Hello everyone,
I need some advice, please. I had to stop Prozac which I took for depression. That seems to have helped with my MC symptoms however, now I have depression. My Dr. said Wellbutrin was not going to help me. I know I read somewhere that antihistamines can help. (Can't find that post now) I did my research and have been taking 1 10mg tablet of Cetirizine a day. Is that enough? I have also been having trouble sleeping so I think I will add Benedryl at night. Is this too much? As usual, I'm so confused!
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated,
thanks, Wendy
Depression and antihistamines
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Re: Depression and antihistamines
Hi Wendy,
No, that shouldn't be too much. I'm no expert on depression (I'm not sure anyone is), because for one thing, every patient is quite different, and no one really knows why one particular medication works better for a particular individual, than others. The reason antihistamines may work, is because all antidepressant medications are powerful antihistamines. But over-the-counter antihistamines may not be powerful enough. Taking two or three might be more effective, but never take more than four, because that appears to be the overdose limit. Also, because antidepressant efficacy is so unpredictable, trying a different brand of antihistamine might be more effective.
Please be aware that Benadryl is an anti-cholinergic, therefore, taking it for more than something in the range of 60 to 80 days, or more, during your lifetime,is associated with an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's, or age related dementia. That's not to imply that you would actually develop Alzheimer's because of taking an anyi-cholinergic medication, doing so simply raises the statistical risk. A significant amount of evidence suggests that Alzheimer's may be a side effect of a lifetime of chronic magnesium deficiency. But that's speculation at this point, because it certainly hasn't been proven by any medical research.
Have you tried taking a magnesium supplement? Depression is a symptom of a chronic magnesium deficiency. Research shows that taking a magnesium supplement helps to relieve depression in many cases. And taking a magnesium supplement at bedtime will relax your muscles and help you get to sleep, and stay asleep.
I hope this helps.
Tex
No, that shouldn't be too much. I'm no expert on depression (I'm not sure anyone is), because for one thing, every patient is quite different, and no one really knows why one particular medication works better for a particular individual, than others. The reason antihistamines may work, is because all antidepressant medications are powerful antihistamines. But over-the-counter antihistamines may not be powerful enough. Taking two or three might be more effective, but never take more than four, because that appears to be the overdose limit. Also, because antidepressant efficacy is so unpredictable, trying a different brand of antihistamine might be more effective.
Please be aware that Benadryl is an anti-cholinergic, therefore, taking it for more than something in the range of 60 to 80 days, or more, during your lifetime,is associated with an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's, or age related dementia. That's not to imply that you would actually develop Alzheimer's because of taking an anyi-cholinergic medication, doing so simply raises the statistical risk. A significant amount of evidence suggests that Alzheimer's may be a side effect of a lifetime of chronic magnesium deficiency. But that's speculation at this point, because it certainly hasn't been proven by any medical research.
Have you tried taking a magnesium supplement? Depression is a symptom of a chronic magnesium deficiency. Research shows that taking a magnesium supplement helps to relieve depression in many cases. And taking a magnesium supplement at bedtime will relax your muscles and help you get to sleep, and stay asleep.
I hope this helps.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Depression and antihistamines
Hi Tex,
Thanks for your reply.
Is there another antihistamine that can help with sleep besides Benedryl? I saw that it was a possible risk factor for Alzheimer's here.
I have been on Magnesium for several years. I do take it at bedtime.
I'm not sure what else I can try that helps with depression and won't mess with MC.
Thank you for listening.
Wendy
Thanks for your reply.
Is there another antihistamine that can help with sleep besides Benedryl? I saw that it was a possible risk factor for Alzheimer's here.
I have been on Magnesium for several years. I do take it at bedtime.
I'm not sure what else I can try that helps with depression and won't mess with MC.
Thank you for listening.
Wendy
Re: Depression and antihistamines
Wendy,
I believe Benadryl is a first generation antihistamine. The later generations of antihistamines don't have anti-cholinergic properties, but I'm not aware that they're useful as a sleep aid, unless you're suffering from a pollen allergy, for example, or something of that sort. Other supplements that some people use as a sleep aid include melatonin, CBD oil. and glycine, for example. I'm not sure about CBD oil and glycine, but I believe melatonin supplements are labeled for several weeks of use, normally. I'm not sure what would happen if it's taken longer than that. It may begin to lose effectiveness. Antihistamines seem to lose effectiveness after a while.
I have trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep some nights, myself. I find that the less caffeine I drink during the day, and the more exercise I get, the better I sleep, by far. In fact, if I drink no more than 2 cups of coffee, and do that early in the morning, avoid any afternoon naps, and get enough exercise, I fall asleep easily and sleep well throughout the night. And If something should wake me during the night, I can get back to sleep promptly. Winding down for an hour or two before bedtime, and getting to bed at the same time every night, also helps. I don't eat or drink anything besides water, at least 4 or 5 hours before bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime will interfere with sleep.
On the other hand, if I drink more than 2 cups of coffee, or drink a cup of tea in the afternoon, for example, I have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. But according to my 23andme results, my genetics don't allow me to metabolize caffeine normally.
When I was younger, and worked hard all day long, I needed at least eight hours of sleep at night. Now that I'm too old to work very hard, I find that 5 to 6 hours of good, solid sleep is all I need. And if I try to sleep more than that, I'll just be tired all day, and won't sleep worth a hoot the next night.
Tex
I believe Benadryl is a first generation antihistamine. The later generations of antihistamines don't have anti-cholinergic properties, but I'm not aware that they're useful as a sleep aid, unless you're suffering from a pollen allergy, for example, or something of that sort. Other supplements that some people use as a sleep aid include melatonin, CBD oil. and glycine, for example. I'm not sure about CBD oil and glycine, but I believe melatonin supplements are labeled for several weeks of use, normally. I'm not sure what would happen if it's taken longer than that. It may begin to lose effectiveness. Antihistamines seem to lose effectiveness after a while.
I have trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep some nights, myself. I find that the less caffeine I drink during the day, and the more exercise I get, the better I sleep, by far. In fact, if I drink no more than 2 cups of coffee, and do that early in the morning, avoid any afternoon naps, and get enough exercise, I fall asleep easily and sleep well throughout the night. And If something should wake me during the night, I can get back to sleep promptly. Winding down for an hour or two before bedtime, and getting to bed at the same time every night, also helps. I don't eat or drink anything besides water, at least 4 or 5 hours before bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime will interfere with sleep.
On the other hand, if I drink more than 2 cups of coffee, or drink a cup of tea in the afternoon, for example, I have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. But according to my 23andme results, my genetics don't allow me to metabolize caffeine normally.
When I was younger, and worked hard all day long, I needed at least eight hours of sleep at night. Now that I'm too old to work very hard, I find that 5 to 6 hours of good, solid sleep is all I need. And if I try to sleep more than that, I'll just be tired all day, and won't sleep worth a hoot the next night.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Depression and antihistamines
Hey Tex, sorry I don't know how to use the quotes feature.I have trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep some nights, myself. I find that the less caffeine I drink during the day, and the more exercise I get, the better I sleep, by far. In fact, if I drink no more than 2 cups of coffee, and do that early in the morning, avoid any afternoon naps, and get enough exercise, I fall asleep easily and sleep well throughout the night. And If something should wake me during the night, I can get back to sleep promptly. Winding down for an hour or two before bedtime, and getting to bed at the same time every night, also helps. I don't eat or drink anything besides water, at least 4 or 5 hours before bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime will interfere with sleep.
When I was younger, and worked hard all day long, I needed at least eight hours of sleep at night. Now that I'm too old to work very hard, I find that 5 to 6 hours of good, solid sleep is all I need. And if I try to sleep more than that, I'll just be tired all day, and won't sleep worth a hoot the next night.
Tex
Not caffeine, no naps. I do eat within 4 or 5 hours of bed but I have to eat often to maintain my weight. I'm too thin.
Hmmm maybe I just want more sleep than I need. I wake up and can't get back to sleep sometimes at 2AM. I really don't want to start my day then! Lol
With depression all I want to do is sleep. I do exercise daily and I have good sleep hygiene. Really need to address the depression. I see my therapist tomorrow. I'll see if she has any suggestions.
Thanks again, Wendy