[lovedogs]

Hello,

I have major depression and GAD and Fibromyalgia and CFS. I was on 375mg Effexor XR and my neuro put me on Ultram 50mg, take twice a day AS NEEDED for pain. I am also on Topamax, Xyrem, Provigil, Clonazapam, along with a multi-vitamin, Omega -3 fish oils, B-12, B-6. I was on Lyrica, but gained 15 pounds in 2 weeks and my stomach looked like a water balloon. So, the change to Ultram was on July 5th and I only took it when I had pain, which luckily wasn't that often. Then I started running a fever and became extremely tremulous and had electric shock feelings in my head. Neuro ordered MRI which came back clean and said that I had serotonin syndrome and to lower my Effexor XR. I stopped taking the Ultram all together on July 17th, as my psychiatrist said that it will change serotonin levels. So, I am down to 262.5mg of Effexor XR and I read that Benedryl or Claritin D helps with the brain zaps. Benedryl didn't do much for me and the Claritin D worked great the first day, and hasn't really worked since although I continue to take it because I am afraid the zapping would be worse without it. Does anyone have any other suggestions? This has been going on since July 30th. Should also mention that zapping has occurred before on lower doses of Effexor XR but nothing like this. It was an occasional blip before...now, it seems non-stop. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[jenidarlin]

I know what you are talking about, the zaps. I had that when I went off my different anti-depressents, first zoloft, and then cymbalta, I am now on Celexa, and the zapping lasted a few days going from one to the other, it's kinda scary. But I dont' really have any advice about the benedryl or claritin, I'd never heard that before, wish I'd known though! BUT I take ativan for anxiety and I really think that helped those few days I was going from cymbalta to celexa, it may be something to ask about. Hope this helps! Take care.

Jenny

[rikkig]

Lovedogs .. I cant give you much advice about zapping, but you should be aware of all side effects if you take Claritin long term .. by using this or similar anti histamines you may develop dry eye symptoms

Here is an extract about oral allergy anti histamines (I found it at http://www.AntiAllergyProducts.com):
"“The newer agents that are prescribed now at great cost for allergy such as Zyrtec [cetirizine HCl, Pfizer] and Allegra [fexofenadine HCl, Aventis, Bridgewater, N.J.] don’t dry as much but still dry a lot,” Dr. Sheppard said. Claritin (loratidine, Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, N.J.), is also notoriously drying, he said. Nasal sprays can often be helpful for ocular allergy patients for whom dry eye is also a concern, Dr. Sheppard said. “I like to use Astelin [azelastine HCl nasal spray, MedPointe Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, N.J.] because you can control the nasal allergies with a local agent,” he said. “It doesn’t give you the systemic or the ocular drying.” Another agent that can also work well is Singulair (montelukast sodium, Merck, Whitehouse Station, N.J.). “That’s an asthma drug, but it’s also for allergies and has no drying activity whatsoever,” he said." (SOURCE: EyeWorld Magazine March 2007)