mental health thread

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by ribbons

My doctor started me on Cymbalta recently to help relieve migraine headaches and moderate depression (which I think is coming from the migraines, generally). The Cymbalta is really disrupting my ability to sleep, even though I'm taking it in the morning now. I took another antidepressant a couple of years ago and didn't have the sleep problem with that one. However, my doctor feels the Cymbalta has better pain-reducing properties (hasn't worked yet, though). Just wondering if anyone has taken Cymbalta and had the sleep problem? Thanks.

I'm sorry about the migraines you are having, Liz. I haven't taken Cymbalta, but I have had migraines...horribly painful, preceded by the visual disturbances that are followed by the horrendous headache.

I still have a strong memory of having a migraine in grad school when I was doing an experiment with freeze-dried spinach leaves that were in liquid nitrogen. I couldn't leave, otherwise the whole experiment would be ruined! So I had to work through the migraine rather than curl up in a dark, quiet room for hours and try to sleep (fitfully) until the pain fades, which is what I usually do when I have a migraine.

Hopefully someone else with Cymbalta experience can tell you if it caused sleep problems for them.

I looked Cymbalta up online and learned:

DoubleCheckMD Side Effects -

"Cymbalta may cause insomnia and other sleep problems in 8% to 13% of people. This drug may also cause the following symptoms that are related to insomnia and other sleep problems:
•Sleep disturbances (frequent)
•Nightmares in more than 2% of people
•Drowsiness in 7% to 21% of people
•Decrease in REM sleep (the sleep time during which dreaming occurs) Decrease in REM sleep
•Disruption of sleep cycle - changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep Disruption of sleep cycle - changes in rapid eye movement sleep
•Drug withdrawal symptoms (develop when drug is stopped - may include agitation, restlessness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, tremor, increased blood pressure, nausea, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, seizures, sweating) Drug withdrawal symptoms
•Mania (an emotional disorder with an exagerated feeling of well-being and hyperactivity - can cause racing thoughts; distraction; increased sexual urges; sleeplessness; irritability; anger; delusions; hyper-religiosity; talkativeness; rapid speech; buying sprees; grandiose plans; abnormally elevated mood) Mania. This symptom may occur with a history of bipolar disorder
•Manic switch (a switch from depression to mania - an emotional disorder which may cause an exagerated feeling of well-being; hyperactivity; racing thoughts; distraction; increased sexual urges; sleeplessness; irritability; anger; delusions; hyper-religiosity; talkativeness; rapid speech; buying sprees; grandiose plans; abnormally elevated mood) Manic switch (uncommon)"

[ribbons]

Thank you for that information, (((Erica))). Sorry you have experienced migraines as well. Being stuck there during that experiment in grad school must have been very unpleasant and uncomfortable for you. My doctor said Cymbalta does not cause sleep disruption in the majority of patients, so he's asked me to stay on it a while longer and see if there is a change. During the periods in which I do sleep, I am having a lot of nightmares -- or at least nightmares that I can remember, which is unusual for me. I am having visual disturbances also (as you did), so my doctor has referred me to an opthalmologist.

Thanks again for posting that info, Erica, in your usual caring way. I appreciate it very much.

[crazyaga]

I suffer from depression for the last 2 years.
It used to be worse, but now stuff are getting better thanks to my awesome therapist ^.^

[Howard the Duck]

i just chanted an Empty Mind Zen chant

and that's exactly what happened - empty mind

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by ribbons

Thank you for that information, (((Erica))). Sorry you have experienced migraines as well. Being stuck there during that experiment in grad school must have been very unpleasant and uncomfortable for you. My doctor said Cymbalta does not cause sleep disruption in the majority of patients, so he's asked me to stay on it a while longer and see if there is a change. During the periods in which I do sleep, I am having a lot of nightmares -- or at least nightmares that I can remember, which is unusual for me. I am having visual disturbances also (as you did), so my doctor has referred me to an opthalmologist.

Thanks again for posting that info, Erica, in your usual caring way. I appreciate it very much.

You're welcome, Liz. I am sorry we have migraines in common, but in a way it is comforting, isn't it, to know you're not alone and our brains are very similar?

I see that 2% of people taking Cymbalta have worse nightmares. So maybe you are in that 2%!

Liz, about the visual disturbances: do you mean visual disturbances associated with the migraine? If so, then in my humble, non-doctor opinion, an opthalmologist will not be able to help, because the visual disturbances are due to waves of neuronal activity in your occipital region of your brain and have nothing to do with your eyes.

Below is a Mayo clinic video followed by short article about migraines that I recommend because it shows what a visual migraine aura often looks like for people. WARNING...you might not want to watch the visual aura simulation in this video, because I find that for me, just watching the aura starts to trigger a headache! But it *does* show very well what a typical visual aura looks like: a growing spot where you can't quite see clearly, followed by a crescent-shaped region with flashing, zig-zaggy lines. Notice that visual auras can occur on their own without a migraine headache.

Migraine aura - MayoClinic.com

My migraines are rare (perhaps 2 or 3 per year) so I haven't been able definitely to identify triggers, but I think these are possible triggers/causes for me:

(1) Genetics. My dad experiences visual auras without headache; my mom experiences migraine headaches without visual auras! I get both. Lucky me!

(2) Stress and lack of sleep. Migraines make both problems worse, so it can be a circular process. :/

(3) Seeing zigzaggy and/or flashing lights. I avoid flashing lights. I suspect my brain associates them with visual auras (which I dread), so then my stress level rises and I expect a migraine to occur. Then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

(4) Hormone (estrogen) fluctuations. Since you and I are probably both perimenopausal, we are in a time of life when many women experience the most migraines. The good news is that after menopause, the chance of experiencing a migraine is lower. Here's a good article about migraines and hormones, Liz:

Perimenopausal Migraines: What You Need to Know | Health, Beauty, Fashion, Love, Careers and more - MORE Magazine

What I have tried to do to stop migraines when I feel a headache coming on:

(1) Go into a dark room and do jumping jacks to increase blood flow to my brain and get rid of any aggravating light stimuli.

(2) Eat chocolate (hey, at least it may taste good! ). Drink cocoa/coffee.

I recommend this article about migraines and coffee:

Best cure for migraine headaches may be a cup of coffee or two | Mail Online

^ It says, "blood vessels which can decrease pain. If you feel a migraine coming on, try drinking a cup or two of strong black coffee or a caffeinated soft drink, a simple treatment that works for many people."

Also: "Migraines are caused by abnormal brain biochemistry and are not, as some believe, self-induced. They are not the consequence of psychiatric problems, nor a sign of hypochondria, nor the fault of the sufferer. They are a chronic, neurological illness that is present from birth and is in most cases inherited from one or both parents."

(3) Try to go to sleep in the dark if I can. And then just ride it out, remembering that "this too shall pass."

(4) Drink lots of water in case being dehydrated triggered the migraine.

^ None of these seem to help much, but it doesn't stop me from trying!

Have you identified any triggers for your migraines or ways to cope with them?

[The Batlord]

So, my mother was diagnosed with Bipolar II a while ago, and as much alike as I am like my mother, we figured it was a slam dunk that I have it too (not to mention much of the rest of my family). Unfortunately, I don't have insurance, so, really getting diagnosed is sort of out of the question. But, my mom works at a hospital, and one of the doctors there did her a solid and basically saw me for free, and long story short, I've been on an anti-seizure drug called Lamotrigine for a few weeks now. Apparently anti seizure medications have been found to treat Bipolar. I'm up to 150 milligrams, and not much difference yet, but I'm optimistic.

[ribbons]

Hope everything works out well with the medication, Batlord.

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Liz, about the visual disturbances: do you mean visual disturbances associated with the migraine? If so, then in my humble, non-doctor opinion, an opthalmologist will not be able to help, because the visual disturbances are due to waves of neuronal activity in your occipital region of your brain and have nothing to do with your eyes.

Not just associated with the migraines, no. The visual disturbances are there much of the time – mainly blurred vision. Don’t think I have scotoma at all, but there are sort of greyish-cloudy holes where vision is obscured. Thanks for the video and extra info and recommendations, Erica. Sorry about your Mom suffering from migraines also – and your experiencing both migraine and the auras. I was thinking about perimenopause/hormonal changes, but I haven’t had any real symptoms yet. Genetically, there is no history of migraines in my family and I’m not a longtime migraine sufferer. Maybe going back about six months. I do drink one or two coffees a day and eat 70% dark chocolate occasionally – which used to help a bit, now it’s not helping as much.

[ribbons]

Originally Posted by crazyaga

I suffer from depression for the last 2 years.
It used to be worse, but now stuff are getting better thanks to my awesome therapist ^.^

Very glad to hear this. I had a great therapist years ago; her office was very conveniently located and I would see her on my lunch hour. Then she was dropped by my insurance carrier!

[ribbons]

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

i just chanted an Empty Mind Zen chant

and that's exactly what happened - empty mind

Let Yoko entertain you (actually, her version of Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō is my favorite).

[Rjinn]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

So, my mother was diagnosed with Bipolar II a while ago, and as much alike as I am like my mother, we figured it was a slam dunk that I have it too (not to mention much of the rest of my family). Unfortunately, I don't have insurance, so, really getting diagnosed is sort of out of the question. But, my mom works at a hospital, and one of the doctors there did her a solid and basically saw me for free, and long story short, I've been on an anti-seizure drug called Lamotrigine for a few weeks now. Apparently anti seizure medications have been found to treat Bipolar. I'm up to 150 milligrams, and not much difference yet, but I'm optimistic.

Yea I'm on Lamictal (Lamotrigine) as well. Wonder if it's making you drowsy? Usually that's the case for a month or two then it slowly fades where you are just... relaxed sorta.

I personally hate the way it feels... Or the way you don't feel. Pretty numbing ****.