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organictexan
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Is anyone taking antidepressants in conjunction with their Lyme's treatment? I've been taking Lexapro since September 2007 on and off. Mainly for anxiety and depression but it doesn't seem to help my severe PMS and my cycle is every friggin 17 days. Yep it's normal and terribly annoying. Going back to see my doc on Friday and want to ask for new/different antidepressant, but Lexapro is the only one I've tried in the last 15 years. Suggestions? Recommendations? Thanks! Tracey If you're going through hell, keep going. ~Winston Churchill |
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jaime1978
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Tracey, I've only had bad experiences on antidepressants. Many lymies can't tollerate them. So I can't recomend one. I've tried lexapro, made me feel crazy, tried lyrica, crazy, tried several others, crazy. The one thing I've found that helps the most is xanax. It even seems to help my nerve pain. I was talking to another lymie friend of mine and she said the same thing, she said she brought it up to her doctor and he said they are finding that to be true. It seemed to be the only thing that helped her son too. Her hubby takes clonopin, just another type of antianxiety drug. Wish I had more info on the antidepressant issues Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
~lyme disease support group leader~
please pm me with any special concerns |
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organictexan
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That info helps, thanks Jaimie, I have Xanex, but don't take it often. Mainly take it for anxiety when I go to the massage therapist (small enclosed windowless room), hairdresser, dentist or when I fly. Last year I began having severe claustrophobia/anxiety out of the blue and panic attacks. Doc gave me Xanex for those time so I try not to use it too often. BUT! PMS reared it's ugly head today, first the zipper got stuck on my dress, then a run in my pantyhose, next I got stuck behind a stalled bus on the drive to work. You know when it rains, it pours. So once I got to work I popped a Xanex and the day has been going fairly well! HA! Funny thing...I was having lunch with a friend from work today and she asked how I'd been doing. I said well not good really, I have very severe PMS today so I took a Xanex. She said oh what's Xanex? I said, well it's sort of like drinking a beer, chillin out! I wanted to stop the antidepressants because I know they have caused some of my weight gain. If it's not one thing, it's another, you know what I mean! I have currently stopped taking my abx, going back to doctor on Friday to get her input on pursuing the natural path to this vs 1 year of abx treatment, i just can't do it! Thanks for the info as always! If you're going through hell, keep going. ~Winston Churchill |
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denise17
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Hey Tracey, I can't comment on anti-depressents however I do recommend the holistc route. Did you ever get your high levels of aluminum resolved? My Dr. says you won't get far in your tx without resoling heavy metal toxcicity. I asked my Dr. for a list of other clinics like his in other states and he said he would get back to me. If your interested in this info PM me. Take care, Denise Denise |
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ConnieD
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Antidepressants made me crazy, too. That was back when I though I just had FM. One of them made me evil, I can't remember which one. It was awful!!!! Lyrica made me fall down. Gosh, that brings back bad memories. I hate all that stuff. All that covering up of symptoms while the disease was allowed to rage and mulitply. Gives me the chills. I was never offered Xanex. At least that can help you occasionally while you get to the root of the problem. I love the alternative route. That's the route I took and I am so much better. I take zero prescriptions. I got better using 100% natural therapies. I am finally getting back to my old self after ten years of he##. I'm sorry your PMS is so bad. I can identify. Mine is finally better. Feel free to ask me anything. Connie Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
Open your mind to the possibilities available to you.
An attitude of gratitude is good 'medicine,' too.
~Lyme Disease Support Group Leader~ |
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Mizuiro
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I never had bad reactions to antidepressants just no reaction at all, also no reaction to pain meds. I did however try several different antipsychotics for various reasons. Took seroquil (sp?) which helped some with severe insomnia, bipolar symptoms and relieved many of the lyme symptoms. Down side was I gained 60 in 3 months! Now I've been taking lamictal which has still helped a great deal and didn't have the side effects. It also helped when I had PMS from starting birth control for PCOS. No hormones to suddenly highest dose of birth control is miserable so I can understand the PMS. Smee: I've just had an apostrophe.
Captain Hook: I think you mean an epiphany.
Smee: No... lightning has just struck my brain.
Captain Hook: Well, that must hurt.
"Hello in there Cliff. What color does the sky happen to be in your little world?" |
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fin24
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just a thought--anxiety and brain chem imbalance are hallmarks for Bartonella!!! I was originally misdx with panic and anxiety and NO pill or antidepressant helped--then they dx Lyme and after antibitoics the mental stuff went away!!! whenevr my anxiety flares I know Im relapsing with Bart and/or Lyme-- also be careful if you have symptoms of dysautonomias--the antidepressants and antianxiety meds will mess stuff up bad---Xanax is especially notorious--it can cause such high heart rates as to cause heart attack, stroke and arrythmias!!! the break down of that and all antianxiety meds like benzodiazepines affect the GABA and related systems--something that may mnake things worse for dysautos--and breakdown products is often worse ( once the drug is broken down the products can cause side effects even more than the original drug) BuSpar is another type of drug--but some claim it has to be taken constantly--for 2-4 wks to start working--and it affects seratonin receptors which for some isnt good either-Ive tried it as needed occassionally--it helped the anxiety but the after effects were dismal--heart probs again--so I threw it out some say Zyprexa for anxiety and panic but it has a higher risk profile herbals like Valerian, L-theanine and Passion flower may help you--try single and combo products if youre stopping what youre on ask HOW--most antidepressants require a careful step down process of weaning or else rebound symptoms will be bad good luck Finette |
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savvy
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Hey Tracey, I'm a little late in responding to this, but a few weeks ago, when I started with that new infectious disease doc they started me on Paxil 25 mg a day and my family is EVER SO GRATEFUL! She told me it was very normal for the Lyme to effect your moods and I needed something to help me stabilize. I would cry at the drop of a hat, it was getting to the point of absolutely ridiculous. It didn't help that I was so overwhelmed, as we all are, with this disease and trying to still live our lives, but I am prone to depression and boy did this seem to bring it out in the worst way! Since I have been on the paxil I have had two 'episodes' where I kinda freaked out a little. I didn't have time to have breakfast, so all my morning meds were delayed a short time until I could (can't hold down the Doxy without food) and I just lost it. I was so upset about everything under the sun. I was yelling at my daughter at her Lacrosse game, at my son, at my husband.....I was so upset and felt so out of control. Then a few days later, same situation. I had a delay and I lost it on my husband and started yelling at him over nothing. Just totally overwhelmed, crying and upset over stupid shit. Later that day, when I'd calmed down, I swallowed my pride and we discussed the fact that I obviously need the paxil more than I'd realized because that was the only difference on these days. My doctor also gave me some Klonipin. She said, and I quote, these are for those extra special days when you just are too overwhelmed and can't take anymore (if I hadn't had to drive during those two occasions, they would have been perfect!) but she said, don't drive and don't drink when you take these, only when you are ready to be home for the night and ready for bed and don't take them very often because they can be very addictive. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on going off the paxil anytime soon. I'm pretty sure after this last year of highs and lows, it's saved my family from certain death! LOL ~*Savvy*~ |
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savvy
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sorry, I was mistaken, I am taking 10 mgs of paxil, not 25. ~*Savvy*~ |
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lisamom23
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I have been diagnosed with Bi-Polar for almost 6 years or so. I have always taken anti depressants. The doctor who prescribed my the Doxy knew of my other meds. Should i be concerned?? |
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