Antidepressant medication Question

[Jane37]

Hello, my name is Jane and I was diagnosed with depression 10 years ago.  I have had no luck with antidepressants.  A year and a half ago my Dr talked me into trying one more.  For a long time I did not connect my seemingly overnight manifestation of extreme muscle stiffness and pain with this medication (an SNRI antidepressant).  I stumbled on the information that this is one of the less common side effects whilst researching withdrawals.  My Dr and I went ahead with weaning me off the stuff over the past 6 weeks, however there is no information out there about whether or not this muscle stiffness and pain will gradually recede now that the drug is leaving my system.  Does anybody know the answer to this?

Kind regards

Jane

[geoff]

dear Jane, I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that it will.

What I would do is either walk daily or go for a swim as often as you can, because when you have a hip operation ( me) you are meant to swim frequently, simply because you are weightless in the water and you can move your limbs that you can't do out of the pool, and boy how good that feels.

You could hire a walking machine so you don't miss The Bold and the Beautiful, or there is machine with a belt and when you turn it on it vibrates certain areas.

So really have to try and exercise and not to stay still. L Geoff. x

[Rbjustme]

Hi Jane 37,

I have had the same problem having been on and tried many different medications. Withdrawal symptoms/side effects this time for me are still apparent after nearly eight weeks, not nasty now but annoying but are decreasing, don't despair, it can be tough, as the level of depression varies as well.. (Jane says, tell me about it..lol..) The side effects will eventually leave you, if it is medication withdrawal symptoms.

When it gets to this stage, a psychiatrist has a lot more in depth knowledge than the local GP and may be an option for you to help determine the best type of medication for you. There are many people with similar problems as this, and there is not a simple answer for some of us.

I am seeking other ways to fight my depression now, as I have no alternatives left, but I am not doing it alone! Since I have joined here, I have found that when I become depressed and I feel as though I'm going backwards, I force myself to log on, and read other peoples, stories, like I have done today. Just by reading your story and relating to it I have been able to focus my mind on something constructive that may be able to help you, even in some tiny way.

It's the little things that we do sometimes that make the world of difference to the way that we feel.

RB

[Chris_B]

Hi Jane37,

I believe that side effects should stop once the medication does, but the body's a complicated machine and the muscle stiffness you're experiencing could be related to something else.  

I have often woken up with terrible back or neck pain because of anxiety dreams during the night where my body has tensed up.

The exercise suggestion is good, but have you also thought about going to see a physio or a massage therapist?

If it doesn't go away, then definitely keep in touch with your doc.

Best
CB

____________________________________________________________________
Online Community Manager