Posted by Cindylou on October 8, 2001, at 7:04:42
In reply to Re: Which comes first - fatigue or depression? » Cindylou, posted by Janelle on October 7, 2001, at 15:32:52
Hi Janelle,
Thanks so much for your response -- your support and information was very helpful. I'm so sorry that you have to feel this way too -- I wouldn't wish it on anyone.Glad to hear the Lamictal is helping -- at what dose did you start it? I am concerned about that rash! And since I'm so med-sensitive, I need to be overly cautious.
I wish I could try more SSRIs. I have been on Zoloft, Effexor, Prozac (three separate times), and Paxil. All cause me HORRIBLE fatigue (worse than I have without them! Like a "medicated, zombie-ish fatigue). All three times, this medicated fatigue on the Prozac was horrible after the initial 2-month honeymoon -- I just keep trying, thinking it may be different with each try. But after 3 times, I'm convinced two months is my limit with Prozac. Anyway, my pdoc and I are avoiding Celexa, Serzone, Remeron, etc. because of this medicated-zombie-fatigue side effect I get.
The problem is, these SSRIs DO help my mood, but I feel physically worse. It's like I have to suffer physically in order to feel emotionally better. Several years ago I tolerated the physical exhaustion better than I do now that I have a 2-year-old. Now I can't call in sick to work, nap on my lunch hour, or take a 2-hour nap when I get home from work. (Since she is my "work" -- the best job I've ever had :)
I've also tried adding Wellbutrin, Adderall, Ritilin, Provigil, Risperdal, and Zyprexa to the SSRIs (not all at once, of course :) All give me side effects I can't tolerate -- but I won't bore you with the details of each one! I've tried them each separately as well.
I have anxiety too -- and like you said, that's a whole other ball of wax. Feeling exhausted and anxious at the same time -- what an unfortunate paradox.
Thank you again for your kind response! Keep me posted on what SSRI you try with the Lamictal (if you decide to go that route.) I'll let you know how the Lamictal works for me.
take care,
cindy> Hi,
>
> First, I'm sorry to hear how lousy you've been feeling and that you have not gotten relief from any of the numerous things you have tried.
>
> In my humble opinion (and all I can do is hazard a somewhat *educated* guess!) depression is such a broad spectrum condition that it probably wouldn't be completely (100%) PHSYICAL thing - I would think there's some kind of PSYCHOLOGICAL component going on although the symptoms of the overall depression may be more physical than emotional.
>
> When you stop to think about it the mind and body are connected, so a biochemical depression IS both a physical ailment and an emotional one, despite the stigma of *mental illness," it's all-in-your-head, etc. That's a bunch of bull. Anyone who has been depressed *knows* it has a physical manifestation as well as an emotional one!
>
> Your symptoms sound like mine, and I was definitively diagnosed (quite some time ago) with depression (I also have anxiety but that's a whole 'nother can of worms).
>
> When not on the right combo of meds, my symptoms have also included fatigue, lack of energy or drive, heaviness, lethargy, feelings of "depletion", dragging myself through the day, no interest in things I used to love to do, etc.
>
> I agree that when a person gets emotionally down, it can often be due to the fact that they are feeling physically down. I think the reverse is true also (when a person is physically run down, they can also feel emotionally down).
>
> Since you have had so many tests which have all come back *normal* and you have felt horrible either on or off a med, I'm guessing that you have just not found the *right* med(s) for your situation.
>
> The fact that there *was* a time when you had some relief a "lift" from the heaviness, and it was during the first 2 months on a low dose of Prozac (then it pooped out on you) indicates to me that an SRI a-d (but probably not Prozac) could help you. There are soooooo many others to try (for example, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, EffexorXR ...)
>
> The diet and vitamin support is important, but from what I've heard, vitamins and minerals do not cross the "blood-brain barrier" the same way that pharmaceutical meds do, so it could take longer to feel any benefit from vitamin supplements or they might not even give a noticeable benefit.
>
> So, winding up back at your first question. I would say (and this is just one person's thoughts!) that it is very likely that the depression (that you feel mostly in a physical sense - the symptoms you describe are on the *official* list for depression) IS indeed making you feel so tired.
>
> I think that a person can feel can feel physically depressed but it would not be clearly separate from emotionally depressed, meaning a person could feel let's say 75% physical/25% emotional depression (and these are just random numbers).
>
> By the way, I am on Lamictal, have worked up to 100 mg (50 mg twice a day) and it *is* helping A LOT, but either I haven't reached the right dosage for me or I need to augment it by going back on an SSRI a-d. My pdoc took me off the SSRI because she feels that Lamictal should work for me without an SSRI, but I myself have started to feel cruddy again after 3 weeks off the SSRI, so I'm confused myself!
>
> I hope that some of what I've said will be helpful. Good luck and please keep us/me updated on how you are feeling and your reaction to the Lamictal (you have to go low and slow with this one because of a dangerous rash - I did not get it because I have gone up verrrrrrrrry slowly on it)
> Take care,
> Janelle
poster:Cindylou
thread:80557
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80614.html