I wonder if anyone could please let me know of their experiences of treating MAV with anti depressants. After a 6 month roller coaster of diagnosis, I have no other option but to start on these.
I have specifically been out on dosulepin which is close to amitriptyline but am worried about the side effects as I already have really low blood pressure and am really skinny.
I'll start at the beginning last December I woke to go to the toilet and the next thing I new was my husband asking me if I was ok ( I had fainted) . Passed no remarks thought I had stood up to quickly, went to work the next day and felt lightheaded and even though my colleagues were talking to me I couldn't process what the were saying. I went to the doctor and explained what happened and she said it was vertigo. At this stage it was xmas week and I started taking serc but the didn't seem to be working. Went back to work in the new year and after 1 hour I was totally disoriented so I went back to the doctor and she sent me to a neurologists who said I had migraine. He prescribed me with amitriptyline starting at 10mg and I have slowly worked up to 40 mg but still not feeling right in the last few months I have facial numbness. My neuro is sending me to see a a neurophysiologist but my appointment isn't until February of next year and that's going private.
symptoms:-
Lightheaded /dizzy
Stiff neck
Blurred vision
Extremely tired
Stiff ankles and hip joints in the morning
Facial numbness
Pain in my head sometimes like ice cream headache but only a few times a day. Have had mri which was clear and all my bloods are normal
It all started in December last year I woke during the night to go to the toilet and next thing I knew my husband was calling my name I had fainted. I didn't pass much remarks just thought I had stood up to quickly, I went to work the next day but I felt dizzy and my colleague's were talking to me but I couldn't process what the were saying. I went to the doctor who gave me serc and said I had vertigo. Fast forward to the new year still feeling dizzy confused and also a stiff neck but decided to go back to work but by lunchtime I was wrecked and worse than ever. Went back to the doctor and asked to see a neurologists when I went to him he said I had migraine and put me on amitriptyline starting at 10mg but slowly working up to 50 mg but I still feel like crap(sorry for the language )
Symptoms:-
Dizzy
Stiff neck and shoulders
Numbness in face
Right hand numb from little finger up to shoulder
Stiff ankles in the morning
Knee joints make crackling noise and are sore.
Iv to meet my neurologists again in November and a neurophysiologist in February next year.
Also forgot to mention all my blood work is good
The checked thyroid Lyme and vitamin deficiency
I'm not on any meds for my MAV, first because the ENt wanted me to take topamax and it scared me to death to try it, when I saw him 2 weeks ago he said he wasn't going to give me any meds cause I seem to be doing better. I started with this headache on saturday night and still have it today, its like a tension type headache with pain in the shoulders and neck, but the pain is mostly in the front across the forehead going to each side, but with it comes the feeling of moving when I'm sitting or standing. Is this indicative of MAV? I feel like a buoy in the water and sometimes a sinking feeling, yesterday it was a falling feeling. I'm now wondering if I should try some meds. I also told the ENT I was seeing a psychologist this week and maybe he thought because of my anxiety about all this she might want to start meds. She works with a psychiatrist I believe so could probably get meds. she was also I physicians assistant for 20 years at a neurologist office, so I'm hoping she will understand all this.
So my question is, do you have headaches with neck pain and shoulder pain on both sides? Is this part of MAV? Does the dizziness sensations feel different or changing? Do everyone here take meds for this? Is there any meds that help with dizziness, headache and anxiety at the same time? Do you have headache and dizziness for days at time?
Diagnosed with VN with possible MAV in March 2015 and have progressed very very slowly, Life was liveable but not always great as still woke up in mornings with what can only be described as a hangover feeling which subsided as the day went on.
Suffered from what can be described as a feeling of a tight band running from my forehead across my head to the base of my neck but i just tried ti ignore it, however in the last few weeks i have stiff neck tingling nose and a head that feels totally full .........its like i have gone back 8 months and now i'm wondering if i have a problem in my neck as its always worse in the mornings anybody else struggle in the mornings with this?
I never suffered from migraine attacks until I was in my mid-40's.
They seemed to be linked to the beginning of hormonal changes related to the start of menopause. I would get a pain over my left eye (usually, though right occasionally), with a feeling of nausea and sometimes slight numb feeling on the side of my face. I would turn quite a pale white colour, and also feel very tired, yawning a lot. I would take medication, migraleve tablets and lay down in a darkened room. Usually, I would recover within 24 hours, though I would feel 'worn out' for a few days after the attack.
Since I have discovered by self analysis, that citrus fruits, especially orange juice (which I no longer drink), chocolate and strong coffee all seem to be triggers, which I try to avoid.
For the last five years, I have been clear of migraines, but have now started to get them again. I have passed the menopause but have had a lot of stress in my life recently, so I wonder if this is the cause of the recurrence? My last attack was quite different from the others I have experienced, in that I was feeling fine (though had been really tired the day before for no apparent reason) when I suddenly developed black zigzag lines across my left eye (very frightening at first). These went on for about 10 minutes and then slowly I developed a severe migraine, though this was not over one particular eye, but both. I had feelings of nausea and also felt cold at times. I took Migraleve pink and yellow but the headache is still persisting the next day. I wonder why I developed these other symptoms of visual disturbance. Can stress really do this to your body?!
PS I know there is a family history of migraine.
I had classic migraines through my teenage years which stopped for a couple of years before continuing at on average one every couple of months with the odd instance of a back to back cluster of 3-10 at once. They were always the same 20 minute aura then axe in the head pain and repeated vomiting for 6 hours followed by a 24hr hangover. Over the years I have tried all preventers with only Epilim and Topiramate working for 18 months. I built up tolerance to Epilim and Topiramate gave me side effects that ended in a blood disorder so cannot take either any more. Beta blockers and antidepressants never worked and Lisinopril was also a short lived waste of time. The only triptan that ever worked was Maxalt rizatriptan but again it lost its effect after 6 months. Something weird has now happened and I wonder if others have had this? I am now 36 and in the last 6 months my migraines have totally changed. I still get the aura but if I take Express Nurofen and an anti sickness tablet straight away or use a heat pack on the back of the neck no pain or sickness comes just 6 hours of extreme tiredness. I always used to throw up any tablets so this is a miracle however the frequency has stepped up to between 5 and 20 a month so it is really impacting on my life. I have had an MRI and all is normal. I have also tried supplements and alternative therapies with no success. Botox and nerve blockers are the next suggestion but will they treat this scenario if there is no pain? Will it stop the aura too and prevent the whole episode? Help!
View 13 RepliesI was on anti depressants for over 20 years with mixed reaction. Last year my doctor said to try doing without. It took me 10 months to withdraw from Effexor so I did not get any withdrawal symptoms. And that worked. Just over a year on I am beginning to feel depressed again. After all that effort to withdraw I am loathe to go back on medication.
Over the years I have tried stopping, but the depression always comes back. I would like people's views on whether they manage without anti depressants, or think that we do need them?
I am a retired lady and am also on the anxiety forum. I get stressed about every silly little thing, although they do not seem small or silly to me.
Medication or not? I know this is really a personal choice. Do people here feel better with or without antidepressants?
I am trying to deal with my depression and anxiety as best as I can. I have never thought that something like this could happen to me, I was always a calm person. But ever since my husband died two years ago I cannot get a hold of myself. It started like a regular depression that came and went but now it is a full time condition. Since I have been taking Paxil, I am starting to feel much better. Can you take Paxil sporadically? I mean, do I have to take it when I'm feeling fine?
View 1 RepliesI am going to switch back to paxil after trying out Celexa for 5 weeks, because i remember it seemed to work better and faster, my doc says that to take both for a week to switch over to Paxil- does this sound right? I will be taking 20mg of each for a week?
View 1 RepliesI actually like the paxil but the weight gain is getting the better of me. i was on 20 mgs and my doc lowered it to 10 mgs but still gaining weight. Any suggestions? Also what is a half life of a medication?
View 2 RepliesI have always enjoyed my drink and have used it to enhance many a social occasions in the past. However in the last two years a number of life events have gradually led me into depression and through this, have increased my alcohol intake. I know I have developed an dependance on alcohol and my biggest concern is reading experiences of other people and the development this can lead too, which obviously can be a tremendous loss., when involving family, job and friends. Although I think
I am at risk of going this far, I believe that I enjoy alcohol for its taste, I am still particular in what I drink!!!! and that I am able to control to a degree, my limit. However Iam also on antidepressants and mixed with alcohol has led me into a harmful disposition with myself., many a time. The problem I have is if you go to the doctor to receive help then this is on your record and job wise this can be very detrimental. can anyone give me their thoughts on any of the above matter.
Has anyone heard of b12 injections to get off Cymbalta? I have been on for 3 years and can't get off this drug. The withdrawal is horrible. the spins, sweats and other stuff is a killer. I am down to my last 30mg pill and will try to take some of the stuff out like suggested but does anyone have any vitamin help on this?? I am going to read the the B12 epidemic book but have yet to hear of anyone that this has helped.
View 2 RepliesI've been on 50mg of Zoloft for 11 days and yesterday I started to get bad hives. I want to quit cold turkey, what do you suggest?
View 1 RepliesI took Paxil for panic attacks three years ago for 30 days and then again for a year. Now, I am reaching third week without Paxil. I heard that the longer it took a person to become used to it at the beginning the longer it takes to withdraw and I am very worried if this is true. I feel nausea, seizures and dizziness. I need something to relieve the symptoms of Paxil withdrawal. This is the first time I have this experience with medication.
View 1 RepliesMy doctor told me that Paxil is a unique formulation that offers proven medical benefits for people with depression. Since I have problems with this disorder, he recommended me to use this drug. Although I have heard that Paxil gives you the powerful relief, I am still worried. Problem is that my neighbor told me his cousin lose weight from Paxil. That is why I want to hear is it possible to lose weight because of this medicine, and what else side effects I could expect.
View 14 RepliesDoes anyone know if mixing cannabis and ADs causes side effects
View 14 RepliesI have been taking Xanax 2mg about 6 times a day and 100mg of Zoloft for about 5 years. I am very confused now i knew there was going to be a bad withdrawal from the Xanax so i checked myself into a detox center to withdraw from it. I have not used Xanax for about 40 days now but i keep feeling like I'm in a daze and i get those electric shocks like my body is going threw a nervous breakdown. I was reading and these sound like withdraws of Zoloft. I have not felt the same since i checked into detox. I don't know if it's the Xanax or the Zoloft that i am experiencing all these withdrawals. I am not taking any of these medications. Can someone explain what it is that I'm going threw.
View 1 RepliesMy grandfather is taking one and he is becoming way worse and just lays in bed all day and doesn't eat anything at all. And looks like he''s going to die soon. Only reason why I'm asking this question here too is because he has Alzheimer's too.
View 1 RepliesI've reluctantly started Zoloft (SSRI antidepressant), being encouraged to do so by my GP due to the depression of diagnosis and the possibility I also have fibromyalgia.
(Pain isn't just limited to joints and fatigue is crippling) ie: I've slept 18 hours of the last 24 and still so very tired.
I'm having awful start up side effects which I understand will pass and understand there will be no benefit until 4-8 weeks, if at all.
I've tried Lexapro a while back with no real success.
Has anyone had any improvement at any level with ADs? I really hate mucking around with my brain chemistry.
I have been suffering with gerd symptom going on 3 years. Nothing helps me. I have minor heartburn 24/7 and flare up about every 2 months. So bad I have severe right sided Chest pain shortness of breath nausea. Sore and raspy throat that will last 2-5 days long. So I am not sure if this is a cold or acid. I have had ph test breath test. Endoscopy and this week ultrasound for gallbladder all test came back fine that I don't have to much acid. No prescriptions have work and no otc drugs work. The gi specialist as well as my fam dr. Told me the next step was go on antidepressants in which I did. Still no relief. Any suggestions before I pull my hair out. As I suffer everyday. Also I follow a gluten free diet I do not eat spicy foods I don't smoke and I am not overweight. My doctor feels he has done everything he can for me but I still suffer 24/7 it's ruining my life.
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