Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:09:23
I've struggled with bouts of chronic fatigue for a
number of years now and was recently prescribed first
Celexa and then Effexor XR in an attempt to battle
recent depression. My doctor also tried a thyroid drug
in an attempt to give me some energy. Without fail,
everything I have tried has made me even more tired, to
the point of not being able to function at all. So I
am worse off with the AD than without it.Has anyone had a problem with chronic fatigue prior
to taking an AD? Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm ready to give up on ADs. Any help would be much
appreciated.
Thanks,
Liza
Posted by Fred Potter on April 18, 2000, at 19:33:09
In reply to Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:09:23
me too Liza. Celexa for me is a tiredness and tension promoting drug
Fred
Posted by JanetR on April 18, 2000, at 19:55:20
In reply to Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:09:23
> I've struggled with bouts of chronic fatigue for a
> number of years now and was recently prescribed first
> Celexa and then Effexor XR in an attempt to battle
> recent depression. My doctor also tried a thyroid drug
> in an attempt to give me some energy. Without fail,
> everything I have tried has made me even more tired, to
> the point of not being able to function at all. So I
> am worse off with the AD than without it.
>
> Has anyone had a problem with chronic fatigue prior
> to taking an AD? Does anyone have any suggestions?
> I'm ready to give up on ADs. Any help would be much
> appreciated.
> Thanks,
> LizaDear Liza, I had a similar problem to yours. Chronic tiredness which worsened with ADs.Then as a result of describing other symptons on the board, I discovered that what I had was noninattention deficit disorder. It's ADD without hyper-activity and very common in women. Are you also scatterbrained, disorganised, can't balance your bank account etc.? If you are, it's worthing looking up the ADD sites, especially ADD and women. I've been taking ritalin for two weeks now and I'm not nearly so tired as I used to be. There is still room for improvement energy-wise but at least I feel I'm on the right track. Good Luck < Jan
Posted by Fred Potter on April 18, 2000, at 20:08:20
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by JanetR on April 18, 2000, at 19:55:20
I'm about to join the Adrafinil ranks. Sending off my order today. I can't see a psychiatrist till June so I'm going it alone. Will keep Ritalin in mind
see yah
Fred
Posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 21:13:49
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by JanetR on April 18, 2000, at 19:55:20
> Dear Liza, I had a similar problem to yours. Chronic tiredness which worsened with ADs.Then as a result of describing other symptons on the board, I discovered that what I had was noninattention deficit disorder. It's ADD without hyper-activity and very common in women. Are you also scatterbrained, disorganised, can't balance your bank account etc.? If you are, it's worthing looking up the ADD sites, especially ADD and women. I've been taking ritalin for two weeks now and I'm not nearly so tired as I used to be. There is still room for improvement energy-wise but at least I feel I'm on the right track. Good Luck < Jan
Hi Janet,
I do have a lot of difficulty in focusing and organizing my thoughts. Too many decisions at once really bog me down and I become totally paralyzed. I'll try to get more info on that disorder. Thanks for the info.
- Liza
Posted by Joel on April 19, 2000, at 10:50:44
In reply to Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:09:23
Dear Liza,
Your not alone. I have had chronic fatigue and serious depression ever since 6th grade with a major manic episode 5 years ago. Until 5 years ago I treated my condition with drugs and alcohol. Didn't work out to good. Since then, with much support from friends, family, AA, Alanon, meds, and doctor, my depression has gotten much better. I've taken Tegretol with and SSRI for five years. Unfortunately the chronic fatigue has gotten worse. Sometimes its managable, but often it affects all areas of my life and contributes to my depression as is the case right now. I am going to try an SNRI. Sounds promising for people like us with the understanding that there are no magic solutions. Having a spiritual program and emotional support have been critical in helping me accept and treat my condition. Don't lose hope.
Joel
Posted by Liza on April 19, 2000, at 11:16:37
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Joel on April 19, 2000, at 10:50:44
Hi Joel,
We have something in common - I too "treated" my condition with drugs and alcohol for many years. And I too have developed a spiritual program. I am fortunate to have a very supportive doctor who is fully backing me in an application for disability support from the government. It has taken a lot of the stress off me to "do it all myself". I enjoy working, but when I get a virus (which is WAY TOO often) I'm too tired to work.So far, everything I put in my body makes me tired. One thing I am looking into trying again is an immune system builder called "Immunocal". I tried it a few years ago for about 6 months and thought the chronic fatigue was cured. I stopped it because it is expensive (about $100/month). Then the chronic fatigue came back. Since then I've tried a lot of nutritional supplements but nothing has made much of a dent, except vitamin B12.
Thanks for your words of encouragament, I appreciate it.
- Liza
Posted by AndrewB on April 19, 2000, at 11:50:16
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by JanetR on April 18, 2000, at 19:55:20
Janet,
Glad the stimulants have helped so. Is fatigue always a cofactor in nonattentive deficit disorder?
AndrewB
Posted by Joel on April 19, 2000, at 13:35:04
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs : To Joel, posted by Liza on April 19, 2000, at 11:16:37
Hi Liza,
I personally don't have a lot of faith in nutritional supplements as effective treatment for the conditions we talk about on this board. I have a good friend who recently stopped taking her SSRI to take Omnitrition supplements on the advice of her friends who were selling it. Within two weeks she was suicidal. Ephedra and caffiene are probably not good anti-depressants just like meth-amphetimine isn't. Good for losing weight though (HA). Something more selective like the new SNRI's or Ridalin may be promising.
I totally understand the work thing. I was on disability the first 6 mo. of my recovery and a month last year. Couldn't work the first 2.5 years of my recovery. The financial pressures can be very overwhelming. Since then the pressures to perform at work and show up every day are overwhelming. I think what happens is that the everyday fatigue and inability to function when there are tremendous pressures, real and imagined, to function and up causing depression. I have been home for four days and my boss calls me three times a day looking for immediate answers and solutions when there are none. It sucks. I'm at least going to see my doc this afternoon.
Thanks for responding Liza this is very helpful to me.
Joel
Posted by Martha McClelland on April 20, 2000, at 15:00:20
In reply to Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:09:23
I can really relate to this. Plus, my mother has also the same problem (undiagnosed Bipolar 2). I used to dread getting "old" because if I got like her, I'd hate it. Now, at 51, i have a cracker job I love, but get totally wqiped out by 5 pm and need to nap for 2 hours when I come home, despite my mind and interests being lively. Really frustrationg but I do love the job so just keep taking the ADs (Efexor 75 mg, plus thyroid and lithium) and figure you can't have everything.... Would love to hear any strategies for beating thisMartha in Ireland> I've struggled with bouts of chronic fatigue for a
> number of years now and was recently prescribed first
> Celexa and then Effexor XR in an attempt to battle
> recent depression. My doctor also tried a thyroid drug
> in an attempt to give me some energy. Without fail,
> everything I have tried has made me even more tired, to
> the point of not being able to function at all. So I
> am worse off with the AD than without it.
>
> Has anyone had a problem with chronic fatigue prior
> to taking an AD? Does anyone have any suggestions?
> I'm ready to give up on ADs. Any help would be much
> appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Liza
Posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 17:49:38
In reply to Re: Chronic fatigue and ADs?, posted by Martha McClelland on April 20, 2000, at 15:00:20
Martha,
I'm just curious, have you spoken to your doc about the possibilty of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)? I read an article on the Internet recently (just type the name into any search engine), and it said that CFS, while kind of rare, was found predominately in women over the age of 45. It might be worth checking out.Peace,
Greg> I can really relate to this. Plus, my mother has also the same problem (undiagnosed Bipolar 2). I used to dread getting "old" because if I got like her, I'd hate it. Now, at 51, i have a cracker job I love, but get totally wqiped out by 5 pm and need to nap for 2 hours when I come home, despite my mind and interests being lively. Really frustrationg but I do love the job so just keep taking the ADs (Efexor 75 mg, plus thyroid and lithium) and figure you can't have everything.... Would love to hear any strategies for beating thisMartha in Ireland> I've struggled with bouts of chronic fatigue for a
> > number of years now and was recently prescribed first
> > Celexa and then Effexor XR in an attempt to battle
> > recent depression. My doctor also tried a thyroid drug
> > in an attempt to give me some energy. Without fail,
> > everything I have tried has made me even more tired, to
> > the point of not being able to function at all. So I
> > am worse off with the AD than without it.
> >
> > Has anyone had a problem with chronic fatigue prior
> > to taking an AD? Does anyone have any suggestions?
> > I'm ready to give up on ADs. Any help would be much
> > appreciated.
> > Thanks,
> > Liza
This is the end of the thread.
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