Hi everyone. I have recently been diagnosed with CFS/ ME. Has anyone tried low doses of anti-deppressants to assist with the symptoms? Has it helped?
I am taking antidepressant 75 mg morning and 112.5 mg in the night to tackle CFS for many years.
in boxed u .
they might but never me . made me wrose .
My son was offered them by his doctor too but said he wasn't depressed and didn't need them. Its a blurry area as CFS isn't depression so why would you take anti depressants. I could imagine CFC would bring on depression because it wears you down. I think doctors hand anti depressants out too freely so I would suggest you see another doctor for a second opinion. Do you feel depressed? If you do then maybe you need them.
Hi , my son was diagnosed with cfs in April last yr following a serious rtc when you have cfs yr serotonin levels and norphrinephrine levels can drop in a high percentage of sufferers making you feel very low, when you feel low the pain and fatigue increases and a vicious cycle evolves. He was commenced on venlafaxine 37.5mg twice daily and increased gradually to 75mg twice daily within 8 weeks we noticed a massive difference he's back at work now up to 36 hours he's socialising with friends going to pictures etc which he hasn't done since jan2012 this medication along with another drug duloxetine have been researched and found to improve symptoms in fm cfs/me patients as vice chair for 3yrs of a local support group quite a few of our members take duloxetine the venlafaxine was prescribed by a consultant who wrote and asked my so s gp to issue it
Paxil helped with anxiety at first--then caused it. The only effective med I've ever taken was about 40 mg of doxepin, prescribed by a doctor at UCLA. I immediately felt better after taking this. But didn't last.
Amitriptyline is one of the old type anti depressants that is used to help the pain assoiciated with ME/CFS... it seems to work best in small doses.. I myself started on 10mg, but after a bad relapse last year had to double it to 20 due to bad nerve pain which was a new syptom for me after 20 years of suffering with the condition. Amitriptyline is also excellent if you have sleeping issues.. which most people with CFS seem to have it helps your brian to shut off and so helps you fall asleep. Also halps with anxiety and stress syptoms too. Ive been on it now for 4 years and i doubt i could cope without all the benefits i have gotten from talking it. ONly down side is it gives you an apetite so you will gain a little weight.. but for me the benefits far out weigh the one side effect i have had.
I am having panic disorder as well as depression so I am taking antidepressant for many years.
Hi All. Thank you so much for the feedback.
The psychaitrist prescribed 90mg of dulotextrine (hope i spelt iit correctly).
I have decided that I will give it 2 more months. I am pacing and finding that i am having more good days then bad and I am slowly getting back to a "normal life". But should the symptoms be unbareable, I will take them in July.
Hi Joerathinam
Thank you so much for the feedback.
The psychaitrist prescribed 90mg of dulotextrine (hope i spelt iit correctly).
I have decided that I will give it 2 more months. I am pacing and finding that i am having more good days then bad and I am slowly getting back to a "normal life". But should the symptoms be unbareable, I will take them in July.
Hope you live a happy life
Thanks Peter
I got your inbox. I hope you gpt mine.
I hope your symptoms decrease.
I also decided that I will not take them and will give my body 2 more months. I am pacing and finding that i am having more good days then bad and I am slowly getting back to a "normal life". But should the symptoms be unbareable, I will take them in July.
I am not depressed and show no signs of depression either.
That is why i am reluctant to take them.
Thank you for your feedback.
Hope your son is experiencing fewer symptoms.
I hope things get better for you with time and wishing you happier days with fewer symptoms. Thank you for sharing your story with me.
Wow! Thank you Susie. So much information here.
I havedecided to not take them and should the symptoms not decrease or become more manageable, I will take them in July. The psychaitrist prescribed 90mg of duloxetine, starting with 30mg, moving to 60mg and finally stabilising at 90mg.
You are correct. i experience the same thing, when I am feeling low. my symptoms flare up particularly the brain fog, pain and fatigue.
i have reserached the serotonin level and will ask my doctor for a test. I inhibit all the symtoms of low serotonin and found myself sittign in the sun alot. This is said to increase the serotonin levels. Guess it was my body telling me what it needs. Should i be diagnosed with low serotonin levels, i want to try 5-HTP (which is natural). I will keep you informed.
Oh goodness. I am sorry to hear that it did not last.
Hope your symptoms decrease. Thank you for your feedback.
Indeed. A little weight gain far outweighs the benefits.
I have decided to not take the antideppressant until July. Should the symptoms not subside or become manageable, I will take duloxetine.
Hi, my partner suffers with CFS and has had 4 episodes initially they believed low vitmin E which she had a booster with almost immediate effect then another episode where she had all test for thyroid, etc... this time Vit E jab made no difference but very low Iron levels which she know recieves tablets for, but she did all on her own come out of the episode by herseld this time even though going through morre test with a specialist she has struggled to fully recover and keep slipping back with some days unable to move from the couch and stop sleeping. Dhe has been perscribed low dosage antidepressents because the GP could see she was struggling mentally with be this disabilitated. She is a motivated person who is finding it hard coping with this. Do you believe the serotonin levels needs to be lifted more then they are????
Hi, i am just about to start taking Anti-deppressants for cfs/me from today . i am hopeing this will help with the painfull head. i sleep well but as soon as i get up in the morning the pain is there feely like i have not been to bed.
good news and not the anti dep are a quick fix NOT .
my cfs went up in smoke see things . so beware
I hope this helps you. You may want to start on a very low dosage and slowly increase it, to minimize side effects.