Article on WebMD re: Fibro and antidepressants

My Hubbie works in the medical device industry and did some research online for me.

He found the following article:

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20090112/antidepressants-help-treat-fibromyalgia

In a nutshell, someone did a study to find out how different types of antidepressants help fibro.
The study found that Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (think elavil) had the largest effect on pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, but limited effect on depressed mood.

The study goes on to talk about other types of antidepressants and their effect on fibro.

I will say that elavil is one of the reasons for my needing WLS. I took it about 13 years ago and ended up gaining 60+ lbs. in over two months. This was back when the manufacturer kept saying that it didn't cause weight gain. Shortly after I stopped taking it, swearing to my doctor that 'it was the medicine that caused my weight!!!', they decided that elavil "may cause weight gain".

Yeah. May cause. . . 

Just some info.

I'm glad if anti depressants help others but I've tried a few and they messed my head up so bad I felt like my brains were scrambled. Needless to say I won't take them any more, I'll only do pain meds alone.

Thank you so much for sharing.





I have been on Effexor, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin (bad experience), Lexapro, and a couple others (Paxil I think). I have been on Zoloft now for a long time and I am doing OK on it. I of course still have the FMS & CFS issues but the Zoloft does help with my general mood.



I take a muscle relaxer and gabapetin (neurotin). I can not take LYRICA (bad experience on that! WOAH!).

I was diagnosed several years ago with fibro back when they tried to treat you with guafinasin. Since then, I have tried everything for my fibro. It wasn't until recently that my pain management doctor's started treating me for my back (herniated disks) that they really started to attack my fibro full force. Lyrica made me gain an enormous amount of weight 30 lbs in a month. Cymbalta did nothing for me at all.  So know I am on 100 mg Topamax twice daily and 100mg (to be increased to 125 mg in a few days) of Elivil taken at bed time. I am finally pain free from my flares and my back pain is now down to a dull ache. Now mind you I don't miss a dose or I will catch up with me. And actually I have not had any weigh issues with the Elivil. I hope this info helps. This is what has helped me. I am waiting for a date for gastric bypass.