Posted by bleauberry on August 3, 2011, at 5:18:47
In reply to Is it possible to be allergic to antidepressants?, posted by G-man885858 on July 30, 2011, at 23:58:57
We can be allergic to anything. My gut instinct opinion in your case is that you are not having an allergic reaction. It is instead a reaction highlighting something else that for some reason is very sensitive to neurotransmitter changes. I know that scenario really well, as do most Lyme patients. Over sensitivity that looks like allergic reaction or paradoxical reaction of exaggerated reaction, is a sign there is something else going on.
What it is, I don't know. Could be a stealth infection that you won't be able to diagnose but will have to instead take various herbs to try to pinpoint whether it is bacterial, fungal or viral, or heavy metal accumulation (easy in our world). It's basically a confused immune response.
This weirdness shows up sometimes with longterm usage of psych meds as well. I don't think anyone knows why. Maybe some genes or receptors have been significantly modified by the drugs.
In the Lyme circles, it is rather common for patients to have reactions like you experienced. It is not uncommon for them to find super low doses effective, helpful, and tolerable. Your clues are already screaming that whatever doses you took were too high for your biochemistry. My doc had people doing well on 1mg of lexapro as an example. I personally like 18mg of milnacipran, after working up from a starting point of 6.25mg.....so my final dose which felt the best was lower than the lowest starting dose! Someone else here just posted about how their 2.5mg was good, but regular doses were bad.
I'm probably alone on this, but I see what I see. It is what it is. My guess is a stealth infection. That would completely explain the symptoms of severe anxiety, muscle rigidity, headaches, and the general sick catatonic feeling. Psych drugs don't do anything to help with the problem and can actually exaggerate it.
Just based on the information you have given, I personally feel you will do a whole lot better with plant medicines. I'm talking stress/adrenal herbs and antimicrobial herbs, and for the antidepressant itself, Rhodiola. The whole game isn't any easier or clear cut than psychiatry meds, but has far greater potential for longterm improvement and healing, and is much easier to fine tune choices and doses.
Did you know there are herbs that still today, after 2000 years, do a better job than the pharmaceutical competitors? They don't make headlines however because no one can make a profit on them. But for those who know, wisdom is healing.
poster:bleauberry
thread:992367
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110728/msgs/992666.html