Hi,

I am asking this on behalf of my wife, as the is too tired to research her problems any longer.

My wife has suffered from non-nerve related pains the last 3-4 months. Due to these pains she has tried a number of medicines, including anti-depressants and antibiotics. When testing some of these medicines she started having nerve-related sensations. I'll give a simple chronological rundown. The dates aren't exact but

9 weeks ago ago: tried SSRI (Sertralin) antidepressants. after just one dose she started having weird nerve sensations all over her body within a few hours, first pins-and-needles and then more painful ones. We stopped right away with the medication. The sensations abated in a few days but she had minor remnants of it for about a week.

5 weeks ago: we both started eating Azithromycin antibiotics to treat a rare bacteria infection. She started having the same type of tingling and burning sensations all over her body, but she didn't describe them as painful, just as weird and bothersome. The sensations moved around a lot from day to day and wasn't focused on a specific part of her body. After ending the 5-day antibiotic treatment she still had them, all up until...

2 weeks ago: started a second antidepressant trial, this time with Mirtazapin. A few days in she felt that the tingling and burning she had started becoming more pronounced and painful. A week in the had to stop with the antidepressants because the feared the neurological pain would keep on increasing.

Today: the neurological sensations have become more of a painful ache. The tingling and burning sensations are mostly gone, or rather replaced by more pronounced feeling of pain. It's also more constant. What's interesting is that the pain is located almost exclusively on the right side of her body. She reports that the main source of pain is her right hand, foot and lower leg. She also feels pain around her right arm pit and breasts. She still has the odd tingling/burning (on both left and right side of her body, as well as her head, mouth at times etc). She occasionally has a feeling of numbness to her her right hand/right foot, but she has no issues with balance. She also isn't sensitive to touch, I can massage the areas that she feels pain from without the pain increasing. However she does feel a bit "sore" when I massage her so obviously something is going on there.

Sertralin, Azithromycin and Mirtazapin all list paresthesia as a side effect. And I see some sources that mention antibiotics as a possible cause for neuropathy. She is also eating diazepam (Valium, basically) and morphine on a daily basis for treating pain and anxiety.

When I read up on sensory peripheral neuropathy it always says that it usually starts in both feet and travel up the legs and then to the hands. For her the tingling and burning moved all over the body every day, and when she started having more pronounced pain it was first in the right hand, then the right foot and lower leg. So it seems she doesn't fit the standard symtoms.

Coupled with this she is also suffering from a lot of anxiety due to all the pain and the prolonged exposure to crappy healthcare that offers little help. I know there are lots of reports from people with anxiety and depression of similar symtoms that eventually just abate when they feel better mentally. However that feels like to easy an explanation and I wouldn't feel content just saying "it will probably pass".

So, I'm curious if anyone recognizes these symtoms and the way her nerve pain has developed? Anyone else suffered neuropathy from antibiotics or antidepressants? Or valium/diazepam? I'm glad for ANY HELP and any input regarding these issues.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read.

Oh and one more thing. We are seeing a neurologist tomorrow. Any specific tests I should demand that they do? Blood? Urine?

I can't offer a lot of advice beyond just telling your wife that she has a lot of company with non-standard symptoms. I have weird sensations all over that do indeed seem to move around. I call them "rushes" as they're like that "chill up and down your spine" feeling when you get a shot of adrenaline, only they occur in isolated areas.

It's easier said than done I know, but getting the anxiety and worry under control will help tremendously. My symptoms improved a lot once I just became more accepting of my situation and adopted an "It is what it is" mentality. It doesn't mean I've given up on the fight to get better, I just know it's not going to dibilitate me or kill me. I only have occasional bad nerve pain now. Whether that's due to dietary changes, supplements, an attitude change or just a change in pathology, I don't know.

Yes, yes yes -- I am going to start a very pointed thread on this. I think antidepressants are neurotoxic for me. I also know statins and antibiotics are known neurotoxins for some people.

To briefly summarize my story -- I had severe Parkinsonism last year because of an over-the-top antidepressant cocktail. Had MRI's, the whole bit -- no one suspected the drugs. I then developed allergic reactions and lethal levels of high blood pressure. I was told to go off cold-turkey (my throat was swelling with each dose). Then had abrupt withdrawal syndrome and almost died.

Recovered from that over the course of several months. Parkinsonism disappeared. Depression was also gone! Yet it took months to get my blood pressure down, and I was virtually bed-ridden. I began to recover in February -- worked at home and went to the gym.

Then suddenly last April I was hit with the most profound depression of my life along with a slew of dysautonomic symptoms. Severe GERD, neuropathies in my hands and feet, hair loss, dry skin and eyes, insomnia, heart palpitations -- 23 symptoms in all. I had a negative EMG two months ago and two positive skin biopsies for small fiber neuropathy. Worst symptom by far now is fatigue -- I understand why you are writing for your wife. I could not work at all, and basically spent my time in bed trying to fight the depression. I went into therapy and did not take any medications. I have a great psychiatrist who is also a neurologist, as well as a psychologist.

Yet, my depression was the worst in my life, so I gradually went on 15 mg. of mirtazipine, and more recently 10 mg. of nortripyline (just doubled it this week).

Depression is lifting and I am far less anxious. Yet neuropathic pain and similar symptoms are now far worse. They increase each day! Docs feel this cannot be happening, for these meds are used for neuropathic pain, and there is virtually nothing in the literature about this. On the other hand, my digestion is better, and my skin seems a bit smoother. Insomnia is worse though.

I don't know what to do at this point. There are some antidepressants that are anticonvulsants -- lictamil (sp) is one.

I am pursuing this -- looking for literature. I noted that all of these meds do list neuropathy as a potential side effect -- just very rare I guess. This site might be a way to find out how rare.

I am sorry this is happening to your wife, yet perhaps our stories will help others, and perhaps people might comment on coping with depression as well as dsyautonomia.

I wish you the best -- Sylvie

My personal opinion is I believe so so many are overdrugged with pharmaceticuls. Ever thought of working outside the conventional medical box and finding an integrative MD or naturopath who will work to get to the root of things going on. I have a history of medical doctors NOT helping me so I left their world and see only an integrative MD and do a lot of my health work with health groups/support groups.

I've had damage done, family members have, friends have so I know a lot of people go outside the box.

Underactive Thyroid is major with depression, I knew that for 10 yrs and not getting help thanks to NUMBERS, we are not numbers. We are symptoms. I know that Dr. Teitelbaum for one MD talks about theraputic dosing of natural thyroid regardless of labs.

I am a great proponent of grape seed extract which I'm taking now for 20 yrs. This antioxidant addresses so much. I've worked alternatively for over 25 yrs. I've lost a lot of faith in conventional medicine. I'm 77 and basically pretty healthy but live with a mess of hip replacement and advancing arthritis. Hope you find your ways. C

B-12 deficiency can mimic Neuropathy in many ways, your wife's number needs to be above 400. Also if there is any doubt about whether she is a diabetic, the A1c will give an average of blood glucose over the last two weeks. I was diabetic for a couple of years at age 45 before diagnosed. Diabetic Neuropathy is one of the many types of Neuropathy. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.