Antidepressants?

[Essexgal118]

Hi there,

I'm a new member who just joined a week ago and have been reading through the posts which are quite informing.

Ive been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and to say it's robbed me of my life is a bit of an understatement I'm a 37 year old with 2 teens but I'm unable to do the school run anymore and during a flare up I'm in bed from morning till night due to severe exhaustion.

My rheumatologist prescribed Sertraline and previously Amitriptyline but I've had a very bad reaction to both so don't currently take any.

My question is that does anyone else not use antidepressants but find pain manageable? Or do antidepressants really help with alleviating some pain?

I have been taking CBD oral spray as I've heard it helps take the edge off but it's too early to say if it's had any effect.

Thank you for your time and I'm grateful for any advice.

[Dibbu]

Hi. I'm also new on here. I take sertaline and codeine. Tbh I wouldn't say the sertaline does anything for my pain I was put on it for depression /anxiety. I have been on other anti depressants in the past too but doctor thought this one might be more useful. I think it's more a case of if depression/anxiety are treated then this will in turn reduce the chronic pain side of things but I can't say that's ever worked with me. X

[Essexgal118 in reply to Dibbu]

Thanks for this hun,

I've had depression/anxiety in the past but I'm currently taking counselling sessions so find that helps a lot but I've definitely noticed a link between mental health in exacerbating physical pain.

Thanks for your advice x

[Dibbu in reply to Essexgal118]

No problem. Yes the doctors are always implying that it's my "mood" that's affecting my pain which I find very frustrating and makes it seem like they're saying it's all in my head. Some doctors can be very unsympathetic. I know mental health can affect you physically for definite but it still doesn't mean it's not real. Does anyone else suffer with tight chest muscles and palpitations? Makes me really anxious even though tests as with everything else have never shown up anything 💜

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Hi there, let me wish you a very warm welcome to our group

When it comes to medication everyone reacts differently. I for example take nothing but a small dose of relaxant and sometimes over the counter antiflam.

Have you told your doctor you don't find your medication helpful. There are a number of other things they could give you to try. But there's no guarantee that any pill will help i'm sad to say. But some people find some meds do help them. So it's a game of trial and error I'm afraid.

Weekends is usually quiet on the forum. But hopefully some of our wonderful members will be about soon. They are always happy to help sharing their own experiences with others.

You may like to think about locking your posts for privacy reasons. If you want to lock your post this link will show you how

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

[Essexgal118 in reply to Dizzytwo]

Thank you so much for your warm welcome.

I've only very recently been diagnosed (a month or so) and have explained to my doctor about the undesired effects of medication but they just change to another antidepressant and I don't tolerate any form of antidepressants well as I start suffering from hallucinations and extreme dizziness and as a sole carer of 2 teens, I can't afford to feel like this.

I will carry on with the CBD over the long term and see if it helps.

If it does then I will post on here.

Thanks for your advice x

[Cb1963 in reply to Essexgal118]

Do you manage to get any sleep at night time? Stress definitely impacts on pain,and I noticed that if I get agitated things for me get worse, so sleep is a must, I get mirtrazapine prescribed 30mg at night time it makes you tired but helps you with sleep, amitriptyline caused me to wake up shouting etc,so its all trial and error, it a vicious circle, I ended becoming single as I couldn't cope with other people's demands, it may sound selfish, but they couldn't see or feel my pain, nor did they understand, sometimes being alone is the best option, it sounds drastic, but at least I don't have to keep on explaining on how I feel, or sayI don't feel well enough to do something, I'm not a performing elephant!so you'll find folk on here knowledgable and will share plenty of experience, good luck,and welcome.

[Essexgal118]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm taking vitality CBD oral spray which is taken sublingually and the highest strength possible (1200mg) only been taking it for 2 days so not really noticed any improvement, but saying that I do realise that I need to take it a lot longer to feel any effects.

It's £50 but only lasts for a month but I have tried different strengths and the lower dose didn't help.

I did try Duloxatine but with any antidepressant I react very badly.

Thanks for your advice

[Bunny53]

Hi Esssexgal118,

I've been on both those antidepressants before and contemplating going back on one of them to see if they help with the severe muscle spasms I am now experiencing more. They helped at the time but I think you have to give yourself a break from them as your body IMHO gets too used to them. The sertraline I was taking more for stress due to personal probs with my other half which seriously impacted on all my health conditions.

I can relate to the severe exhaustion too and some days I've just done absolutely nothing but sit, make a cuppa, sleep and back to the beginning again. All I can say is 'Small steps' as these conditions take over and I try to 'Get to it before it gets to me'. I know its very very hard physically and mentally to push yourself but try a little something every day. Hopefully you'll be doing more in time so please persevere. Whatever you do please do not use alcohol to numb your pain. You probably think you cant do it but think positive you can. Just a little at a time.

I hope your family understand what's going on though as that can be a problem too. One relation of mine constantly referred to my conditions as 'back ache' until I finally had to correct her but only after one of her friends developed FM did she finally understand more. However other people do try to compare their'true back aches' with your FM as if they are the same ... very frustrating.

My main ally is having hobbies as I have to push myself to do them but I do and it's a big help to take more 'little steps ' and also something just for me.

Look after you .. dont let other people tell you how you feel or dismiss your conditions for something less than what they are.

I hope you can take some little steps and feel better xx

[Dibbu]

Yes I've heard some good things about CBD oil I've been thinking about giving it a try it's got to be better than all these medications. A friend of mine uses it for anxiety and says it's really good x

[Dibbu]

Yes I will have a look on there and ask you about the ones I like the look of 😉