I typed out a few of the slides from a 2007 ILADS conference presentation by a Lyme literate psychiatrist. He noted that psychotropics "are sometimes antimicrobial" and "can be immune modulators", among other things. Posts: 227 | From South of the North Pole | Registered: Jan 2007
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Amanda
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14107
posted
Lyrica really helps me. It decreases some of my pain, and it helps me stay asleep (insomnia is an issue for me)
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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Rumigirl
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posted
Wow, Dancer, that is great! Thank you! He is terrific.
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I have tried lyrica and found that it didn't help me but I got really bad side effects from it. I am currently taking cymbalta but don't know if it is really helping or not
-------------------- Casey 1/7/10-Diagnosed with Lyme but got it in July 2008 and possibly 15 plus years ago http://www.crazylyme.com Posts: 105 | From Aubrey, Texas | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Thank you all for you in-put! I knew tere was some connection lyme & SSRI's, lets hope combination treatment will work for all of us in need for it! I will give it a try!
Thank you again for GREAT info!
Everything that gives hope is great!
Posts: 347 | From sweden | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
Some anti-depressants can help reduce pain. Medications like Lyrica, Cymbalta, and amitriptyline (and old SNRI) are also supposed to help with pain.
Of course, all of these medications can have side effects and some will work for one person but not for another.
I was in treatment for OCD before I was dx'ed with Lyme, and it took some trial and error (with the help of my wonderful psychiatrist) to find what would help me with the least (or no) side effects. In the end, Zoloft was perfect for me.
I'm still taking Zoloft. It helps manage the OCD still, though cognitive-behavioral therapy has gotten me to the point that I think I'm on a "normal" baseline. (Also, I think that treating bartonella has also helped with the OCD.)
Zoloft has, I believe, helped support me during the highly emotional ups and downs of Lyme disease and treatment. It's a tough disease, and I'm greatful for all the help I can get.
I think the key element is finding a REALLY GOOD psychiatrist who knows how drugs interact and affect the brain and body. Who will be willing to give you their attention and concern. Not someone who sees you for 10 minutes and then kicks you out the door. Not a primary care doctor or LLMD, who might be great otherwise but just doesn't have the expertise that a specialist would have.
And of course, finding a psychiatrist who is tolerant of Lyme treatment, even if they are not Lyme-friendly or Lyme-literate.
Posts: 398 | From By the Salish Sea | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
My combination of Lyrica and Tramadol are the meds that have allowed me to sleep thru the night and relieve some of the night time pain. It was originally prescribed for Fibro, though.
The bad thing is that I cannot stop taking it because it causes unbearable, unlivable, bed ridden type pain. Been on it going on 4 years I think.
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I was on Lyrica for a good while. It helped to dull the pain and helped slightly with sleep, along with Xanax.
I have never been able to take antidepressants. It was actually an antidepressant that triggered my symptoms of LD.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I ahve seen another thread here last year about the subject, that antidepressants can act onlyme in some way, marnie I think was in the tread and there was talk about calcium channels or something.
Posts: 366 | From Europe | Registered: Nov 2008
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