Anyone willing to share what they take and how it has helped them cope
and doesn't interact badly with their R.A. meds?
I'm really thinking that my moods began when my R.A. began and I was
putting off treatment forever. I'm at the point where putting it off isn't an
option any more.
Thanks,I take Minocin...it helped HUGELY with my depression. I also take moderate exercise.
Really, I'm not being flippant. This combo totally worked for me.
Zoloft and the later Lexapro have both helped me with depression. I've taken one or the other for several years and I know they really help me cope with all the stresses in my life. I tried to go off a few months ago for a couple of months and really noticed a difference. I'm back on Lexapro now and as far as the moods etc go, I'm feeling pretty even.I take a low dose of Zoloft (50mg/day). It was originally prescribed for premenstrual difficulties (I have an urge to "reach out and punch someone"), but it ended up helping a great deal with the everyday RA aches and pains. After a few months, though, it's not working as well as it originally did. I will be talking with the rheumatologist about it when I see her in 3 weeks.
I take effexor for depression/anxiety. I recently added buspar for anxiety. That has made a world of difference for me. I have been able to reduce the effexor which is a bonus as well.
I take Paxil with great results. I also walk about a mile a day (since getting a cortisone injection) that I think really helps as well.
Take care,
dear Arthmom, I'm not taking any anti depressants right now, but I'm real interested in what everyone else takes. There are so many people here who can give you advice. I felt so horribly tired last week, but seem to be coming out of it? Don't know the difference. Maybe just further into the remicade/mtx treatment? and away from the prednisone completely? Good luck with your treatment. LyndaI take celexa. An antideppresant I do not react well to pred. I really doubt anyone does. I have trouble with antideppresants but celexa i can take without side effects. My doc wanted me on cymbalta for pain issues. I wanted me on celexa for mental issues. Like confusion fatique anger depression. And celexa helps keep me awake usually.Actually i was wondering about reactions with RA meds myself. I called the pharmacy and asked him how all my meds would interact. You hear about famous people and there pain meds not interacting with there anti deppresants. My sister takes celexa and vicoden but not pred and Arava. All this medicine scares me a bit. I take Cymbalta...have not had any adverse reactions with my RA meds. I take Celexa and Welbutrin but I am just starting on Minocycline for my RA. I think they both help alot with both depression and anxiety, but can't help you on the biologics. Hi I take Paxil, it is tremendous for depression/anxiety, I was on 20mg daily before RA and now need 40mg a day since RA, my DR does get concerned about SERETONIN SYNDROME, due to combination of Paxil, Endep (amytriptiline), Endone and sometimes Temaze (sleeping pill), so she tries to limit my doses. Hope this helps - but seriously I am a different person without Paxil - not nice - moody, aggressive, irritable and sometimes violent to my hubby around PMT time, this has completely gone now - SCARY!!!!! I would never come off of it as every time I have tried, I am so out of control with my feelings and emotions. Hugs Janie.
I was on the 50mg of Zoloft same as Jaz. I have now changed to a respective 150mg. of Effexor...I do like it and after the infusions and MTX I can really tell a lot of difference in mood and pain management. I do like that. I still have a goal to be off of pain meds by the first of the year, but that has been my goal since March, and I have had to move it twice. WE shall see.
I do like the Effexor better, because I actually have some energy to burn!!! Energy is in short supply these days.
I gained a lot of weight on paxil and then effexor. I'm at a point where I feel like I need one of these meds again for awhile just to get my brain chemicals rebalanced. I've been having more anxiety lately. I wish I knew of something specifically for anxiety that doesn't cause weight gain. I do have .25 xanax but I hardly ever take it because it doesn't help much. Thank you all for posting!