antidepressant drugs question

[dag_FL]

I have noticed that just the day to day dealing with the pain or I should say the EVERYDAY dealing with pain can be very fatiguing, I've found myself depressed at times, certainly recently, I tried Cymbalta but was having problems (different pain) with joints as a side effect. I would like to know if there is another antidepressant that might be able to help me, I have rheumatoid arthritis and would like to know if anyone has heard of any other of these types of antidepressant drugs that could help with depression and pain. I know Cymbalta was marketed that way. Thanks

ps. what do you do to get your head on straight? I can't seem to get there, this f*&^%#g arthritis is making my world smaller and smaller.

[simby]

I had to come off of cymbalta because of a liver function test that was off. I am now on Effexor and having good luck with it so far.

[Pharmacist.steve]

I have noticed that just the day to day dealing with the pain or I should say the EVERYDAY dealing with pain can be very fatiguing, I've found myself depressed at times, certainly recently, I tried Cymbalta but was having problems (different pain) with joints as a side effect. I would like to know if there is another antidepressant that might be able to help me, I have rheumatoid arthritis and would like to know if anyone has heard of any other of these types of antidepressant drugs that could help with depression and pain. I know Cymbalta was marketed that way. Thanks

ps. what do you do to get your head on straight? I can't seem to get there, this f*&^%#g arthritis is making my world smaller and smaller.

Pain-anxiety-depression is a self feeding cycle. The current thought process concerning depression is that mono-therapy is not effective for a large % of those depressed.. It is very common for a depressed patient to take two or more different meds to achieve a positive outcome. Unfortunately, like pain management... treating depression can be a lot of trial and error trying to find the right therapy. Just because the Cymbalta didn't work... don't give up trying

[Lea]

I recommend that you go to a psychiatrist to find the right medication to treat your depression. As Steve said, it is a trial by error process and you may have to try a few different ones to find the one that works for you.

Recently, there has been some pain studies done on the older tricyclic antidepressants such as Imipramine and Elavil which have been used in the past for headaches. Although they have more side effects (called anticholenergic effects) that cause dry mouth, dizziness, and constipation , as well as orthostatic changes in blood pressure.

These older meds have been proven to decrease pain as well as assist with sleep and decrease depression. You can search for an article on these meds on www.spineuniverse.com

[BrokenBladder]

Elavil does work. Not only does it help with sleep issues I think it does help with some pain issues.

[simby]

Pain-anxiety-depression is a self feeding cycle. The current thought process concerning depression is that mono-therapy is not effective for a large % of those depressed.. It is very common for a depressed patient to take two or more different meds to achieve a positive outcome. Unfortunately, like pain management... treating depression can be a lot of trial and error trying to find the right therapy. Just because the Cymbalta didn't work... don't give up trying




Trial and error is so true, steve. But the right one/combination can do wonders for depression.
So i must agree with you when you say don't give up.

[jimac]

Ask your doc to give you the chance to trial a few different ones. It is a trial and error thing. I am sorry that Cymbalta was not the one for you. Cymbalta works for me. I am also taking Lyrica and it is very good for the burning, tingling pain.
Hang in there.......
Jim

[Jo6]

Dag, when you figure out how to get your head on straight please let me know. I have that problem! :D

Many years ago I took Elavil for depression and also for migraine's. It did help with the depression. I can't say it helped with the pain.

MIL has Fibro and before we learned she had Alzheimer's the Dr. had her on the Elavil for pain. It seemed to help her a lot. there are more up todate meds. but no matter how long a drug's been around if it helps, I would sure keep taking it.

good luck in finding answers, Julia

[dag_FL]

I'll bring up effexor next visit, I didn't know a person could take more than one so that may open up some more choices....I'm going to pray something helps. I've been productive most of my life and I feel so damn guilty when I just can't make it to work on bad days. I was a road warrior for years working around the state selling insurance but now after a day of work I need a day to recover. I'd like to figure some business I could work from home more. I know some of you must have had these type problems at one time or another and my guess is it dosn't get easier. I just hope that sometime soon I get things back to normal, with my head anyway. I really would like to thank everyone for the help and input.:o

[curiousforever]

A psychiatrist can be the biggest help - like Lea said. I was going to a pain mgmt place in North Carolina - and they were not treating my pain sufficiently. She sent me to a psych....who actually found a much better combination for my pain.

And yep - it can take several tries before you find what works for you. Part is meds, part is forcing yourself to do the things you like to do. Just getting started is 3/4 of the battle sometimes.

With the selling of the insurance - I'm sure (pretty sure anyway) we can help you figure it out on how to handle work.

[Mark N]

Getting your head on straight is a matter of getting the right meds at least it has been that way for me. I know the smaller the world feeling gets and fought it until I couldn't do it any more. Sorry Cymbalta didn't work for you as it has been a great pain reliever for me.

[jena1225]

So sorry Dag :( Cymbalta has also had a great effect on me as well, sorry it did not work for you... They are positive that the joint pain was from the that? How long were you on it and what dosage?

You know, I just figured out something agter being onthe Cymbalta... you know how it works on Serotonin AND noreprenephrine levels?? Well, I have tried so many AD's throughout my life, and some have worked, some not, some so-so, but none ever worked like Cymbalta. Soooo, I have to think that I must be defiencient (right word?) in the noreprenephrine levels more than the Serotonine :confused: Is that a good guess?

If so, that very well might be the same for you Dag. I don't know if there are any other's out there that work on both...PharmSteve??

I hope you figure this out soon Dag :(