I have to confess that i have been feeling very depressed and thought it would be better if i refrained from writing or reading in this forum, but now i need to

I had refused taking drugs because i am young and i didn't want to depend on them to feel good. However I realize i am not feeling very good and i am a bit desperate and depressed. My last neuro precribed amitrityline and lyrica. i took both for very little time. I am wonering now if i should give both a try now, or one of them. My pain is tolerable but i still hate it and it becomes worse when i am reading or trying to do activities i used to enjoy. For that reason it is very difficult for me to perform well at work, because my jobs consists on reading writting tasks. I cannot quit my job and i don't want to. I would be more depressed. i would just like to be able to concentrate better without being thinking about my pain. The doctor had prescribed 25 mg of amittriptyline but i am thinking perhaps the dose was very low and that is way i didn't get any releif from the little time i took it. So... do you think i should go into meds?? If so, what is the dosage i should take and how long do i have to wait for the drug to take full efect?

I am so worriend about possible side effects, like suicidal thoughts!! or pain becoming worse... Is it worth a try??

However, only YOU can decide what does or doesn't work for you at any given time. The only way you will find out is to give some things a try.
Simply put, meds are either going to work, work too well, work sort of well or not work at all.
I've been given some meds that I KNEW from pill two that IT and I were not going to get along together well at all. For others they either took a time to really work or a time to bring out those pesky side effects we all hate.
Also important in my opinion, is to be aware that taking a bunch of 'pills' in the AM and then in the PM isn't always the best way to go. For example, calcium taken with many meds can interfere or enhance the good/bad effects of the med.
Don't let that put you off though. You have to try and have a life. Finding the right meds to get you there are key to getting that and keeping it!
As for depression? Well, who here isn't a bit depressed with the constants of PN? Just keep looking around and finding those good things [blessings, maybe?] that you can count. They are there, tho they mite be hiding.
's and good things to you and soon - j

Monica -

Dahlek is right, only you know what is right for you. Like you I was reluctant to take any of the meds prescribed but couldn't stand the burning. Since meds, I have alot less pain and can function better. For the first few weeks before meds I lay in the bed (with ice packs on all the buring areas) praying for relief then hoping to die.

For me it is a trade off...don't take the meds, suffer the pain and not be able to work/enjoy life or take the meds, minimize the pain and sorta' fog through! In the beginning it did take a while to get relief as the dosages are low and it takes time to get into the system, I think. The dosages slowly were elevated, came a bit more brain fog, but now I have been on a stable dosage for awhile and the brain fog seems to have lifted a great deal and I'm not burning to much.

As you said, you are very young. I'm old as dirt, but I know we all pray that better treatments will come along in our life time and certainly in yours. Hang in there! This is a great and caring group and I know they are there for you as they have been for me.

Sounds like you are taking these medications for pain if so the dosage for treating depression is different than the dosage prescribed for pain. Also one of the medicines you are taken is rarely prescribed for treating depression except when everything else has failed. Do not rely on your neurologist for treating depression even if it is related to your illness. As with most serious illnesses it is best to see a specialist so that your treatment is with a medication that works for you , at the lowest effective dose with the least side effects. Also "talk" therapy has been proven to be just as effective as medication the only drawback is that it may take longer to take effect however recurrence is less likely with psychotherapy . The most effective treatment for "true" clinical depression is medication and therapy combined usually with the goal of getting off meds.

Hi Monica;

I dislike taking drugs as well. Might I suggest that you try some vitamin B12 (1000 mg twice per day)for a week before you go back to the tricyclite amitrityline. If you have a an MD who will give you an injection that is even faster. There are no side effects and your body will eliminate what it doesn't use. It is a natural mood elevator which helps your synapse hold a serotonin molecule for a longer period of time. Once you are feeling better you may be able to handle your pain via distraction, muscle relaxation, bio-feedback, etc.
When I am feeling pretty down I also drink a cup of St. Johns Wort Tea, sweeting it with honey. I have had severe neuropathic pain for over 30 years, I understand how frustrating and what a downer it can be. Please do not get down on yourself for feeling depressed, pain sourced depression is part of who we are.

I know it is hard to not focus on the negatives but there could be a lot of benefits you recieve. I am not trying to sway you one way or the other. I would encourage you to talk to your doctors about your fears and concerns. I have been on both those meds before and am a younger one here. Before this health issue I had tried many meds for mental health issues at a young age 18. It does not have to be forever. Try to take one day at a time. Who know you may feel much better mentally and physically and that will help you feel better taking them.On a side note please reach out for support in real time if you get desperate and you feel unsafe. I am not sure what that meant in your post. Things can get better. You have to hold to hope. You can email me too if you want a buddy.

Thank you everyone. Once again i decided not to take the meds. On my bad days i just feel i need something. I've decided to stick to the supplements. I may be giving lyrica a try though. I think it has fewer side effects, doesn't it?

Thank you all for your support.

Ok, personally I couldn't function if I wasn't taking something for my PN. I am on both of those drugs, but you should not be controling your own dosage, and you def. should not be going on and off of them it can mess up your brain chemistry. Ok. Lecture over.

The amitryptaline I have to say has very few side effects and is given to a lot of people in different kinds of nerve pain. (I was origionally on it for migraines). But when I got the PN they upped it to 60mg. a night. (Which apparently is still considered a mild dose. It is also given to people who have depression, but not too often anymore (it is one of the older anti-depressants) The only side effect I got from it was dry mouth. (which is easily fixed.)

The Lyrica can have lots of side effects, the most common is confusion or being out of it, sleepiness, etc. (You can google it for more!) But these only lasted for about a week for me and then I have never had any more from it. And it works quite well (for me). But this is one of those drugs where it either works or it doesn't. (either because it doesn't relieve pain or because people are too out of it to function in their painless state.)

Now for both of these drugs though you have to be on them for a couple weeks to a month to begin to see any real difference. I hope you will talk to your Dr. Maybe he can up the amitryptaline, and if you stay on it for a month or so you might see a difference. I hope you feel better.