Depressants

Hi, is anyone else on Anti Depressants as well as RA meds ?

[Gina_K]

Hi Susan,

My rheum has insisted on keeping me on a anti dep called CYmbalta since early days 3 years it has some sort of pain relief. I notice a lot of people on here take amytriptiline, which is an older more trusted cheaper anto dep. Nothing to be feared, can only help if you need it, RA is a lot to come to terms with and some of us need help.

Note of caution all anti deps can make you a little odd for a week or so going on or coming off.

Best wishes, gina

[Grammie]

The pain that comes with RA, causes some depression, sometimes alot of depression, I have been on cymbalta 60mg in am, 30 mg in pm for several yrs. It does help control the pain, There is a new rx, savella that is good also it helps with the fatigue. RA is a very painful condition that several people that do not have it doesnt understand. Talk with people who share this condition with you. It helps a lot. I pray that you feel better soon. Linda

[sylvi]

I'm on antidepressants as well i take amytrp. also tramadol (moral), i also have fibromyalgia to add to the mix. As long as you follow doc orders for them you'll be fine. Who cares as long as they do the job and makes it easier to cope with ra,which is depressing on its own, so don't worry.

Hope you feel brighter soon.

Sylvia.xx

[Beth58]

Hi Susan, I've had terrible problems with depression over the years. But living with chronic pain is no joke and naturally it's going to take it out on your mental health eventually. Though if I'm honest I blame some of the meds for causing mental health problems too, especially Arriva (Leflunomide).

I was prescribed Amytriptyline in low dose 10 or 20mg (depending how I feel) to take at night with my painkiller (Tramadol), it's a relaxant in low doses and helps you get some rest and surprisingly it has helped my mental health even though it's to low a dose for depression? But it does help me get some rest/sleep at night so I'm not complaining.

Good luck, hope whatever the doc gives you helps. xx

[caroline777]

Hi Susan

I too am on anti d's. Citalopram to be precise. They have been really good for me. I was diagnosed last Summer and had just battled on regardless until finally it all came to a head about three months ago. I am still flaring but it evens out your mood so you don't feel so miserable all the time. I am on loads of RA meds at the moment and have also just had a depo medrone injection (which after 5 days has had no effect at all!). It just helps you cope so I'd go with it if it has been recommended. Amytriptyline didn't suit me and gave me palpitations!! Good luck.

Carolne xxxx

[Tinwoman2]

I take anti-depressants too. I've only taken them for a year & a half, but they-and walking, have worked wonders for me. I hate the side effect of sweating and the whoosh sound in my head, but if I skip a couple of days of taking them-then I can really tell that the pills are helping me. Don't skip like I did, and good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Tinwoman2]

I take Lovan which had been good, although you put weight on easily so I decided to wean myself off them and noticed myself becoming very fatigued AGAIN so am now back on them and will stay on them for a while now and just put up with the weight thing, if its not one one thing its another eh !!!!!

[kathgallagher]

I have tried amytryptylline nortriptylline and am now on Citalopram which seems to be doing the trick. Also started on Gabapentin which is used for neuritis pain so we will see what happens

[Hidden in reply to kathgallagher]

mmm, it takes a while to find the right one doesn't it !!!