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Doxepin for CFS/ME

Posted , 7 users are following.

jackie00198
jackie00198

When I was first diagnosed with CFS/ME, my specialist at UCLA prescribed doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant. The target dosage was 40 mg, and I was able to tolerate 37 1/2 mg. I started out on a very low dosage, emptying out most of a capsule, and very gradually ramped up. I started feeling better almost immediately. I mean, way better. My doctor said doxepin was shown to help CFS/ME in a clinical trial. Just another treatment to consider...

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • jacquie14742
    jacquie14742 jackie00198

    Posted

    Is that the same as amitriptyline? thats a tricyclic also...this helped me for a while, but have had months and months of trying to come off it 
    • david59662
      david59662 jacquie14742

      Posted

      Hey Jackie can you tell me more about your exp with amitriptyline ?

      You seriously should consider using rhodiola. I have some raw root to make as a tea. Rhodiola was the very first herb i tried many years ago when i was severely depressed and it snapped me out of it in one week. I hope it can save my life again. The raw root made as a tea is said to be the most potent way to take it although there are many effective and cheap capsules that work. Rhodiola works pretty quickly so something to consider ? Speak soon

  • david59662
    david59662 jackie00198

    Posted

    I'm not a fan of medication Jackie but i do believe it can be useful in the short term.

    Thanks for the info. Can you speak of how you felt before and after and why are you still not taking it ? Thanks

  • jackie00198
    jackie00198

    Posted

    So, to respond to some of your posts about doxepin. First off, I was not taking this for depression. That required a much higher dose than I was on. i was taking it for regulation of my immune system, according to the doctor.  After several months of being on it, I felt so good I took a trip to San Francisco. Bad move. I had a severe relapse. I was not able to up my dosage, so I spent many months recovering. I'm still on it after many years, but I'm not sure it's doing me any good now.  I have an extreme sensitivity to antidepressants, but found that I was able to tolerate it by starting very low and gradually ramping up. By starting low, I think you can see if you have side effects and than get off if necessary. But I totally understand anyone's reluctance to go on antidepressants. I've tried new ones more recently and could not tolerate them. I don't think doxepin is the same as amitriptyline, but I do think it's in the same category of antidepressants--tricyclic antidepressants. David, I think I tried Rhodiola many years ago, but I'm not sure. This is why it's good to document every med and supplement you take.
  • Joerathinam
    Joerathinam jackie00198

    Posted

    In my case also antidepression is somewhat useful to manage this CFC.  I am taking about 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg + 37.5 mg at night for several years.

     

  • Joerathinam
    Joerathinam jackie00198

    Posted

    The name of the antidepressant I am taking is Venlafaxine.

    • jackie00198
      jackie00198 Joerathinam

      Posted

      I've never heard of that one. Where do you live? Maybe here in the U.S. it goes by another name.
  • Joerathinam
    Joerathinam jackie00198

    Posted

    The commercial name of this medicine differs. In India where I am living it is sold by trade name 'Venlift'.

    • jackie00198
      jackie00198 Joerathinam

      Posted

      Interesting.You're the first person in India that I've "talked" to that has CFS/ME. I wonder how many peole worldwide have this. A huge numer, I would guess, with many people undiagnosed.
  • AbiACB
    AbiACB jackie00198

    Posted

    I have recently been prescribed amitriptyline as a result of suffering from hemiplegic migraines (I was diagnosed with CFS/ME in February 2013) - although this was originally used as an antidepressant it's now mainly used as a pain relief & migraine prevention. I suffered with horrendous muscle pain over the first year and had anxiety attacks most days, only brought on by the CFS. Being prescribed this has not only limited the migraines but I now live practically painless & I'm beginning to get back to the person I was before my diagnosis - something I never thought would happen. I'm only on a very low dose (30mg) - the dose used for depression is up to 200mg, so don't fear that this will change you completely - as I did. Definitely a huge help! 
    • jackie00198
      jackie00198 AbiACB

      Posted

      AbiACB: Thanks for your post. I do believe amitryptyline is in the same family of antidepressants as doxepin: a tricyclic antidepressant. Your dosage, 30 mg, is in line with my dosage of doxepin. I do believe these meds are well worth looking into. They can definitely help some people.
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