Antidepressants

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know if antidepressants cause liver disease? The results of my

biopsy suggested drug induced liver disease.

J

>From: MDGiver@...

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>

>My doctor told me that Prozac is really bad on the liver. Most depressants

>are. Have you gotten a second oppinion?

>

>---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Kathy, I take 40mg of prozac a day. have to take it to survive my severe

clinical depression. I get suicidal without it.

susanj

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>Subject: Re: [ ]antidepressants

>Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 16:16:51 EDT

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>From: KATBERCOO@...

>

>Dear :

>

>What antideppressant are you on? Some of them can cause stress on the

>liver.

> Most drugs metabolize through the liver. Since so many people in the

>group

>have mentioned being on antidepressants, it makes me wonder if there is

>connection, too.

>

>Kathy (AIH)

>Seattle area

>

>---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dear :

What antideppressant are you on? Some of them can cause stress on the liver.

Most drugs metabolize through the liver. Since so many people in the group

have mentioned being on antidepressants, it makes me wonder if there is

connection, too.

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

Dear :

I hope that you're able to get it worked out with your doctor. It's tough

when the drugs we take to help us can also harm us in so many ways. Maybe an

alternative can be found. Good luck. Take care!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

exactly. Lynn

susan johnson wrote:

> From: " susan johnson " <shireen42@...>

>

> Kathy, I take 40mg of prozac a day. have to take it to survive my severe

> clinical depression. I get suicidal without it.

>

> susanj

>

> >From: KATBERCOO@...

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> >Subject: Re: [ ]antidepressants

> >Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 16:16:51 EDT

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> >From: KATBERCOO@...

> >

> >Dear :

> >

> >What antideppressant are you on? Some of them can cause stress on the

> >liver.

> > Most drugs metabolize through the liver. Since so many people in the

> >group

> >have mentioned being on antidepressants, it makes me wonder if there is

> >connection, too.

> >

> >Kathy (AIH)

> >Seattle area

> >

> >---------------------------

[Guest guest]

One can have toxic hepatitis which is what the doctors would call

hepatitis due to an antidepressant. I did some research on this early in

my discovery about hepatitis. In the cases cited, the hepatitis started

very soon after the antidepressant (Prozac in these cases) was started

and went away when the drug was withdrawn. Such cases are very rare;

otherwise, Prozac and it's competing brethern would not be prescribed as

often as they are.

I have chronic cortisteriod responsive hepatitis - AIH except they

couldn't tell clearly from the tests. I was taking Prozac for about 6

years before I developed the AIH but was not taking Prozac at the time.

I now take Zoloft. I also have taken Paxil but it makes me sleepy. The

psychiatrist I talked to at the Cleveland Clinic for my liver transplant

evaluation was planning a study on the use of Paxil for patients with

liver disease and depression. He hypothesized that Paxil was least

harmful for the liver.

I also have taken trazadone which my GI likes because it is not

metabolized through the liver. This also makes me sleepy and was the

only way I could get more than 2 hours sleep a night when I was taking

40-60 mg of prednisone. However, it is not a strong enough

antidepressant for me.

susan johnson wrote:

>

> From: " susan johnson " <shireen42@...>

>

> Does anyone know if antidepressants cause liver disease? The results of my

> biopsy suggested drug induced liver disease.

>

> J

>

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> >From: MDGiver@...

> >

> >My doctor told me that Prozac is really bad on the liver. Most depressants

> >are. Have you gotten a second oppinion?

> >

> >---------------------------

[Guest guest]

You need to stop taking prozac. It is the worst anti-D to be on. Ask your

liver Doctor....

You need to cut down to 20 for a week or two and then 10 for a week and

then stop.

For goodness sakes, don't just stop cold turkey or you will be suicidal...

Glad you let the other issue stop...

[Guest guest]

Try ST. 's Wort...

[Guest guest]

I hope that all of you on antidepressants are getting good information from

a LL psychiatrist or just from any good psychiatrist. GP's are generally not

known for their ability to prescribe psychotropics competently because each

drug - Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Celexa, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Remeron, Serzone

(have I got most of them?) has slightly differently effects. Some work

better with panic, some better with vegetative kinds of state, some have few

sexual side effects but don't work as well, some are more activating, some

more sedating and figuring out the right dosage and sometimes combination of

drugs is critical. It's similar to figuring out which and what combination

of abx's are useful. I've seen so many people in my practice go from one

antidepressant to the next, or give up all together because they weren't

being carefully followed by a doctor w/ a lot of experience with these

drugs. Different people react very differently to the same drug; it's a very

subtle art to find the right one at the right dosage.

My two cents. (I don't prescribe, but as a psychotherapist and a person

who's struggled w/ depression, panic attacks and anxiety, I've gained a lot

of experience with these drugs.) I've tried almost all of the above. Oddly,

I think because of late neuro Lyme, Ritalin seems to work the best for me.

For obvious reasons, my doctor hesitated to prescribe it, but it has been a

small miracle for me not only for depression but for brain fog as well. I

don't mention this to suggest Ritalin might be right for you, just to say

that finding the right one has taken a lot of trial and error. Many of these

drugs worked for short periods for me and then stopped. A few of them work

well for me if I feel I'm falling into a big dark RUT or into panic states.

beth

SF, CA

Re: [ ] Why we suffer...my reasoning.

> From: lisa86@...

>

> Vicki,

>

> My doctor just switched me from Prozac to Effexor. I've been on it for a

> little over a week and the worst thing I've noticed so far is extreme

> dry-mouth. I'm still waiting for the results of my ELISA test, so I'm not

> even officially diagnosed. She just felt that the Prozac was no longer

> helping my depression and panic attacks.

>

>

>

> > Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I tried Zoloft and wasn't right for me. My doctor seems be informed, he

explained very carefully to me which each one does, and he wanted me to go

with either prozac or effexor. But he really stressed how much he liked

effexor because (I will try to get this right) it targets the Serotonin, and

I think Dopamine, and he explained most of these anti-depressants only take

care of one of those. He started me on a low dose and gradually increased,

I'm up to 75 mg and can go as far as 225mg/day, he told me to stay on 75mg

until I see him next, which would be 4weeks from the day I started. Do you

think he is doing okay with just trying this with me, or do you think it

would be much better for me to see a Psychiatrist? Thanks for your input.

Vicki

Re: [ ] Antidepressants

>From: " beth Feldman " <elsbeth@...>

>

>I hope that all of you on antidepressants are getting good information from

>a LL psychiatrist or just from any good psychiatrist. GP's are generally

not

>known for their ability to prescribe psychotropics competently because each

>drug - Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Celexa, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Remeron, Serzone

>(have I got most of them?) has slightly differently effects. Some work

>better with panic, some better with vegetative kinds of state, some have

few

>sexual side effects but don't work as well, some are more activating, some

>more sedating and figuring out the right dosage and sometimes combination

of

>drugs is critical. It's similar to figuring out which and what combination

>of abx's are useful. I've seen so many people in my practice go from one

>antidepressant to the next, or give up all together because they weren't

>being carefully followed by a doctor w/ a lot of experience with these

>drugs. Different people react very differently to the same drug; it's a

very

>subtle art to find the right one at the right dosage.

>

>My two cents. (I don't prescribe, but as a psychotherapist and a person

>who's struggled w/ depression, panic attacks and anxiety, I've gained a lot

>of experience with these drugs.) I've tried almost all of the above. Oddly,

>I think because of late neuro Lyme, Ritalin seems to work the best for me.

>For obvious reasons, my doctor hesitated to prescribe it, but it has been a

>small miracle for me not only for depression but for brain fog as well. I

>don't mention this to suggest Ritalin might be right for you, just to say

>that finding the right one has taken a lot of trial and error. Many of

these

>drugs worked for short periods for me and then stopped. A few of them work

>well for me if I feel I'm falling into a big dark RUT or into panic states.

>

>beth

>SF, CA

> Re: [ ] Why we suffer...my reasoning.

>

>

>> From: lisa86@...

>>

>> Vicki,

>>

>> My doctor just switched me from Prozac to Effexor. I've been on it for a

>> little over a week and the worst thing I've noticed so far is extreme

>> dry-mouth. I'm still waiting for the results of my ELISA test, so I'm not

>> even officially diagnosed. She just felt that the Prozac was no longer

>> helping my depression and panic attacks.

>>

>>

>>

>> > Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme,

please.

>> /archives.cgi/

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>> the word " unsubscribe " ( " normal " is the opposite of " digest " ). Leave

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>

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[Guest guest]

It sounds like he's taking a reasonable approach. I think that it's

important to give each of these drugs at least 4 weeks to work. It's

important to work up slowly to full dosage and its important before giving

up on a particular drug to play w/ dosage and/or use it in combination with

something else, unless, of course, you're having very negative experiences.

Also, many of these drugs will either make you wired or sleepy for the first

few weeks. That effect almost always passes. Most people give up because,

especially for us Lymies, we don't need anything that makes us more fatigued

or foggy.

He's right about Effexor affecting both serotonin and dopamine receptors,

the only particularly problematic thing about Effexor, more than some of

the others, is that it has greater sexual side effects, but even that can be

dealt with by adding a low dose of another drug. I believe that Buspar, a

very mild anti-anxiety drug, at low doses can counter the sexual side effect

in some people. Also, as I recall, you have to take it Effexor 2x/day but if

it works who cares?

Again, I'm not a prescribing physician, but from my many years at the

sidelines, it sounds like your doctor's doing well by you.

I am curious about the difference in efficacy of antidepressants w/ Lymies

compared to the general population. I have an email out to a Lyme literate

psychiatrist posing that question. I'll let you know what I find out.

Let me know how it goes w/ Effexor. I like keeping track of these things.

beth

SF, CA

[Guest guest]

Thanks beth,

I'm going to talk to my doctor about the other anti-anxiety drug you talked

about, unless the sexual side affects subside, and the " Wired " side affects.

I really think that is why I'm having so much problem with sleeping. Thanks

for your input.

Vicki

Re: [ ] Antidepressants

>From: " beth Feldman " <elsbeth@...>

>

>It sounds like he's taking a reasonable approach. I think that it's

>important to give each of these drugs at least 4 weeks to work. It's

>important to work up slowly to full dosage and its important before giving

>up on a particular drug to play w/ dosage and/or use it in combination with

>something else, unless, of course, you're having very negative experiences.

>Also, many of these drugs will either make you wired or sleepy for the

first

>few weeks. That effect almost always passes. Most people give up because,

>especially for us Lymies, we don't need anything that makes us more

fatigued

>or foggy.

>

>He's right about Effexor affecting both serotonin and dopamine receptors,

>the only particularly problematic thing about Effexor, more than some of

>the others, is that it has greater sexual side effects, but even that can

be

>dealt with by adding a low dose of another drug. I believe that Buspar, a

>very mild anti-anxiety drug, at low doses can counter the sexual side

effect

>in some people. Also, as I recall, you have to take it Effexor 2x/day but

if

>it works who cares?

>

>Again, I'm not a prescribing physician, but from my many years at the

>sidelines, it sounds like your doctor's doing well by you.

>

>I am curious about the difference in efficacy of antidepressants w/ Lymies

>compared to the general population. I have an email out to a Lyme literate

>psychiatrist posing that question. I'll let you know what I find out.

>

>

>Let me know how it goes w/ Effexor. I like keeping track of these things.

>

>beth

>SF, CA

>

>>Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

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both the message and subject header.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

I have never taken Effexor but I am on Paxil, it is so true what

beth says, you must give the drug time to work, and you will eventually

stop having the fatigued foggy feeling. I think four weeks is a reasonable

time to discover if a certain drug is for you or not. As for the Neurontin,

I have taken that for a while. I started out with 300mg daily and worked my

way up to 900mg daily adding 100mg every few days. Some people I have heard

have the really fatigued, foggy effect from this drug, it did not do that

for me....maybe it was because I started out gradually. This drug too needs

time to work, I would give this four weeks also. I did notice a reduction of

the burning pains, and some of those electrical type buzzes that we get. I

still have quite a bit of nerve pain though and my doctor wants me to see

the neurologist before I increase the dosage. Although Neurontin is a

seizure type medicine, it has proved to be effective with nerve pains....for

that I am grateful!

I would hazard a guess that the symptoms you are suffering are strictly

from your Lyme disease, and not a result of the new meds. Trouble sleeping

is part of the disease process, hopefully it will pass as so many of our

other symptoms do. I can't comment about myofacia pain, mine seems to be

the deep bone pain, almost crushing in nature, it is targeting my legs, and

making walking extremely painful. I saw my Lyme doctor yesterday, and he

wants to let the neurologist deal with it, I think it is peripheral

neuropathies.... or nerve damage, I need to look that up on the net to find

out if I am right.

I'm sorry I can't explain why there is a bruise where you had pain a few

days before, that is scary....you should mention this to your doctor, I

would be interested in what he says.

Hang in there, better days are coming,

Hugs,'

Marta NJ

>From: " Vicki & Ferraro (home) " <ferraroa@...>

>Now - has anyone taking Effexor having bad side effects? Can't sleep at

>night at all and even if I'm exhausted I have to take ambien to get to

>sleep, dizziness, feverish, dry mouth? Or could it be the Neurotin? I just

>started taking both, but only tried the Neurotin (just switched from

>Dilantin) last night, felt all above symptoms today, started Effexor over

>two weeks ago. But I did take the Effexor on an empty stomach today,

>previously I've been taking in the p.m. (because that's usually when I'm

>up), I thought that might be my problem with sleeping, so today I started

>taking it first thing. Guess I should no better than taking anything on an

>empty stomach.

>

>But I am worried about taking Neurotin, I thought I could take it when I

>couldn't deal with my nerve pain, but the directions say don't skip a dose

>or discontinue without doctor's ok, is this for seizure patients you think?

>I only use it for nerve pain, not that I think its working for that. I know

>this email is getting long, but one more thing, last night after taking

>Neurotin, that burning sensation down my legs which my doc attributes to

>nerve pain, didn't go away, then my muscles were sore (not like atrophy, or

>over exertion) kind of like a bruised, raw exposed meat feeling, so a few

>hours later I took a flexerol, no help, does anyone think its neither pain,

>maybe its the myofacia? I've said something to this effect before and no

one

>responded. But the myofacia is the thin membrane over the muscle, anyone

>else experience this? It usually comes along with a feeling like a sudden

>bruise. Its as if someone invisible person just punched me hard, and I look

>expecting a bruise, but there isn't one just feels like one, but sometimes

>days later there is a bruise there. Any comments are much appreciated - I

>feel crazy trying to explain it to my doctor.

>

>Thanks

>Good wishes to all

>Vicki

[Guest guest]

Hi Marta,

When I explain the bruise pain to him, he says its because my immune system

is weakened and it causes your capillaries to also be weak. I keep worrying

I'm going to have a stroke. One part on top of my head feels bruised. He

doesn't seem too concerned about it. I really need to get him to refer me to

a neurologist. The pain you described - crushing bone, I sometimes get too,

but its hard to explain, but I to think its neuropathy.

But I can walk okay, it usually hurts the most when I lay down to (TRY) to

go to sleep. I can lay down in the afternoon and it bothers me a little, but

when I try to sleep its worse, maybe what they say about pain being worse

during the night is true. Good luck, let me know what your neurologist

thinks.

Vicki

Re: [Lyme-aid] Antidepressants

>From: " J & M McCoy " <mlmccoy@...>

>

>Hi Vicki,

> I have never taken Effexor but I am on Paxil, it is so true what

>beth says, you must give the drug time to work, and you will

eventually

>stop having the fatigued foggy feeling. I think four weeks is a reasonable

>time to discover if a certain drug is for you or not. As for the

Neurontin,

>I have taken that for a while. I started out with 300mg daily and worked

my

>way up to 900mg daily adding 100mg every few days. Some people I have

heard

>have the really fatigued, foggy effect from this drug, it did not do that

>for me....maybe it was because I started out gradually. This drug too

needs

>time to work, I would give this four weeks also. I did notice a reduction

of

>the burning pains, and some of those electrical type buzzes that we get. I

>still have quite a bit of nerve pain though and my doctor wants me to see

>the neurologist before I increase the dosage. Although Neurontin is a

>seizure type medicine, it has proved to be effective with nerve

pains....for

>that I am grateful!

> I would hazard a guess that the symptoms you are suffering are strictly

>from your Lyme disease, and not a result of the new meds. Trouble sleeping

>is part of the disease process, hopefully it will pass as so many of our

>other symptoms do. I can't comment about myofacia pain, mine seems to be

>the deep bone pain, almost crushing in nature, it is targeting my legs, and

>making walking extremely painful. I saw my Lyme doctor yesterday, and he

>wants to let the neurologist deal with it, I think it is peripheral

>neuropathies.... or nerve damage, I need to look that up on the net to find

>out if I am right.

> I'm sorry I can't explain why there is a bruise where you had pain a few

>days before, that is scary....you should mention this to your doctor, I

>would be interested in what he says.

> Hang in there, better days are coming,

>Hugs,'

>Marta NJ

>

>

>>From: " Vicki & Ferraro (home) " <ferraroa@...>

>>Now - has anyone taking Effexor having bad side effects? Can't sleep at

>>night at all and even if I'm exhausted I have to take ambien to get to

>>sleep, dizziness, feverish, dry mouth? Or could it be the Neurotin? I just

>>started taking both, but only tried the Neurotin (just switched from

>>Dilantin) last night, felt all above symptoms today, started Effexor over

>>two weeks ago. But I did take the Effexor on an empty stomach today,

>>previously I've been taking in the p.m. (because that's usually when I'm

>>up), I thought that might be my problem with sleeping, so today I started

>>taking it first thing. Guess I should no better than taking anything on an

>>empty stomach.

>>

>>But I am worried about taking Neurotin, I thought I could take it when I

>>couldn't deal with my nerve pain, but the directions say don't skip a dose

>>or discontinue without doctor's ok, is this for seizure patients you

think?

>>I only use it for nerve pain, not that I think its working for that. I

know

>>this email is getting long, but one more thing, last night after taking

>>Neurotin, that burning sensation down my legs which my doc attributes to

>>nerve pain, didn't go away, then my muscles were sore (not like atrophy,

or

>>over exertion) kind of like a bruised, raw exposed meat feeling, so a few

>>hours later I took a flexerol, no help, does anyone think its neither

pain,

>>maybe its the myofacia? I've said something to this effect before and no

>one

>>responded. But the myofacia is the thin membrane over the muscle, anyone

>>else experience this? It usually comes along with a feeling like a sudden

>>bruise. Its as if someone invisible person just punched me hard, and I

look

>>expecting a bruise, but there isn't one just feels like one, but sometimes

>>days later there is a bruise there. Any comments are much appreciated - I

>>feel crazy trying to explain it to my doctor.

>>

>>Thanks

>>Good wishes to all

>>Vicki

>

>>Send to -Offtopiconelist messages unrelated to lyme, please.

>/archives.cgi/

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both the message and subject header.

>

[Guest guest]

I fear I may have offended people with my anecdotal info on

antidepressants. It was offered in the spirit of one person's story,

lived the hard way, to persuade people to think a little about how

to go on/taper off antidepressants, or find other remedies.

I thought I made the point that before antidepressants, the suicide rate

was much much higher.

" Before they had antidepressants, they had a whole host of phrases, i.e.

" Kick the Bucket " which referred to the high frequency of suicide in the

culture. Suicide was quite a common occurence, housewives would hang

themselves in the basement, in the closet, etc, and kick the bucket out

from under themselves. Men would jump - out windows, off bridges, etc.

Antidepressants changed all that and can be a good thing, but they can

really screw you up, too. "

My point was to make people aware that *which* antidepressant can make a

world of difference and that there are often side effects. A prescribing

psychiatrist (you don't go into your life, you just discuss symptoms

and he prescribes every few months) can alleviate some of the severe

difficulties that regular docs may not be aware of - - such as tapering

off, which one is suited for the particular symptoms which you have, etc.

A second message is to consider alternatives. This was not intended to

pressure people that they are wimps for taking medication. I am drawing

attention to the fact that if you are a female, doctors are very quick

to trivialize what is going on with you - in my case it was organic (LD),

not mental (although I am probably mental by now!). Oftentimes we don't

stop to evaluate what is really getting us down, we just cover it.

For many women it can be a feeling of being overwhelmed by being in

the 90's with so many expectations of us. This was a big thing with me,

I was absolutely depressed that I could not manage it all.

Thus the housekeeper.

There was no intention on my part to trivialize anyone's particular situ-

ation. Just to say listen to yourself and see whether there are other

alternatives that would work better and address the situation.

With antidepressants, my house was still disorganized due to back injury

and more. With a cleaning lady, one aspect of my dilemna was resolved.

I have found with many young people - and I am around many for various

involvements, they desparately feel isolated and just need people to

listen, listen, listen. I think adults have the same needs at critical

parts in our lives. I don't mean we should throw away all of our meds

and just blab, but a concerned listener can sometimes make a big

difference, or hearing how someone else got thru " it. "

There are chemical imbalances and many other reasons why antidepressants

are the best answer for people. But I just wanted people to be aware

that different popular ones can have unintended and damaging side effects.

which many doctors are not aware of.

I am so very sorry if I offended anyone or it seemed I was advocating

an " up by the bootstraps " substitution for needed medication. As I said

I still take " lite " doses when needed due to LLMD advice about lack of

sleep depleting the brain, etc. Or What's left of it, anyway!!

Jeannine

[Guest guest]

Jeannine

I think you made some very good points and fine examples for us

to be aware of. For some reason people do react much differently

to many different kinds of meds. When Haldol, antipsychotic

(major tranquilizer) first made its appearance, all docs used it

to help people sleep in the hospital. Wow. Working third shift I

had a lot of elderly go berserk on it. It was a nightmare with

less staffing and an off the wall patient. It was a good drug for

a few, but had those that could not tolerate even the lowest dose

go in to rages, nightmares and have hallucinations..

Our bodies metabolize each drug differently and if some is

cleared through the liver, or the kidneys and these organs ar

sick, anything may happen. The sad part is not everyone is aware

that some meds that are meant to help, may cause more harm, That

is one reason I don't believe alternative and supplements are

really best for some of us with LD. We have complex chemistries

in our make ups and our hormones are different, and at different

levels.

I suggest for just about everything, start at a lower dose then

work your way up if no bad side effects occur. It sometimes takes

2-3 weeks to build up enough drug to be therapeutic in the body.

Others never reach a therapeutic range.

Thanks for sharing. I am leery of all drugs. Always have been,

but the more I learned the more cautious I try to be and be

prepared. The doctors do not take the time to explain some of the

things we need to know and if the don't their nurses should. Next

would be the pharmacist. Important for all the checks and

balances. Combinations of some meds might not be ideal either. I

guess we should all have drug books to try and decipher what is

acceptable and what may work for some. Always ask questions and

don't be afraid to try something else if after a week or so, or

even sooner your body does not accept this new med.

Barb F. - MI

[ ] Re: Antidepressants

From: jder@...

I fear I may have offended people with my anecdotal info on

antidepressants. It was offered in the spirit of one person's

story,

lived the hard way, to persuade people to think a little about

how

to go on/taper off antidepressants, or find other remedies.

<snip>

[Guest guest]

hi jeannine,

i hope i wasn't one you thought may have been offended.

sorry if i am.

i agree with you completely.

GP s should never prescribe psychiatric meds and it takes trial and trial

again until you find the right one.

peace,

kay

[Guest guest]

I take Celexa-20 mg once a day

Jody

[Guest guest]

In my own personal experience, it takes a full six weeks for an

antidepressant to begin working and sometimes more depending more on your

situation. Three weeks is too soon to tell any difference

[Guest guest]

I hope my comments about MD's being trained to treat symptoms didn't

trigger the thought that I am anti-antidepressant (now there's a

mouthful. The double negative doesn't mean I'm pro-depression).

Anyway enough of the babble...

My point is that for someone like me, I could easily have been put on

an antidepressant indefinately for sadness and probably would have

felt better, however I still would have to deal with all of the other

symptoms of hypogonadism, plus the side effects of the

antidepressant. I'm glad I asked my MD for a testosterone test.

For ME boosting my Testoterone REALLY helped cut out the sadness and

restored my sense of well being. I realize this might not be true

for everyone and I am not advocating just treating depression with

Testosterone. I would like to see MD's run a testosterone screening

on men to complain about depression symptoms before they jump to, or

while they are, prescribing antidepressants. I just don't hear this

as a routine procedure that MD's make a practice of doing and my

sense is the drug companies aren't recommending it either.

Antidepressants definately have their place. I have heard testimony

after testimony about the diffence they have made for many people.

I'm very happy there are also so many choices out there without major

side effects. Clinical Depression can be a serious and life altering

condition, I've seen it. Anyone suspecting they may be depressed

should talk about it with their MD. There are just too many positive

options available

today. Seren.

[Guest guest]

Seren,

I agree. It takes a special GP to look beyond what is in front of

him. In my case, when my nuts died, it was 'Oh, it happens

sometimes.' He could have cared less as to why they were not working

and shrinking.

Jim the Eunique

> I hope my comments about MD's being trained to treat symptoms

didn't

> trigger the thought that I am anti-antidepressant (now there's a

> mouthful. The double negative doesn't mean I'm pro-depression).

> Anyway enough of the babble...

>

> My point is that for someone like me, I could easily have been put

on

> an antidepressant indefinately for sadness and probably would have

> felt better, however I still would have to deal with all of the

other

> symptoms of hypogonadism, plus the side effects of the

> antidepressant. I'm glad I asked my MD for a testosterone test.

>

> For ME boosting my Testoterone REALLY helped cut out the sadness

and

> restored my sense of well being. I realize this might not be true

> for everyone and I am not advocating just treating depression with

> Testosterone. I would like to see MD's run a testosterone

screening

> on men to complain about depression symptoms before they jump to,

or

> while they are, prescribing antidepressants. I just don't hear

this

> as a routine procedure that MD's make a practice of doing and my

> sense is the drug companies aren't recommending it either.

>

> Antidepressants definately have their place. I have heard

testimony

> after testimony about the diffence they have made for many people.

> I'm very happy there are also so many choices out there without

major

> side effects. Clinical Depression can be a serious and life

altering

> condition, I've seen it. Anyone suspecting they may be depressed

> should talk about it with their MD. There are just too many

positive

> options available

> today. Seren.

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda !

So happy to hear about your appointment today ! I trust that this new medication will take care of your situation. Best wishes tomorrow; I'm going

to be donating a little piece of my liver to Mount Sinai's Pathology Department :-) Take Care and God Bless You !

Tony

[Guest guest]

Rhonda, I am curious to know about what was said about the Effexor XR. I have been on it for several years and that is one reason, I suspect the doctor wants me off because it is too hard on the liver. Just wondering. I will be anxious to know. Here again, all doctors are different! Sometimes, I just don't know what to believe.

debby

[ ] Antidepressants

Well I went to the psychologist today and all went well. This was the next step in my getting help with antidepressants and also getting on TNCare. The dr. prescribed Effexor XR for me. Apparently it is a new antidepressant that isn't hard on the liver and she said should give me some energy. We'll see. She also said they would continue to give me the rx for free until I was accepted on the insurance which was GREAT! I haven't pursued this before, because without ins. it cost $200/mth. So this is really good news for me.Perhaps this will help with my mood swings. Anyway, just thought I'd catch you up. I go see my Gastro. tomorrow. My psychologist wants him to run a thyroid test. Anything special they do for that or is it just more blood work?Thanks again, and love ang hugs,Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Yes, I broke down.. fought it for some time .. and did take a mild anti depressant called Celexa.. it worked fine for me... smoothed out the roller coaster ride my moods had been on...

angelic on mine.. horns the next!! Dawn

[Guest guest]

I was taking Zoloft for several months and weaned off because I felt it

wasn't working and I didn't want to go up in the dosage. I was off for a

few months but recently went into my doc again because I was having a very

difficult time and was in a constant fit of rage and anger and depression.

He gave me tons of samples of Lexapro - which is the newly patented Celexa.

Interestingly, he also took some bloodwork and we discovered that although

my thyroid isn't below normal, it's on the low end of normal, so I've

started Armour thyroid as well. Am starting at 15mg the first week, going

to 30mg the 2nd week and up to 60mg the 3rd week - we'll see how that

works. Low thyroid and Hashimotos is very prominent in my mothers side of

the family so we'll see.

Have been on the Lexapro (10mg) for 2 weeks now. I bumped it up to 20mg (as

per my doctor) yesterday and woke up this morning feeling like the fog has

lifted a little bit. I hope so.

Jodi Fadness, CD (DONA)

Minnesota Doula

SAHM to Ashlea (6yrs), Katelyn (almost 4yrs), Lars (almost 2yrs)

RA (7yrs) and SJS (1.5yrs) - AP 14mos

At 10:24 PM 11/18/02 EST, you wrote:

>Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 20:17:32 -0600 (Central Standard Time)

>From: " Mae Folk " <maefolk@...>

>Subject: Antidepressants!

>

>Hello Everyone,

>

>Could someone please tell me if taking Prozac or Paxil interferes with the

>Antiobiotics?

>

>Thanks

>

>Warm Hugs!

>

> Ann

>

>Hi Ann: I agree with Mark in that you should above all else, discuss

>this with your doctor. As for my own experience, I have been taking Celexa

>for about six months now and it does not affect the Minocin. Plus, I feel

>that my moods are so much more even now. (I believe I've been chronically

>depressed all my life without dx.) Just my own personal input. Sure hope

>you find something that works well for you.

>

>Be well!

>Babs

>RA 8/98, DX 4/99, AP 11/99

>200 mg. Minocin

>150 mcg. Synthroid

>8 mg. Hytrin

>20 mg. Pravachol

>20 mg. Celexa

>Mestinon

>Vits. & Misc. Suplmts.

>

>

>