Depression and PN: Anyone have success with an antidepressant?

Posted by jan64 @jan64, Sep 7 5:00pm

I posted recently about my rapid onset PN (lots of tests, but hitting a wall with the SFN biopsy). I am taking 1800 mg of gabapentin and 20 mg of amitriptyline at night. I am seeing a LCSW to help me with the anxiety, but now I feel very depressed and hopeless as the PN has worsened and my spine & neck are having burning pain. I was trying Physical therapy where the PT was trying neck retractions and extensions with me. I got covid on Monday and by Friday my PN has spread further up my legs and the tightness increased dramatically. I now am smelling a weird smell in the air that is not there. I feel like a basket case! I am frequently crying. Please tell me any success with an antidepressant other than amitriptyline. I understand the amitriptyline is too low a dose to treat depression. My hands, forearms, feet, legs, spine are all affected.

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cecelia19 | @cecelia19 | Sep 12 10:39pm

I’m pretty much where you are. Sometimes I don’t know which is worse, the pain or the depression. I couldn’t tolerate the Gabapentin and because I was already on 50mg Amitriptyline for trigeminal neuralgia that developed long ago, he is upping my dose 10mg/week until I get to 100 because that would be more effective for the pain. I also found that Ativan .5 in the late afternoon when the pain gets worse, takes the edge off. I have had three acupuncture sessions at a hospital and not sure what is helping, but some days are getting more tolerable. I also take Tylenol and ibuprofen. I may get a second opinion down the road at a major medical facility. Blood work should return next week and will check for an underlying autoimmune disease. I also have Raynaud’s and recently had two inflammatory eye conditions to add to this clinical conundrum. Patience is difficult when you are in pain, especially this kind. My open heart surgery was a walk in the park compared to this. Stay strong and know I am right in that boat in rough seas with you and have hope that we will soon make it to shore.