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Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Posted 5/6/2005 9:28 PM (GMT -8)
At my last therapy session, my therapist had mentioned that one of my main symptoms throughout my depressive epsiodes has been very low energy levels.  While other times it was with crying, negativity and suicidal tendencies, lately it has just been low energy levels where all I want to do is sleep.

I am on quite a bit of medication for antidepressants:  I am on wellbutrin, effexor, seroquel, and Topomax.  Every since I have been on medication in general my appetite during the day has been very low meaning I can go through the whole day without eating (I know I know not healthy at all) its truly because I don't feel hungry.  I usually get hungry around 5:00.  However especialy with the Topomax I don't eat during the day and then when I come home at night I am so tired that sometimes I hardly eat at night.  So here are my questions:

Is it possible that I could be on too much medication?

If you lack appetite during the day do you just force yourself to eat?

Lastly, if my main symptom has been fatigue, how does one figure out if that is a symptom of depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.  Any thoughts suggestions?????

Posted 5/7/2005 8:33 AM (GMT -8)
Hey Cloudy,

Yes it is possible to be overmedicated and the meds can cause sleepiness or anorexia or weight gain. It is also possible that you have an underlying condition making you tired.

I was being treated for depression for a couple years before we found the underlying cause for my fatigue. I have a lupus-like condition called UCTD (undifferentiated connective tissue disease). I am very sensative to the sun (I get rashes and it causes a flare of disease including fatigue, joint pain, rashes and more). Some of these chronic illnesses or very difficult to dx and I didn't get to the bottom of it until I typed in all my symptoms in a web browser and came up with lupus (after many hours of search on the net). Then the docs (eventually) confirmed it and started treatment. My nickname, AlwaysRosie, came from my illness which causes a rash and makes my cheeks 'always rosie'.

If you have some other symptoms besides the fatigue, try an internet search or go to the forums here for chronic fatigue, lymes disease, etc. and see if your symptoms match. I had some weird symptoms that I didn't know about because I didn't know it was abnormal.

But . . . it could just be a case of overmedication too. Depression itself can cause you to be tired. But your doc should work with you till you get to the bottom of it.

Do you have any other symptoms besides fatigue??
Posted 5/7/2005 9:25 PM (GMT -8)
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with all you're going through. I will respond to your questions. First, you're not alone. It is a very big possibility that one med is canceling out another. As for being tired that comes with depression and the the meds don't help either. Trying to escape to a safe haven is a good idea. Meditate, don't eat caffeineafter 7 PM like cokes or chocolate and try to go to bed the same time every night. I would check with your doc on your meds though. Hope that helped some.

 

"Lefty"

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