Antidepressants

soxfan

soxfan

Senior Member
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995
Location
North Carolina
I had the exact same problem with celexa...my doctor wanted to try it because it had the least side effects. I was only taking a 1/4 of the pill and couldn't tolerate it at all. I went to work one day and felt like I was walking on air. A few mornings later I woke up to see my eyes bugging out of my head. I was terribly hungover all the time.
I was only on for 10 days but when I tried to quit I had a headache so bad I thought my head was going to explode so I had to taper even at that low dose.

I have been having great success with Wellbutrin SR. I started low at 150mg in the am and am now on 150mg twice a day. I make sure to take it by 3pm so I don't have any sleep problems. It has worked the best for me and since I have very low serotonin levels it helps with that too...

It has been the only A/D I could tolerate....
 
soxfan

soxfan

Senior Member
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995
Location
North Carolina
I am not really sure....my doctor prescribed the 150mg since that is what I have taken before...I could ask him though and see if that is a better option..thank you! Love the picture!
 
m1she11e

m1she11e

Senior Member
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333
Location
Florida
Thanks Soxfan,

Maybe I will give the Wellbutrin a try at some point? If you dont mind me asking....Did it help with energy or any physical symptoms or did you take it for depression? Its funny when Doctors ask if I have any depression. I have to think about it because being sick every day of your life does kinda get you down!! I realize most studies dont show anti depressants to be effective in CFS but on occasion it seems to really help people. I guess like everything else.....

Yankees fan ;)
 
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Rand56

Senior Member
Messages
675
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Many years ago when I had typical MDD...high anxiety, no appetite, not much sleep...Zoloft helped me more than any others and I took a boatload of them, although had the sexual side effects from it. Now I have the atypical variety, low DA/NE and will be doing Wellbutrin whenever I get it in my head that going the natural supps route is fruitless.

Also, I can't even take a warm to hot shower or bath anymore. Makes my depression worse temporarily till I return to baseline. On the flip side of that, cold showers make me feel better temporarily till I return to baseline. From what I understand, the cold shower releases NE.
 
soxfan

soxfan

Senior Member
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995
Location
North Carolina
It does help with fatigue and energy..which of course could be symptoms of depression. I am not totally sure I am depressed but having just gone through a rough emotional time I figured to give it a try. I never had any side effects from it in the past so I saw no reason not to take it again. . If in a few months I don't feel it is making a difference then I will go off it...

My son is a Yankee fan !
 
beaverfury

beaverfury

beaverfury
Messages
503
Location
West Australia
nanonug said:
I am somewhat convinced that the fatigue in ME/CFS is mainly due to low dopamine. I am even more convinced of this if the person exhibits the typical "brain fog" symptom. Therefore, taking an SSRI and increasing serotonin is going to further cause a relative reduction in dopamine. The solution is then to go with something such as Wellbutrin XL. This is what people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (my hypothesis for ME/CFS) take for depression.
Click to expand...

I want to get my hands on a dopaminergic or noradrenergic to increase energy and motivation.
Wellbutrin is not available on prescription in Oz. I have ordered Deprenyl to see how that goes.

Years before getting cfs i took Remeron(mirtazapine). I had more zip than the energizer bunny on amphetamine ice cream.
xks201 posted an interesting link http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/Bains.pdf using adrenergic agonists or renin angiotensin system agonists to increase energy production.

I would be worried though that such agonists would put further strain on the HPA axis, considering that noradrenaline may have been a culprit in downgrading the HPA axis response to cortisol in the first place? (Not sure about this).

In other words, will it make it worse in the long run, and what happens when you come off them?

Along with motivation and energy benefits, Remeron come with a truckload of side effects, which is not surprising considering it plays with this many receptors:
Mirtazapine is an antagonist/inverse agonist at the following receptors:[62][63]
Mirtazapine has also shown affinity towards the norepinephrine transporter and perhaps also (results of test unspecified) the serotonin and dopamine transporter:
I would be interested to hear if anyone with me/cfs got any clear benefit from noradrenergics or dopaminergics.
I wouldnt touch SSRI's at all.
 
xks201

xks201

Senior Member
Messages
740
That Bains study I posted is somewhat oversimplified. Not everyone has an overactive parasympathetic nervous system. I would say most CFS patients are overly sympathetic and would probably have chest palps if given a beta agonist. There are a LOT of possibilities.
 
I

IreneF

Senior Member
Messages
1,552
Location
San Francisco
I take trazodone for sleep. It works very well if I am sleepy when I go to bed, which is usually at about 2AM. For a while I took rozerem, which worked well to induce sleep, but I'm not taking it right now because of the pain of dealing with the insurance company.

I also take cymbalta for depression. It is the only drug that helps, and I have taken the gamut from A to Z. I don't think it does anything for pain, but I've been taking it for longer than I've had serious CFS, so who knows. The only side effects I have are sexual, which is too bad, but not much of an issue since I'm so tired and achy anyway.
 
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taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
Rand56 said:
Also, I can't even take a warm to hot shower or bath anymore. Makes my depression worse temporarily till I return to baseline. On the flip side of that, cold showers make me feel better temporarily till I return to baseline. From what I understand, the cold shower releases NE.
Click to expand...

Maybe cold shower thou is helping more blood be getting to your brain as your body focuses the most of keeping your most vital parts warm and the blood to them when a person is cold
 
R

Rand56

Senior Member
Messages
675
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
taniaaust1 said:
Maybe cold shower thou is helping more blood be getting to your brain as your body focuses the most of keeping your most vital parts warm and the blood to them when a person is cold
Click to expand...

hi tania

Good point. I never thought about that as a possibility. Anyone know the best supp to take to increase blood flow? I've heard some people say Vinpocetine isn't worth a darn. I've tried Ginkgo before. Also, would any of them be safe to take with Wellbutrin?

Rand
 
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taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
Rand56 said:
hi tania

Good point. I never thought about that as a possibility. Anyone know the best supp to take to increase blood flow? I've heard some people say Vinpocetine isn't worth a darn. I've tried Ginkgo before. Also, would any of them be safe to take with Wellbutrin?

Rand
Click to expand...

If you do have an issue with low blood flow.. and have ME.. its probably then related rather to low blood volume which is a very common issue in ME patients.

Low blood volume can sometimes be helped some by salt loading (taking a lot of salt) and drinking a lot water or hydration products. Others of us need drugs such as Florinef to help boost our blood volume. There is also the option of graded medical support stockings to help keep more blood in the brain (helps push it up from the legs better.

Ginkgo.. was no help to me.. (LOTS of water and salt thou did help a wee bit).
 
R

Rand56

Senior Member
Messages
675
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
taniaaust1 said:
If you do have an issue with low blood flow.. and have ME.. its probably then related rather to low blood volume which is a very common issue in ME patients.

Low blood volume can sometimes be helped some by salt loading (taking a lot of salt) and drinking a lot water or hydration products. Others of us need drugs such as Florinef to help boost our blood volume. There is also the option of graded medical support stockings to help keep more blood in the brain (helps push it up from the legs better.

Ginkgo.. was no help to me.. (LOTS of water and salt thou did help a wee bit).
Click to expand...

hi tania

Is there a specific test to detect low blood volume or would a basic CMP show this?

Rand
 
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