Antidepressants for Pain

hedonist

I’m looking at throat pain for about another year due to radiation. Since I don’t (ever!) want to get back on opioids and I’m limited in what I can take due to cirrhosis, my pain doctor prescribed a “low dose” of Effexor, an antidepressant. It’s supposed to be effective for pain but I’m reading some nightmarish accounts from people who were taking that dosage for depression and it really fucked with them. 

Does anyone have any experience in this realm? I don’t have a good feeling about this drug and feel like I should follow my instinct.

Thanks in advance!

lastexitlondon

Ive taken lots of ssri and i find they  make me numb and emotionless and very hard to get off of. 

deadendp

M tried several for "IBS" pain. None worked. Lexapro made him mean. (He is not a mean guy at all.) When he told me he was going off Lexapro (which was the 4th antidepressant they tried) and he wasn't trying another, I remember sitting on the kitchen floor and crying in relief. Good god, it was terrible. 

hedonist

That’s what I’m afraid of, Amy and Rob. Lack of ability to cry, emotionally numb, really. I quit drinking to end the self-imposed numbness! Feeling the bad parts of life can hurt like hell but it’s better than being essentially a robot.  

And I too worry about personality changes. I definitely don’t need to put my husband nor myself through more drama — avoidable, in this case.

 (I’m glad M and you got through that nightmare )

lastexitlondon

Personality  change 
 Good point. My step dad has been on sertraline a year
 He is a different  man
 Can't  even talk to him. 

BH76306

I don't have experience taking an SSRI for pain, but I do take one (Lexapro) for anxiety and depression and it has given me my life back. One of the best things I've ever done for myself.

hedonist

BH76306 said:

I don't have experience taking an SSRI for pain, but I do take one (Lexapro) for anxiety and depression and it has given me my life back. One of the best things I've ever done for myself.

That’s the thing — it works well for some, maybe most, who are taking it for depression and//or anxiety but my dosage for pain would be the same as someone taking it for its intended use. And then I’d be on it long term? What would that do to me, to my brain, its wiring?

I think I’m making up my mind here…

mickeyrat

hedonist said:

BH76306 said:

I don't have experience taking an SSRI for pain, but I do take one (Lexapro) for anxiety and depression and it has given me my life back. One of the best things I've ever done for myself.

That’s the thing — it works well for some, maybe most, who are taking it for depression and//or anxiety but my dosage for pain would be the same as someone taking it for its intended use. And then I’d be on it long term? What would that do to me, to my brain, its wiring?

I think I’m making up my mind here…

is there any data on the questions you pose in this post?

hedonist

mickey, not that I’ve found. Much of it is anecdotal but more than enough to give me pause. Plus just by my own common sense, it’d have to have some kind of effect. 

I imagine a good psychiatrist would know. 

mickeyrat

hedonist said:

mickey, not that I’ve found. Much of it is anecdotal but more than enough to give me pause. Plus just by my own common sense, it’d have to have some kind of effect. 

I imagine a good psychiatrist would know. 

so the reasoning behind use is as a nerve blocker? is that the idea?

and I would expect its been or wil be prescribed at a low dose dir to the liver problem,  yes?

hedonist

It’s one of the few drugs that’s unlikely to affect my liver (which we monitor regularly via labs). If I wanted to go back on morphine it’d be no problem but I can’t stand narcotics and their side effects.

I realize pretty much everything has side effects — hell, life itself has them! — but if I can avoid some, I will. I’ve had enough side effects to last a lifetime 😂

mickeyrat

hedonist said:

It’s one of the few drugs that’s unlikely to affect my liver (which we monitor regularly via labs). If I wanted to go back on morphine it’d be no problem but I can’t stand narcotics and their side effects.

I realize pretty much everything has side effects — hell, life itself has them! — but if I can avoid some, I will. I’ve had enough side effects to last a lifetime 😂

I get it, but surely its worth trying to see how you do?

hedonist

I’m worried about stopping it as well. It takes about two weeks to start feeling the results but if not? Now I’ve got potential effects both during and while getting off it.

It just doesn’t feel right to me. My discomfort at taking this is screaming and I think I have to heed to my gut. 

I will say that the pain really sucks. 

mickeyrat

hedonist said:

I’m worried about stopping it as well. It takes about two weeks to start feeling the results but if not? Now I’ve got potential effects both during and while getting off it.

It just doesn’t feel right to me. My discomfort at taking this is screaming and I think I have to heed to my gut. 

I will say that the pain really sucks. 

no doubt. Well good luck at arriving at an acceptable solution. I expect you have detailed convos with your docs about this stuff..... Have you explored what if any benefits might come from certain CBD products? Any studies you might become a part of to this effect?

hedonist

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

mickeyrat

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

welp, we've exhausted my expertise. you should consult the professionals ......

lastexitlondon

Im sceptical about them relieving  pain at All 

Purple Fairy Tree

I know people who have been prescribed antidepressants for hip pain.

lastexitlondon

Ive heard of it like amitriptyline  for  sleep and mild pain relief . And the anti psychotic  i was to take for sleep knocked me out . I wasnt psychotic and never  have been but i was prescribed  it and its good for when you need it all to stop and to shut down half a day 

a5pj

I think this may be a question to ask Doctors, not Pearl Jam message board posters. Call a few different offices.
Sorry to hear you're in pain.

hedonist

a5pj said:

I think this may be a question to ask Doctors, not Pearl Jam message board posters. Call a few different offices.
Sorry to hear you're in pain.

But PJ board members are my go-to for life’s decisions!

 I wanted to see if others here have been through this. Not all, but many doctors don’t seem to give much thought to how the patient will truly be affected by certain meds.

lastexitlondon

And many Drs  never took these pills so can't  know  what the experience  is like

static111

.

a5pj

hedonist said:

a5pj said:

I think this may be a question to ask Doctors, not Pearl Jam message board posters. Call a few different offices.
Sorry to hear you're in pain.

But PJ board members are my go-to for life’s decisions!

 I wanted to see if others here have been through this. Not all, but many doctors don’t seem to give much thought to how the patient will truly be affected by certain meds.

   

Get_Right

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

What about THC? 

cblock4life

I may have mentioned it awhile ago when your journey began but look into Wellbutrin- antidepressant, mood elevator, pain reliever.
I also have CFS and it really helps.  It’s an older pharmaceutical.  

hedonist

Get_Right said:

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

What about THC? 

Unfortunately, throat cancer has ended my smoking days. Edibles don’t really affect me (not like they used to; could be due to cirrhosis) so I use THC softgels. Need about 200 mg though!

Rob, I want to be in charge of my moods, if that makes sense. I don’t want to take any type of antidepressant, low dosage or not. 

lastexitlondon

hedonist said:

Get_Right said:

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

What about THC? 

Unfortunately, throat cancer has ended my smoking days. Edibles don’t really affect me (not like they used to; could be due to cirrhosis) so I use THC softgels. Need about 200 mg though!

Rob, I want to be in charge of my moods, if that makes sense. I don’t want to take any type of antidepressant, low dosage or not. 

I agree totally. Im not sure antidepressants work for pain . In my opinion 

Get_Right

hedonist said:

Get_Right said:

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

What about THC? 

Unfortunately, throat cancer has ended my smoking days. Edibles don’t really affect me (not like they used to; could be due to cirrhosis) so I use THC softgels. Need about 200 mg though!

Rob, I want to be in charge of my moods, if that makes sense. I don’t want to take any type of antidepressant, low dosage or not. 

I was not suggesting smoking!!  200 mg would knock me out for a week.  Hope you find some relief.  

hedonist

Get_Right said:

hedonist said:

Get_Right said:

hedonist said:

I’m already in one clinical research trial for my liver. More would be too much and being another Guinea pig doesn’t sweeten the deal. 

And CBD does absolutely nothing for me, dammit. 

What about THC? 

Unfortunately, throat cancer has ended my smoking days. Edibles don’t really affect me (not like they used to; could be due to cirrhosis) so I use THC softgels. Need about 200 mg though!

Rob, I want to be in charge of my moods, if that makes sense. I don’t want to take any type of antidepressant, low dosage or not. 

I was not suggesting smoking!!  200 mg would knock me out for a week.  Hope you find some relief.  

Thanks! My out-of-whack body ain’t what it used to be 😛

Purple Fairy Tree

hedonist said:

a5pj said:

I think this may be a question to ask Doctors, not Pearl Jam message board posters. Call a few different offices.
Sorry to hear you're in pain.

But PJ board members are my go-to for life’s decisions!

 I wanted to see if others here have been through this. Not all, but many doctors don’t seem to give much thought to how the patient will truly be affected by certain meds.