Antidepressants for neuropathy?
 

I've read that some neurologists prescribe AD's for neuropathy relief?

Is anyone on them for this?

Does it help?

Thanks in advance.

Nortriptyline works pretty well for me

Yes, I was prescribed Nortriptyline early on but never filled the Rx. Low does Nortriptyline is often prescribed by some neurologists.

Yes
 

Hi. I am on venlafaxine and it has moderately helped. Tried wellbutren but it depressed me severely. Wishing you the greatest of luck!

I have been on Wellbutrin before and it didn't work for me.

I was also on venlafaxine and another SNRI in the past. Both caused increased in blood pressure and weight gain, so I got off of them. And SNRI's -- from my experience -- are notorious for causing metabolic issues. Of course, I took them before my present issue, but I've heard that tricyclics are often used.

I'll talk to my neurologist about this when I see him.

Altered sensation in any extremity -- formally diagnosed or not -- is very dispiriting. I wonder how people deal with this and live comfortably on a daily basis. When my symptoms flare up, I get so down and lose focus and interest in anything and everything.

I’ve tried Citalopram, Venlafaxine, Cymbalta and Savella and experienced horrendous side effects with each. No more antidepressants for me.

Antidepressants have never helped me for anything, certainly not depression or pain. sigh

have you had any side effects with nortriptyline?
I have been prescribed 30 mg at night, and I worry about weight gain because I'm already chubby.
For how long did you take? I have read people taking it for years, I'm so afraid, but the burning sensation and pain is so bad. I have not yet started it. thank you for your time

A/D's are handed out like candy from the docs who have nothing to offer. They are bandaids like so much many of the clueless docs use. Work to calm your neuropathy and I sure have posted plenty here on that one. Our bodies are NOT anti depressant deficient. Good luck...... Use this forum's neuropathy for support....there is infinite info to consider.

I believe these medicines were originally established for depression, but its since been discovered they help reduce neuropathic pain in low doses. So the AD label for them probably doesn't fit if prescribed for pain relief. It obviously has an effect on the neuro transmitter/hormone balance which may be causing the pain in the first place. There seems also to be a link between depression, anxiety and pain in how the body deals with all three.

I’m taking imipramine for my migraines. It seems to help slightly with the migraines but no help for neuropathy. But then again, the doctors are not quite sure what I have.

Doctors??? THey can come in handy when an emergency but to dig into our issues, forget it. Learn to be your own doctor with Dr. Google and/or head to naturopathic MD for their supports... If you have a neuropathy issue work on process of elimination and go from there. So much can cause neuropathy..maybe even your migraine drug. Just thinkin. The PN forum here has more info than a doc could ever offer. Or know for that matter.

I have tried every antidepressant mentioned plus some others. The side effects were worse than the pain. Lyrica, Tramadol, and gabapentin were just awful. The only thing that ever helped me is to stay in bed 2-3 days per week.
I have never tried anything (including supplements) that didn't have major side effects. I am extremely surprised that nobody is doing any research on solving this very common problem.

I've done a lot of research and I don't have depression with the neuropathy I deal with. Could be your thryoid needs some support overall....some tweaking. I've posted what I find has worked for my neuropathy issue and there are supplements that do help people with depresssion issues like:

Inositol
Gaba
L Theonine

and there are more

Have you worked with any of the above I mention? Again you could need some thyroid support,l I know that one as I went 10 yrs with NOT getting help from the "brilliant" doctors and the thyroid issue was long before neuropathy ever entered my life.

I've been taking supplements for about 30 yrs and NEVER had side effects...pharma drugs YES.

One I took trying to get the years ago depression under wraps was St Johns Wort and this herbal caused high blood pressure....so jumped off that one.....finally years later I got thyroid help.

Is there any evidence that these chemicals have any effect on depression?

Kiwi, I did my research and I'm not a scientist. It's all out there for us to look up on our own.

Here Kiwi, I just did a QUICK check:

Inositol | Mental Health America

I've used desipramine for the first 2 years of my idiopathic SFN and it relieved tingling and what I called "sunburns". It worked for me and I continue to take it at the dosage of 60mg per day and have taken it for 5.5 years. At 3 years into my SFN I started Gabapentin which has provided better relief from sharp, shooting pains. Gabapentin dose is 60mg per day. Hope this helps

apparently duloxetine (Cymbalta) has shown efficacy in double blind tests.

I've managed the 10 yrs of this neuropathy with NO A/D drugs....absolutely.

For me years ago getting thryoid supported got rid of a 10 yr depression. Long Story.

We can have this neuropathy stuff and no depression. We're not excited and happy to have it, but there is a lot to the depression world.