles that they are the LAST thing I would try for some other symptom, like dizziness.
In my opinion, you need adequate treatment for the underlying cause. SSRIs only mask the symptoms, after all.
I had problems with dizziness. Treating Babesia handled it. Period.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
I am playing a little bit of devils advocate on this and at the same time wondering if my part of this dizziness is anxiety. (really don't think so, but forced myself to take a look)
I do agree with you about treatment. I am in treatment for Lyme and Bart, but will be puhing my doctor on the Babesia issue. I have had some stops/starts with my meds, but am now on track at full doses of 2/3 meds.
My dizziness is a chronic everyday off balance/dysequalibrium. It makes shopping, driving and working next to impossible most of the time.
Thanks again, Cass A.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
I had dizziness and was diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachacardia Syndrome). My doctor has me taking 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt (not regular salt) a day.
Talk to your doc first to see if this may help. Also make sure you are getting enough Magnesium, water, etc.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
SSRIs are often rxed for dizziness that is migraine related (vestibular migraine, migraine associated vertigo) because in some patients the migraine is related to excess electrical activity in the brain due to a problem with serotonin, which is a calming neurotransmitter. SSRIs influence serotonin.
One of the hotter medical research areas this decade has been the connection between serotonin and the immune system (google it and read the reports). For many lymies, the infection prompts excess immune response that is somewhat auto-immune like. With our immune systems out of kilter, it's no surprise if serotonin levels are also abnormal.
In such a case, the dizziness of MAV is merely a symptom of lyme, and no one gets well by treating symptoms.
IMO the only justification for treating a symptom is 1) if the symptom is intolerable, 2) such treatment does not have concerning side effects, and 3) if treatment of the real cause is concurrent.
In my experience, boosting GABA, another calming neurotransmitter, yielded much more dizziness reduction than boosting serotonin. But don't only treat symptoms, if you want to recover you must treat the cause.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was also diagnosed with MAV after they decided I didn't really have Meneire's! I knew it was not that.
Lexapro did not help. A neuro originally wanted me on Cymbalta, but that scared me too much. Ironically, after another Medrol-Pak (didn't know I had Lyme), major anxiety and insomnia insued. I was then rx'd Lexapro, xanax. tradadone. Stopped after about 9 months w/ no change.
I was hoping to do #3 on your list above. Treat the symptoms while on abx for Lyme/Bart. It has gone on so long, that I have not been into work more than a few hours a week for 3 years! Luckily, I am considered on-call and I have a letter from my doctor.
I will read up on serotonin and the immune system- Thanks.
(I should add that several of my symptoms are gone. It is this dysequalibrium that is the most disabling and still remains.)
I am being treated. No one understand that the dizziness is this nearly constant rocking/dysequalibrium that makes it very hard to drive, work, shop and cook.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
"He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a healthy immune function in people who are depressed and prone to infections, it is possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that they trigger autoimmune disease. "At this point we just don't know how these drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the normal role of serotonin in immune cell functioning," Ahern said."
""But it is something that should be explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to people's immune systems."
That's great. Not only did I get a lot of steroids before finally getting dx'd w/ Lyme (after 14 years), I was also on an SSRI whicj also could have messed me up!
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I have had chronic vertigo now for 6 years. It used to be once in a while but with treatment it sent me into a herx and it only got worse.
This past winter I was diagnosed with MAV after all neuro vestibular tests came back normal.
My nose is also abnormally dry and I am very sensitive to mold.
Do you have any of this?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Currently, I am mostly OK except for this dysequalibrium/rocking sensation.
Do have a lot of post nasal drip, but so do a lot of people.
I think treatment has brought our some of the worst of the dizziness- like driving being tough.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear Kitty9309,
Sorry to learn that the dysequalibrium/rocking sensation is so disabling for you!
I felt the same about the vertigo I had--no WAY I was driving or working when that hit!!!!
In getting off any SSRI, be very slow and careful. These things can cause physiological addiction. That means that the body now may have horrific sensations if it doesn't get the SSRI.
This is most pronounced with Paxil. In fact, many people who started Paxil after the 9/11 attack in NYC found they couldn't stop. Lawsuits are happening over this.
The book, Your Drug May Be Your Problem, has a discontinuation protocol in it.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
| 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