Posted on 01/14/2013 2:20:53 PM PST by Lima_Two_Zero_Alpha
Does anybody have any positive stories about the use of antidepressants? My doctor wants to put me on them because of chronic pain, but after everything I've read on FR I'm scared to death of them.
Sorry for the vanity, but I can't think of a better bunch of folks to get feed-back from.
She was working part-time at Walgreens and saw what she considered to be a dramatically-growing overprescription of anti-depresssants that she openly worried about the society that blithely accepted such forces that allowed and/or foisted upon its population such overmedication. She thought the insulation of the populace from the true costs, via insurance paying the lion's share, was unexpectedly a major, contributing culprit. It was her chief professional complaint from a fairly short list.
HF
What he said.
You have the opinion of a medical practitioner with a rigorous program in biology and chemistry and an advanced post-graduate degree, probably years of experience and a personal relationship, and you're soliciting the opinions of anonymous amateurs. Don't do that. If you want another opinion, see another doctor.
I concur. Great product for me. The mood sine wave has totally flattened out.
Going on and coming off can make it a wild ride, all right.
I’ve had several doctors over the years try antidepressants for my pain. None of them ever actually worked on the pain, but some of the ones that caused drowsiness were nice because they helped me sleep. (Until I developed a tolerance for them, which I seem to do fairly quickly.)
Right now my doctor is trying one to treat my hyperacusis (hyper-sensitive hearing). Hasn’t had any effect so far, but I’ve only been on it for a week.
I’ve never had any that actually altered my moods. All they do is make me drowsy.
Sometimes, the same alterations to the chemical balance of the brain can diminish pain perception, as well as affecting moods.
What would happen to the people who felt fine in the first place?
Thanks Ellendra.
I heard that that was how the therapeutic properties of lithium was discovered. Apparently there was a town (in Texas IIRC) that had a lower crime rate than the rest of the state by several orders of magnitude. They discovered that it was sitting on a lithium deposit which was leaching into the water supply.
I took myself off of it because I HATED what it did to my mind, i felt like I was on a triple dosage of NYQUIL constantly.
IIRC, even being on some antidepressents for as little as a week requires careful doctor supervision if you discontinue. Some meds you just can’t quit cold turkey.
I ramped down even though the dose was very small to begin with. I hated the haziness the drugs did.
My 18 year old daughter takes Cymbalta, 60 mg for chronic pain in her joints. The only side effect she has is fatigue, so she takes it before she goes to bed.
It’s probably being prescribed for an “off-label” use or even could be used for pain relief. Many “side effects” can have their own therapeutic value; I’m taking an AD for insomnia.
I agree that this isn’t the place to get advice. Talk to a knowledgable health professional. Look at all the different opinions that are already being given.
If you have anxiety and depression due to the pain, then you should see a psychiatrist...one who is good with diagnoses.
Primary care MD’s don’t know jack squat about prescriptions
for mental health issues.
The right meds prescribed by the right doctor you trust(hands-on and monitoring you) and combined with other therapies (counseling, alternative pain therapy like massage and acupuncture, etc) will improve the quality of your life
Wellbutrin and counseling has pulled my teenage daughter out of a very black hole and is giving her a life as a fairly normal teenager able to experience and handle fairly normal emotional cycles
I’m taking the same product for insomnia- low dose at bedtime so I’m fine the next day. I can see how it could be a problem for you if you have to take it during the day.
Xanax is not an antidepressant.
It is not at all unusual to prescribe SSRIs off-label for chronic idiopathic pain or even pain of known origin. The idea is that it permits the patient to handle the pain better and it sometimes works. In some cases neuropathic pain actually diminishes.
He can’t fix your problem, so he just wants to shut you up.
My X was on them when she tried to shoot me & missed. Thankfully, she was maxed out on effexor & she didn’t remember either.
A win-win for both of us.
Good luck.
I took Cymbalta for a couple of years to help with post surgical neuropathy - Lyrica and Gabapentin did little to ofer any relief.
I can say that they helped A BIT. I could notice a difference in discomfort level after being on Cymbalta for about a month. That said, I will never do it again. The horrid experience, for me, was getting off Cymbalta. Even following a rigid titration schedule to reduce the dosage left me with unbearable side effects, the worst of which was “brain tremors” - Yes, brain tremors!
I would also like to see at least one knowledgeable family member monitor an individual beginning antidepressant therapy, looking for rapid mood swings and uncharacteristic behavior. I know from personal experience it is difficult to recognize these changes in one's self.
needed to quit taking them (slowly)
I would also concur on the slow withdrawal. Under no circumstances should the antidepressant patient discontinue abruptly, even if the doctor says so (unless hospitalized). Wise patients will taper down over what seems like a ridiculously prolonged period, to maybe 1/10 tablet. Again, I speak from personal experience on (SSRI/SNRI) discontinuation syndrome.
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