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Multiple Sclerosis/Depression/PTSD
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Oct 5 12:49am | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Dear Manysilver: I am in much the same situation as you, except I have dry eye instead of MS. I'm on clonazepam but no anti-depressants, and don't have the desire to do anything. But I wanted to make some suggestions, rather than blather on about myself. Have you tried taking the herb Valerian for sleeping? I have taken it as a tincture or as pills and despite its aroma (it smells like Parmesan cheese and/or smelly feet!) it helps me to fall asleep and stay asleep and awaken feeling somewhat refreshed. As with any drug you should read up on it in the literature or the internet and MUST consult with your physician before you take it. It IS a powerful herb and has interactions with other drugs and herbs. One place I know you can purchase it by mail is at http://www.swansonvitamins.com. I'm sure there are equally reputable sources for it at other companies and stores--this is just the one I know.
Another thing you could try for sleep is Melatonin. I take the dose recommended on the bottle, but it doesn't work for me. It messes up my sleep, waking me fully up in the middle of the night and making me super-tired the next morning, so I fall asleep THEN when I should be getting out of bed, but some people find it useful. I don't know much about it, so again, you should read up on it and talk to your doctor BEFORE taking it, even though it is over the counter at all the pharmacies I visit, looking all innocent in its little bottle.
I'm still working on getting through the withdrawal effects of going off Cymbalta 3 weeks ago (having tapered according to the doctor's plan). I don't even know who I am right now, and whether I can trust a thought, or believe something my brain is telling me. I am hanging in there though, will wait out the withdrawal symptoms, and start fresh when they are gone. I keep fantasizing that one day I will simply wake up, and ha, ha, ("poof") the real me will be back again! No matter what has happened in the past to me EVERYDAY IS A FRESH START. I try to remember that but can't always.
I hope some of my comments and suggestions are worthwhile. Most of the statements you made could have come out of my mouth, so I truly know how you feel.
Best regards,
Warren
Replies to "Dear Manysilver: I am in much the same situation as you, except I have dry eye..."
Warren: I forgot to tell you that I am taking Clonazepam (Very Addictive) at night as taking it during the day will make you tire and sleepy. Don't take Ativan (Lorazepam) as it is also very addictive and really screwed me up for two years as I was being tapered off of it. If a drug has side effects going on and off it, I will have them even ones not listed in the pamphlets. Take care JaneL @manysilver
Hi Jane: I don't have many friends either, and I have a brother who is far away and also mentally ill. Fortunately I have my wife's family and her children by her first marriage, but as you can imagine, although we love/like each other, they, too, are far away, and I don't always have a lot of positive things to share with them in any case.
I have not been religious in my life, but I'm thinking about becoming so. Sometimes I think that only a miracle will save me!
Best regards, Warren
As a 20+ year sufferer of anti-depressant resistant major depression disorder with anxiety also I have to ask if you have looked into Spravato. It is a nasal spray version of ketamine that they call esketamine. After 20 years of fighting this disease with different anti-depressants , 12 treatments of ECT I was at my ropes end. Then I was referred to a Spravato clinic. I felt a change after my first treatment. After 1 month of getting it twice a week and then 1 month of getting it once a week what a difference it made. I had also developed the disease where you have no positive emotions. It was like whatever that was going on in your life that should make you happy it didn't. Then at the end of my second month of treatment someone told a joke and I laughed out loud. It startled me as I had not laughed in years. So it is making a difference for me. That's my story and we'll see how it continues with Esketamine.
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Hi Warren: What a relief! There is someone out there that finally understands what I've been through and am currently going through. I am currently taking Melatonin per directions of my psychiatrist but I may ask her whether I should go off of it to see if I am more alert when I wake up. To combat my sleepiness in the morning, my psychiatrist prescribed D-Amphetamine Salt Combo (Allderal sp?) an upper. Nothing like taking one pill to combat the side effects of another drug. I hate that! I'll ask my psychiatrist about Valerian. Meanwhile, I still am suffering. I have no friends to speak of and I am estranged from my family so there isn't anyone I can really talk to. Thanks Warren for understanding and your words of comfort!