Anti-Anxiety Meds

Hello,

If I start taking anti-depressants and all my symptoms go away, should I assume that my symptoms were caused by anxiety and not MS?  (I am not DX).

I've had this happen before when I took Prozac and got up to 40 Mg...all symptoms dissappeared but restarted again along with my anxiety when I went off the meds due to Acid Reflux.

Now I'm starting on Cymbalta because my anxiety is out of control with all this worry.  I've noticed a lessening in symptoms (as far as vibrating in my left let already after only 3 days on new drug).  The top of my big toe on my left foot has been going numb off and on for two days.  It feels like my toenail is lifting.  Driving me crazy!

Thanks and let me know you thoughts please.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

[Sarahsmom46]

If your symptoms disappear after you start on this medication, then hallelujah.  But, I doubt all your symptoms will just go away so you need to keep pushing forward even if you are getting relief from the drug.

I took Cymbalta last year for nerve pain.  Cymbalta is in clinical trials now to help such pain, maybe you already know that.  Anyway, my symptoms did not disappear but improved so much that i got excited about being able to do stuff I hadn't been able to do for months like going to the mall with my daughter and actually being able to go in the stores and look around with her rather than sit on a bench outside.  

For me, Cymbalta only worked for 3 months before we had to up the dose from 40gm  to 60mg.  When it stopped working later at the 60mg, my doctor discontinued it. He told me there was no benefit for nerve pain after 60mg.

So, go ahead and see how it works for you.  If it works then great as that will give you the energy to keep pursuing the cause without being in so much pain.

Hope you feel better and better every day.

Julie

[carrie235]

Hi Julie:  Thanks for your reply.  I'm not having nerve pain really...just a lot of vibrating in my left leg in calf/shin area and the top of my big toe on my left is has been numb on and off for a couple of days. I've had many other symptoms but am wondering if it could just in-fact be anxiety....  ugh

Occasionally I will get a shot of pain in my left leg muscle but that has happened a couple of times.  Right now, it's the vibrating that is making me crazy and the "not knowing what this is".

Thank you.

Carrie

[Sarahsmom46]

I am only an MS patient, not a doctor, but I'd consider vibrating and numbness to be neurological symptoms. I used to refer to my parathesias as tingling, but in actuality it is more like a vibrating feeling.  

Does the numbness and vibrations come and go or there all the time?

Julie

[carrie235]

Hi Julie:

My has been consistently with me every day for almost a year in my left leg only.  However, I mostly notice it when I'm anxious or nervous.  Otherwise, it doesn't bother me so much.  I'm having a lot of anxiety about my one toe being numb on the top.  It almost feels like my toenail is loose or about to fall off....very annoying.

Any words of wisdome?  Did your vibrating EVER go away?  I fear I will live with this the rest of my life and it scares the you know what out of me.   I have it right now because I'm thinking and worrying about it so it's acting up.

[jensequitur]

There are drugs like Cymbalta and Lyrica which help with neurological symptoms.  Not sure how, but they tend to 'calm' them down.

I think personally that anxiety and depression can be a symptom of MS!

[Sarahsmom46]

It does get better.  When I am anxious I notice it more for sure, but when I am distracted by something I hardley notice it even though it is still there.  Most of the time it is like you said, more annoying than painful.  Being nervous/anxious proabably makes anything pain-related worse.

When I was on the cymbalta the symptoms were improved on a day-to-day basis. Some of the numbness and tingling actually went away.  When I could feel my feet again and my legs didn't feel like lead weight, I felt more energy and lightness in my walking.  

One caveat with cymbalta that my neuro nurse told me.  I was worried about gaining weight on it like I did with lyrica.  She told me that cymbalta was opposite that I'd probably notice that my appetite goes down and consequently I might lose a few pounds. That definitely put a positive spin on taking it.

One more thing...Jens mentioned that depression and anxiety are fairly common in MS.  So if the cymbalta helps depression and helps with your nerve issues, the fabulous. You are getting a 2 for 1 benefit.  

Keep track of your symptom improvements.  If you can look back a week and see the improvements, that will keep you positively moving forward.  

Take good care.

Julie