How many of you use antidepressants, and would you say they've been worthwhile?

Just curious.

I doubt I'll pursue pharmacological therapy; I've always been the "I'm sad, because I'm sick" type, and neglected to bother. Even before Lyme disease, I had this distaste for the idea of altering my brain chemistry and being tied to some pill.

Nowadays, while I can't say I understand the exact sciences behind how the drugs interact with our brains, but I understand that it's a very real process and the rationale behind people using them. Still, I guess I'm clinging to the idealist in that I'd prefer my brain be right on its own. Even if I did, as long as I've been at it, I don't know if I have 2-4 weeks to wait, or if I can stomach any adverse side effects. The few times I've trialed them, it was only for a week or so, and I always quit r/t feelings of flatness, suicidal thoughts, or what have you. We've been learning about them in class, right? Funny.

Honestly, it's just the brain inflammation. I'm pretty good about picking myself up and trudging on, without it. Oh well, such is the way. I'll drown, if it's meant to be. Just do my very best, and see where I end up.

Anyway, just thought I'd determine the consensus on antidepressants among my Lymie friends.

I know, many of you hurt, too. All of you, likely. It's a lot to read, also. I'll live, if no one comes around. I appreciate everyone, though.

Thank you!

Im depressed as hell, but am wary of taking antidepressants from reading peoples experiences... Plus, yay another pill

I just posted about my experience on the other thread from Lovingmama about her daughter’s suicidal thoughts.

After struggling with the AD madness for 15 years, and learning to live without them, I am 100% against the use of them. Obviously, if you take them, don’t quit cold turkey, but I strongly, strongly, with every fiber of my being caution you to not go down that path.

I believe there IS a chemical imbalance, but I do NOT believe that for millions of people it’s just hereditary. The food we eat today is garbage. There are no natural nutrients left. The pollution and chemicals we contact every day affect hormones. There are plenty of external factors to mess with our bodies. Pfizer has the solution because they invented the problem!

My depression is a tangle of bad nutrition (I denied that before because I “tried eating healthy” and it didn’t work- turns out “healthy” is an abused marketing term. Nothing in the grocery store is healthy!), imbalanced hormones, adrenals, thyroid, and neurotransmitters. And the commiserating that is so popular nowadays as an awareness campaign that depression is normal. I appreciate removing the stigma- I know we are hurting and mental health problems are not our fault - but the constant memes about how anxiety and depression are okay are NOT okay! They allow people to wallow in the negative submission to “its in my genes” instead of doing something about it. And positive thinking is HUGE.

I am still on 1 Wellbutrin a day, because no one will help me get off- the MD’s know Babs and Bart cause depression and are afraid to remove that bandaid. One tried to raise my dose when I fell into depression again. I tried, my brain went nuts, and I said no no no never again!

I, however, am finding the foods and supplement I take are helping. I have to cut out my mood trigger foods, stop being lax with my B vitamins, and add more Tyrosine. As I do that, I’m only taking a Wellbutrin every other day (without telling my doc). I feel GREAT.

My Naturopath has changed my life. She’s all medical and nutritional and supplements. I trust her because there is no “alternative therapies” or “energy healing” or whatnot in her practice. Not that those things can’t work, I just remain skeptical and can’t see the proof on paper or tests. She gives me hard evidence.

I’ve focused on the healing- I won’t go into the details of the misery I’ve suffered at the hands of pharmaceuticals. It’s not a thought I want to dwell on right now. I will say that I’ve heard multiple times my last drug, Effexor, is like getting off heroin. The withdrawal is THAT bad. Only we don’t get support groups or meetings or campaigns or PR... we have to pretend we’re normal and go to work and be a decent human being, all while completely breaking down mentally and physically. Everyone loves a “drugs kill” campaign, but if I try to speak out that “antidepressants kill”, it’s not PC and I’m an anti-vaxxer self-righteous quack.

There’s no winning on ADs. You can pull ahead for a few months or years. But you lose every time.


For example now I have to write a disclaimer:
*** If you use antidepressants to survive, I am not judging you. I fully recognize that in the daily grind of life, you need help just to live. While there may be alternatives, most people do not have the luxury of dropping everything and spending $$$$ on support, tests, herbals not covered by insurance, a family to understand your meltdown, etc. It is a necessary crutch.

My recommendation, IF you are not satisfied with ADs (if you are, great! Stop reading!) is to use the crutch until you can save up a few thousand dollars (that’s not necessary at once, but assuming you crash and burn and can’t work, you need a backup). The next time you need to change your meds, since you’re going to go through a little bit of hell anyway, use that opportunity to go off them completely. Find a ND to help you through it- BEFORE you go off might be more gentle, but during or after the taper still helps.

Without a doctor or lab tests, two things you CAN do to help yourself in the meantime- find out about real food and nutrition. It’s huge. Eat real whole foods, avoid anything in a box, container, or can as much as possible. Don’t eat out anywhere that doesn’t provide you a source of ingredients (that limits your options but extreme is necessary to get over sugar and processed food addiction). That’s a learning curve - start with one or two foods a week you eliminate or change. Buy plain yogurt and add your own jam or tiny bit of sugar until you can eat it plain. Reduce the sugar in your coffee or tea until you can drink it without. Make conscious effort to have 2-3 vegetables every day (corn is not a vegetable, potatoes don’t count). And TWO- practice positive thinking, maybe with the help of YouTube videos on how positive thoughts can actually change the structure of your brain. Turn every complaint into a positive or at least try to understand from the other perspective.

But disclaimer again: if your antidepressants are saving your life and are necessary for you right now, ignore my opinion.

When I was at the height of my anxiety, my doctor prescribed anti-depressants. I filled the prescription just in case, but I never used them. I'm like you, I want my body to heal on its own.

I take CBD and I've started incorporating helpful tricks. When the depression hits, I realize it's the lyme. It's all how you look at it. I look at depression as part of the emotional cleansing. I cry, I let it all out. I listen to music, I let myself be in the moment. Since I started doing that, it's not as bad. I meditate, I rest.

Drinking more water and detoxing have been big helps. Tell yourself it's part of the process and ride it through. Put on music. Singing lifts your mood. Sometimes I just sing. My cats hate it. I also figure it's *just* feeling bad. I feel bad all the time, I can feel a little worse for an hour. Depression and pain are in the mind. If Buddist monks can control it, so can we ;) The trick is to catch yourself spiraling and immediately do something about it. Whatever that is. Do something good for yourself.

Actually thought I'd try out some of Woodland Essence's "Calm the Cascade" blend. It just arrived today. We'll see how that goes.

Their new website is so cool btw. I hadn't ordered from them in like a year.

I have tried several at the request of doctors who were trying to solve my pain and anxiety. They have always made me feel disembodied or affected my perception, but not in a good way.

ChickenArise said...
I have tried several at the request of doctors who were trying to solve my pain and anxiety. They have always made me feel disembodied or affected my perception, but not in a good way.

My psychiatrist always made me feel the two were seperate issues while I was trying to explain to him that this was different because I never felt anything like this before. It is like my identity has been stripped and I am in chains. I have turned into someone else. It is crazy.

magoo2 said...
curing the infection will most likely cure the depression. Treating the depression will never cure the infection. Be very careful with meds the mess with brain chemistry

You are right!

NotQuiteAntonio said...
Just curious.

Anyway, just thought I'd determine the consensus on antidepressants among my Lymie friends.

Thank you!

In my experience, when I started on Prozac this year when my emotional side of lyme emerged: Depression, Panic attacks and anxiety it did absolutely nothing for me, whereas in the past it worked like a charm.

Ok... so maybe it pooped out, so I went back to the doctor and he put me on Remeron. That drug not only did not work but worsened my symptoms. I could not even lift my arms and I felt like I had the flu. I was really sick. I even tried an experimental treatment-low dose ketamine. This is supposed to work miracles for depression. Not only did it also not work, but it made me trip out all day, worsen my depression, was hung over for 3 days and I couldn't think straight for a week.

I am done with drugs! Forget about 5-htp and St.Johns wort. Nothing!There has to be another way.

chrisespo said...

NotQuiteAntonio said...
Just curious.

Ok... so maybe it pooped out, so I went back to the doctor and he put me on Remeron. That drug not only did not work but worsened my symptoms. I could not even lift my arms and I felt like I had the flu. I was really sick. I even tried an experimental treatment-low dose ketamine.

ok! so this fits perfectly with my theory that lyme suppresses Acetylcholine levels. REmeron also suppresses Acetylcholine, which would make lyme symptoms worse!

you need to raise your Acetylcholine. we are working on a protocol to do that

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3928795

its basically Huperzine A + EGCG + Alpha-GPC (uridine + DHA also recommended). there is some actual science behind it, check it out.