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SSRI , Lyme , Spine

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Posted 4/30/2018 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Any of the lyme patients on here on ssri long term or have spinal issues ? What has your experience been with these combined with lyme

Thank you
Posted 4/30/2018 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 4/30/2018 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also was wondering about SSRIS. I am affraid to take em. some say they were a life saver.
Posted 5/1/2018 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Can't say anything about ssri but have problems with my spine feeling swollen from lower back all the way into my head. When it flares up It pretty much disables me.
Posted 5/1/2018 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
I take cymbalta its not a ssri its a snri which is pretty similar. I would say it helps with my symptoms of pain that I have and anxiety/depression. I don't seem to have that zombie effect like others medications I tried in the past from it either.
Posted 5/2/2018 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I take pristiq. I've also been on effexor. In the past, the doctors have tried nearly every type of anti depressant, mood stabilizer and anti psychotic on me and they ALL make me worse. I refuse to try anything other then effexor or pristiq and I'm on lower doses then normal because I can't handle normal doses.

I also have herniated discs and cns involvement with the Lyme and Bart. I take tramadol for pain and anxiety. It's not common for Drs to give it for anxiety, but the normal meds don't work for me and this does. Again I'm on abnormally low doses because of my sensitivity.

My suggestion is that if you start them, listen to your body. Drs will try to get you to wait weeks to "adjust". I never adjusted to any of them even after two months. Some of them would make me suicidal almost overnight.

The tramadol is like an snri and the pristiq is an snri. SSRIs make me worse. You may be different or the opposite though. Good luck with whatever you choose smile
Posted 5/3/2018 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
In my experience SSRI's, I have tried quite a number of them (Lexapro or its generic equivalent escitalopram, citalopram, Venlafaxine, Duloxetine, Zoloft or sertraline) and they like Kalimyka's experience have all made me worse, like on a scale of 1-10, 10 being worst like a 8-9 level depression very close to the dark place and not a very peaceful area I might add. And I've rarely had that extreme depression, psych problems except maybe as a teenager (7 level) with angst.

And also similarly to Kalimyka here, I can only tolerate very low doses of Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) like 35mg and any more than that I'm flirting with a panic attack or seizure.

From what I've read (can't remember who or where) SSRIs and steroids are well known to aggravate Lyme and Co and are not recommended by expert LLMDs (this is the problem I have with Western psych medicine not seeing the physical side like I guess an ND would.)

I'm currently experimenting with Trintellix (Vortioxetine which is an SSRE or modulator with different MOA) and Trazodone for sleep (which I'm on good advice from a top LLMD will help me get much needed REM stage sleep). Trintellix is a pure agonist of HT1 (I think) so I get weird vivid dreams with the occasional frightful one with Trazodone.

Not prescribed here in the USA but I've found effective for mood, energy and pain are: Tianeptine Sodium (available as a supplement in personal supply less than 90 days has affinity for O-mu receptors and enhances serotonin uptake) and Phenylpiracetam (superior for focus, energy, fearlessness). Those are my go to's when I have money which is never lol.

And to chime in about having low grade meningitis all the time that pretty much worsens with poorer diet, unless I fast which then it starts to eat itself and eliminate slowly. The low grade fevers/meningitis are worrisome.
Posted 5/3/2018 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
borrelioburgdorferii, interesting you mentioned fasting.

I started fasting, and felt a good increase in energy after the first week and have been able to sustain it by following this new diet.

Lexapro help me a long time ago, but I don't like the side effects and that wired feeling SSRI's give so I rather be slightly depressed.. which has gotten better over time.
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