PCS folks - do antidepressants help?
 

I am wondering if anyone has found that antidepressants have helped them?

As I have begun to recover, I have become more aware of my trigger symptoms. Over the weekend additional stressors have been added and this resulted in a postcussion headache and I needed migraine meds. The last time I took them was 8th Feb. I have insominia, fatigue, tension waves through body, head pressure, light/noise sensitivity and my mood is flat. The headaches and other symptoms have without doubt reduced. I am wondering if tension/stress is a trigger, do I need to try antidepressants or other meds, and have others found that this helps recovery?

Mouse~,

For me, heck yes.

I was really having a difficult time with headaches, then the brain fog, dizziness set it, then the anxiety, my doc had me try a low dose of Nortiptyline, and we adjusted it till I was able to keep calm consistently.

I figured that if my brain had to heal, I'd rather it heal in a calm state, than trying to fight pain, anxiety. We are all experiements of one, so you have to discuss with your doctor who listens to you and find the best med to help you heal.

Good luck!


Mike

Hey Mike,

How are you doing ?

Have you tried Melatonin for the ice pick head aches ? I have been having momentary bouts with 'primary spiking head aches' as Mayo defines them. The web site suggests Melatonin as helpful for some.

I get my spiking head aches in the same right temple spot, never anywhere else.

Saved me
 

Antidepressants have saved my life since I suffer from PCS & PTSD.But they have also helped me with all my symptoms even cognitive!!!I greatly recommend if your emotions are on a roller coaster:hug:

Paxil so far, is helping me a bit even on my low dose. The side effects were mild compared to anything I have tried. It's been only 2 weeks, but so far its helping just a bit. It definitely helps calm down the anxiety. Its definitely an improvement from having constant anxiety with horrible symptoms. I am hoping that it kicks in fully soon, psych said 4-6 weeks. Just waiting it out patiently.

Thanks for this. I have been told that people with PCS have raised tension and arousal levels, it seems therefore that coping with stress is going to be more difficult. Especially if you have insomnia and noise/light sensitivity, not to mention all the worry about what the future holds. The stress of the weekend provoked my symptoms (all be it to a lesser extent than previously) and with it the migraine headaches. I thought it was just physical exercise and over exerting myself which caused this, but clearly too much stress is a factor also. Therefore have seen my GP today and got an antidepressant called Cymbalta 30mg, it also helps with neurological pain also. Has anyone used Cymbalta and found it helpful?

I didn't like Cymbalta, I gave it two chances. The start up effects were horrid. I was an emotional roller coaster that week and was begging my psych to get me off. But, everyone is different, so it may not be as bad for you. A lot of people though really like Cymbalta once you get past the side effects. I just couldn't, and I was very disappointed because I loved how the pain went away from the Occipital Neuralgia. But the nausea, oh dear god, was something to be desired. I hope it works better for you though. So don't let me scare you, it may help you better than me, we are all different.

Early days, but so far so good, feel a bit spaced out on it, but it has definately taken my mind away/distracted me away from my symptoms and has also nulled my headache a bit, this can all only help, and will also hopefully help me sleep. The longer PCS goes on the more you worry about outcomes, so perhaps this will help me deal with my situation better.

Glad to hear so far its working out for ya! :)

I take Pristiq 100mg cymbata was not good for me either.:grouphug: