When did you decide just to take the blue pill?

I think many of us wouldn't be on meds if we got substantial relief from chiro/massage/acu, but even though I get intermittent relief from those, they don't address the long-term, sometimes excruciating pain that comes with fibro -- particularly during flares. The longer I had the symptoms, the more depressed I got, so I guess I looked at the antidepressant as being dual purpose. I don't regret that decision.

I was on antidepressants before I got fibromyalgia. So I don't really know if they help with the pain or not. But they help with the depression so I am happy with that.

What are you going to take? Just curious.


Hugs, Karen...

Please consider trying a second or 3rd type if the first doesn't work for you.

I tried them after I realized I could not feel joy
Knew I WANTED to feel joy
Just could not.

Tried 3 different ones - just could not - wish I could!!

Wishing you the best

I like the Matrix reference :)

Like CrushFibro, I realized my quality of life had gotten so bad that I had to try it (I resisted too, walked around with the prescription for at least a week before I filled it.) It wasn't magic, but it did help...

Sorry, Dianne! I wish you could find something that works for you.

Debbie

for those who are taking an antidepressant, did
you experience weight gain? I'd rather avoid
it if possible :)

Bella

The first med I took was for HBP so I got used to taking meds that way, too. Starting 30 years ago I took 6 or 7 different kinds of Antidepressants for pain. None of them worked until I took Amitriptyline. After several years that stopped working and now I take nortriptyline, 40 mgs. at bedtime. It also helps me sleep. I'm sure of this because my sleep dr. recently had me stop all my medications one at a time to see if they were helping me and they do. I also take Lyrica and it helps me sleep. but I did gain 30 pounds that I have now lost, fortunately. Dinae

Bella, I gained weight on the first antidepressant (Zoloft) because at the time I was simply too complacent and didn't care. If you approach it with the right attitude and focus yourself on healthy eating and doing whatever exercise you can (even walking) you can stay ahead of the game.

I recently decided to make a positive change in my life and so far I have lost close to 15 pounds -- just doing a slow, gradual change by charting my calories and exercise on myfitnesspal.com. I also started physical therapy and pool therapy to help me start moving again.

Like others have mentioned, I had to try numerous meds before I found what worked for me. For awhile I was just fed up, but my doctor encouraged me to try to be patient -- that she wasn't giving up on helping me, and eventually we made progress. Along the way I tried Zoloft, Lyrica, Lexapro, Savella (twice), Prozac, Amitriptylene, Viibryd, and I don't remember what else. But eventually we tried Cymbalta and I found improvement both mentally and physically. (I will say when we switched to generic in February 2014 I had a major setback, so we switched back to namebrand in April and I am much better again.)

I hope that your period of trial and error isn't as long as mine was, but most of all I hope you find a bit of relief somewhere along the way.

Nortriptyline did not help my pain at all, just made me sleepy. I went a whole year with no meds (except tramdol for the nights the pain kept me awake) in order to get in touch with what fibro was…I wanted to look mine in the face and have a good go without meds if possible.
about a month ago, I assessed the quality of my life and realized how compromised I was becoming due to the pain. I just went back on Savella, which is a drug that helped me in the past, but "poops out" eventually. I tried Cymbalta next, and it helped with the pain but I hated how complacent my head became…I just did not care too much about things that had always mattered to me. I had a hard time coming off the Cymbalta…lots of dizziness and stomach issues for weeks on end as I titrated off and even for weeks after. Anyway, medication is a personal decision and I am right now feeling so much better back on the Savella. It is a great relief to have less pain.

One antidepressant that doesn't cause weight gain is wellbutrin. It can actually help you lose weight. It gives you energy and helps you think clear.

I take pristiq and I didn't have weight gain, but as posted above, everybody is different.

I wish you the best...

Hugs, Karen...

Bella
You asked me if the meds did not work.
I could not tolerate the side effects so did not take them long enough to know.

Lyrica was fabulous - for about an hour.. then my feet started swelling, then my legs.. & turning rosy colored... fortunately I had taken tiny dose.

I was reminded of how very wonderful it is to not be in pain.

Good luck

No weight gain here....loss, in fact, though who knows why.

I'm glad the Nortriptyline made you feel better, at least for a day.

Debbie

Thanks everyone!

I have taken 4 doses of nortriptyline and 2 of the days following were much better; the first was not pain free but my mood was quite good. Then a day of moderate pain, less cheerful. Yesterday I had a very good day actually with little pain all day. Now this morning I can feel some pain, but it is not too bad.

I did just realize that I have only used tramadol twice in the last 3 days so that is quite different.

Too early to say if it's the meds that are doing this, but I am encouraged enough to keep going with them. Will probably increase to 20mg a night on Monday to see what happens then.

Bella