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What's safe to take for depression?
I've struggled with depression since my teens, ranging from chronic low-grade (dysthymia) to suicidal "major" or "clinical" depression, for which I was hospitalized. Add a few heart conditions and possible ischemic stroke to that and then have to move where I know no one and don't fit in the conservative culture, and then not being able to take SSRI antidepressants because of my bradycardia -- well, it's rather grim. I function fine most of the time, but I can hardly stand to be inside my own head some days, and I alienate a lot of people because of my "negativity." I was actually asked to leave a church-sponsored women's "support" group because, as the leader put it, "You're so depressed that it makes me weary." Really. She said that!
I've seen a psychologist who was of no help at all in telling me what I could take, only what I couldn't take, which I knew already. I did go back on Prozac briefly last year, out of desperation, but it lowered my heart rate noticeably and steadily. So that was that after about 10 days.
I'm pretty good at all the cognitive behavioral therapy stuff on my own: Change your mind, I call it ("What to Say When You Talk to Yourself" was a life-changing book for me). I'm not interested nor can I afford to go into talk therapy. Been there, done that.
So is there anything new I don't know about that is safe for people with arrhythmias and heart failure to take, perchance?
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It helped keep the hyper emotional side effects of the other meds in check. Ive actually been on the entresto for about a month now. Everything seems to be good so far.
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2 Reactions@tiredofbeingsick
That is really good. One thing I've learned is that when you heart is not functioning at it's best, it does create a sense of uneasiness which has a physical basis.
Teresa
UPDATE: I'm trying the generic of Cymbalta, which is an SSNRI rather than the more common SSRI. The problem is that some SSRIs can cause bradycardia. I took Prozac off and on for decades, and I now have bradycardia. I tried it again last year, and my heart rate slowed steadily and noticeably. That seems to be happening with Cymbalta, too. Resting rate is now around 47, and it's been down to 41 while sleeping. That's a few to several beats lower than normal even for me. I'm trying to make it through two weeks to see if my body adapts.
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1 ReactionHi @soloact,
Thank you so much for the update. I'm so glad you mentioned Duloxetine (generic of Cymbalta). I take Duloxetine as well, although I have tachycardia, and it has been discussed in various conversations throughout Connect by a number of members, like @quazar @sandytoes14 @kdubois @jimhd @kathyv @lauriedr @jenapower @janie56 to name a few.
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1 ReactionHi, @soloact - it's good to hear you're doing okay so far with Cymbalta. I just stopped taking it because it wasn't helping me with the pain, which is what it was prescribed for. I have SVT, and take Diltiazen, and haven't had a tachycardic event since starting Diltiazen. I hope it works for you.
Jim
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