[kicker412]

I've had OCD/anxiety for ... well, forever ... and I'm now dealing with a stubborn down time that my therapist and psychiatrist think is more depression than OCD. The onset was November, and while I've had a few good weeks here and there, I've been down again for the last 3-4 weeks.

We've been ramping up my meds. Started with 50mg Zoloft. Then added 200mg Gabapentin. Bumped up to 300mg Gabapentin. Then up to 100mg Zoloft. Now up to 150mg Zoloft.

Now, I'm just tired all the time. I can muster the occasional spurt of energy -- even worked out yesterday -- but I mostly want to stay in bed. I had a good night's sleep last night, but all I could think about was taking a nap right away.

So is this fatigue the result of my depression or my meds?

[splitimage]

Could be either or a combination. Gabapentin is however sedating.

splitimage

[Skeezyks]

I think that individuals' reactions to psych med's can be quite different. I'm no longer on anything. Nothing I've taken ever really did much good. But, when I was on med's, I found that one med, mostly antidepressants, was all I could tolerate; & even that put me in a fog. When I see the lists of medications many members, here on PC, are on I think: wow... if I was on all of those med's, I'd be comatose!

Of course, depression itself also is fatiguing. So it's difficult to say if what you are experiencing is a result of your depression or the medication. One thing I have experienced is that anytime I would see my pdoc, if I said I didn't feel I was doing well, he would automatically want to increase the dosage of the med I was on, or add another one. Had I agreed to it all, lord knows how much medication I'd be on at this point...

[spring2014]

Originally Posted by kicker412

I've had OCD/anxiety for ... well, forever ... and I'm now dealing with a stubborn down time that my therapist and psychiatrist think is more depression than OCD. The onset was November, and while I've had a few good weeks here and there, I've been down again for the last 3-4 weeks.

We've been ramping up my meds. Started with 50mg Zoloft. Then added 200mg Gabapentin. Bumped up to 300mg Gabapentin. Then up to 100mg Zoloft. Now up to 150mg Zoloft.

Now, I'm just tired all the time. I can muster the occasional spurt of energy -- even worked out yesterday -- but I mostly want to stay in bed. I had a good night's sleep last night, but all I could think about was taking a nap right away.

So is this fatigue the result of my depression or my meds?

hi kicker,
I feel the same way too!!!! I'm having fatigue too .my fatigue is caused by me going into menopause now . first I thought it was the meds that I'm on . but I found out it's menopause for me .



Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistrail 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia with an additional 25 mgs=75 mgs when up past 1:00 in the morning

[Leornado211]

What a coincidence, I was also the victim of this, I just took this as a Fatigue and didn't go with meds. Finally, with the passage of time and change in my environment I got out from this

No answer just letting you know you're not alone. I've had fatigue for months now, newly on Zoloft (fatigue predates Zoloft).

Previously physically fit (above average), now unable to run more than a few miles without needing a nap afterwards. Also slower than before.

I think it's the depression with me, long term the Zoloft is supposed to raise energy levels. Hope it works for both of us.

[avlady]

i am on 8 differrent meds so you can guess i'm quite fatigued. i think skeegyes is lucky to not be on any meds and good for others that are only on a couple. you guys are so lucky to have little or no meds. i need mine because of my mental issues, and have been on them since the 1980s, with changes every now and then.

[Kathryn01]

Great question, and I wish I had an easy answer.

Have you had some blood work done? There are tests they can run to check your thyroid, and to see if you're running low on any vitamins because something like a deficiency in iron or D3 can make a person very tired/depressed.

It could be your meds, but don't rule out fatigue caused by something else. Trust your body, and make sure you're seeing a great doctor who can help you sort this all out.

[bathroomscrubber]

I'm going with the depression. However recent increase in all your meds could play a huge factor. Depends, were you tired before the increase? If so give the meds a chance to work.

[kicker412]

Originally Posted by bathroomscrubber

I'm going with the depression. However recent increase in all your meds could play a huge factor. Depends, were you tired before the increase? If so give the meds a chance to work.

A little. Since I started this thread, I've gone up from 100mg to 150mg Zoloft on top of the 300mg Gabapentin. Waking up is difficult, and since I bumped up on Zoloft eight days ago, I've gotten worse. Think it's time for a change.

[bathroomscrubber]

Originally Posted by kicker412

A little. Since I started this thread, I've gone up from 100mg to 150mg Zoloft on top of the 300mg Gabapentin. Waking up is difficult, and since I bumped up on Zoloft eight days ago, I've gotten worse. Think it's time for a change.

You definately need to let the pdoc know the zoloft is making it worse!

[BlueEyedMama]

In your case it does sound like the meds are at least making it worse. I would definitely let my doctor know what is going on so that they can make any changes and run any tests they feel are needed. Best wishes.

I believe it is a combination of the Depression, Meds, AND the OCD. Obessessive worrying and cumpulsive behaviour is very exhausting.