Antidepressants | Arthritis Information

Hi Eveyone,

I went to my MD yesterday to find the cause of my leg cramps. He told me it was probably from the RA. Kinda fiqured that one, but when he started talking about my leg being swollen and sore to the touch he started mentioning wheelchairs and scooters! That did it I started bawling. He then told me that having RA causes many if not most people to become depressed and he put me on an antideppresant 30mg. of Cymbalta. Is anyone here on antidepressants or been told the same? Thanks

My first questions is: are you depressed? Because you cried doesn't mean you're depressed, it may mean you're sad or grieving. Just because the RD says you're depressed doesn't mean you're depressed. There are signs and symptoms for clinical depression. If you have all of those symptoms then maybe you should take the medication. If not, then the choice is yours but why medicate if you don't truly need it.

I've cried in my doctor's offices but my tears are tears of frustration with the disease, not depression. It's a good thing to cry sometimes. I'm concerned about your leg being so swollen and sore to the touch. Did he address your leg? Give you any advice, further testing, or meds to bring down the swelling. What area of your leg is swollen and sore? Lindy

Hi LinB,

Yes I have had bouts of depression all my life and have been on and off the drugs. I was diaganosed whith depression when I was 20. Even my husband has noticed the change in my mood lately. So I believe if I take them maybe I won't feel so bad.

Thanks for the response!

I started taking zoloft a year ago for terrible mood issues right before Aunt Flo's monthly visit. Within 2 weeks, I noticed that RA pain/fatigue was much less of a problem for me. I mentioned it to my rheumatologist when I saw her 2 months later and she says that for many people, antidepressants can really help with pain/fatigue issues from chronic illness. I get far worse with stress and i have social anxiety since a child. Being on 20mg of paxil is a gift from god for me. I can live through days now, not only am I not freaked out making appointments and visiting the doctor, but I no longer have body aches, some of my old asthma attacks and worse RA.Forgot to mention, it took me almost 2 months for full results from paxil.Good point. Depression isn't something that you just snap out of. Hope you find out what is wrong with your leg.

Do antidepressants really work and if so how? I have had periods of depression, haven't been so bad lately but seems to be getting worse again. Never had the guts to ask for tablets, its feels like you are admitting something really horrible. These periods started before I was diagnosed so don't know if I can really say they are related to RA.Before I was actually depressed I would burst into tears all the time at the doctor. I just cry easily. I would be offered antidepressants in lieu of dx because no one could figure it out, but I wasn't depressed! Then when I was really depressed when I got my rx. Valium for a while to get me through, now Lexapro. Maybe placebo effect but I don't care it has worked! Picked me up. I have been on Zoloft before back in high school and had much worse side effects, Lexapro has worked well for me. I may wean off of it soon though.

I saw this study right when i started http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20080227/antidepressants-no-better-than-placebo so I went on SAM-E instead but decided (intellectually) that i didn't have faith it would help. And I had faith in Lexapro. It may have worked chemically, or through placebo effect, but either way, it worked! I also did a little talk therapy at the time. Yes they do work. It may take a month or so. They work with the lost chemicals in your brain. You know the happy stuff. Never be ashashed of asking for them! The medication will make you feel better about yourself and others around you will see it too. It may or may not be related to Ra but depression is not something you have to deal with. It is treatable and can put the happy and strong back in your life.Thanks Joonie. My Md thinks it may be the Ra Speading.

Thanks for caring!

hey friend, join the club! ;) haha
i'm on 120 mg of cymbalta because my all my drs agree i'm depressed because of my severe RA. they say that cymbalta not only treats depression, but also helps with pain -- so that can help. just be careful if you get dizzy, tell your dr if that happens.hey friend! join the club! ;)
i'm on 120 mg of cymbalta because my all my drs agree i'm depressed because of my severe RA. they say that cymbalta not only treats depression, but also helps with pain -- so that can help. just be careful if you get dizzy, tell your dr if that happens.hey friend, join the club! ;)
i'm on 120 mg of cymbalta because my all my drs agree i'm depressed because of my severe RA. they say that cymbalta not only treats depression, but also helps with pain -- so that can help. just be careful if you get dizzy, tell your dr if that happens.

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