Antidepressants and FND

[Aberheart]

Hello. I was wondering how many of you are taking anti depressants with FND. Have you found them helpful or the opposite?

[Lecture]

For my part, I am on a low dose of antidepressants for my FND and I benefit from supportive psychotherapy that help me in addition to spiritual accompaniment by reading theological books.

Yours

Lecture

[Gree22]

Hi

I have been on them for decades. I was on Imipramine for the majority of this time and they were extremely beneficial. Unfortunately, last June I had a heart attack and I was no longer able to take Imipramine. The doctor has switched them a couple of times to see what works best. I would say, however, that Imipramine is still the best I've had and wish I was still able to use them.

[Lecture in reply to Gree22]

For myself, I have got Escitalopram

[Lady4]

I think with any medications the benefits have to be significantly higher than the risks and if I were the sufferer I would go down the holistic path, self love, breathing techniques, meditation, sensory inputs and managing techniques and then really try hard to focus on what is getting better (not worse).

[Shimmyaway in reply to Lady4]

I find it of concern that mental health professionals recommend anti depressants /anti anxiety medication without even knowing if your levels of serotonin/cortisol etc are outside of the norm. You wouldn't get that with meds for physical conditions..they do tests first... and serotonin syndrome, which you can get from taking SSRI's is dangerous.

[Shimmyaway]

I am not on anti depressants despite being offered them, Having tried a minimal dosage of an SSRI .. just 2 tablets quickened the tremors and led to paresthesia ..so ditched them. I think just having FND and realising that so little help is available from the medics, makes you feel down . but is that depression ?

[Aberheart in reply to Shimmyaway]

No but I wonder if it helps relieve anxiety? Some anti depressants are offered for anxiety and stress behaviours.

[Lady4 in reply to Shimmyaway]

No I don't think thats depression. Isn't depression the fact you sink so low that you feel it impossible to climb back up. I feel anger and frustration at lack of support, not just for our situation but for other sufferers of FND.

What are the test to dhow if your levels of serotonin/cortisol are outside the norm? Pretty sure I asked our GP for a cortisol test but they said they couldn't just do one based on my concerns. From recollection, I think it was to do with hormones. My son sufferes from tension headaches and lack of sleep.

[Shimmyaway in reply to Lady4]

I think the docs can do blood tests for cortisol and serotonin...but no idea if this actually happens.

I think there are different kinds of depression, some marked out by a chemical imbalance ..a complicated area I imagine.

[Lady4 in reply to Shimmyaway]

I requested them for cortisol young adolescent but denied as no medical need (according to them). I thought it was related to headaches.

[Shimmyaway in reply to Lady4]

Cortisol is a key player in the fight and flight response ..not sure if it is related directly to headaches, but it is related to muscle tension , which as you say, elsewhere, can be reduced using more holistic methods than meds... and probably not available via the NHS.

[Lady4 in reply to Shimmyaway]

I found an article on it that related but have so many downloaded 😊

[Shimmyaway in reply to Lady4]

It does look as if ,to your credit, you have got yourself a full time job looking at all the possibilities to get some improvement in your son's condition... the investigation level with the NHS is very shallow. You may not realise, but it seems you are getting more attention at the 'Children's ' than you might get at the adult mental health trust on our patch, going by my experience .. one tel consultation, talking therapy with no outcome and then discharge! So long live DIY.

[Lady4 in reply to Shimmyaway]

It was a 2yr battle and ended up with Camhs referral nearly a year after he agreed to "talking therapy" with the Neurologist (the referral was done late to a dead end). I am at a loss tbh and off work myself now.

[Sacsac2024]

taking Celexa, an anti-depression for many years even before being diagnosed with FND. When I stop taking it, my wife says I’ve become testy.

[Lady4 in reply to Sacsac2024]

Is that immediate withdraw or gradual reducing dose?

[Pennybun]

I've just started a newish antidepressant called Vortioxetine. I'm on the low dose of 5mg for 4 weeks now and am finding it highly effective against depression. I got as low as you can go before starting on it so relieved to not be there anymore. Not sure about its value in anxiety relief. I take a benzo called Clonazapam PRN for my (daily) functional seizures to that's probably knocking out the anxiety as well.

[Aberheart in reply to Pennybun]

I’m glad this is working out for you. It seems to be a case of finding the right one that suits which involves a bit of trial and error in some cases. I’m glad you found the right one that works well for you.

[Pennybun]

Ahh thanks for the kind words. I hope things are, or will be, working out for you too. Warmest wishes coming your way.