Is my Cerebellar Ataxia causing my depression?

General
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And mine.

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Hi Damo,

I take the generic version of Zoloft (Sertraline HCL). I take 50 mg. The only side effect I have noticed is that I get headaches occasionally.

Jodie


Damo said:

Hey Jodiie, what strength do you take and what side effects have you had??

Damo

Jodie said:

I am also 43 and have sca2. I have always suffered from depression since I can remember but started taking Zoloft only a few years ago. It really does help a lot. Sometimes I feel like it makes me okay with idesituations that used to make me upset.....in an unnatural way. That kind of bothers me.

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Hi Jodie

Last week I was prescribed Cymbalta 30mgs. Too early for results I suppose. At beginning I had bad side effects. Awful nausea, hot and cold flushes, bathroom troubles, pins and needles, dry mouth, feeling awful all day.

Damo


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Well, I would guess if you aren't having those bad side effects anymore, you should give it a few more weeks. I don't know much about Cymbalta but I would give it a little more time and see if it helps.

Jodie

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I have sca 3 and I take CBD from my depression it seems to work very well for me

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Hi eleets39 :slightly_smiling_face: Is this over the counter CBD Oil, or Prescribed Medicinal CBD :thinking:

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And seems to be found over-the-counter nowadays

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I have been taking 10 mg daily of citraopram for 8 years now, it is generic Celexa. The only side effect is dry mouth as well as feeling much better. I never had depression in my pre-ataxia days. My ataxia was due to surgery, so it was sudden onset. I am totally convinced that my depression goes with my ataxia and I encourage anyone with it to get treatment. It helps a lot.

1 Like
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Hi Damo,

Iā€™m 42 and have SCA7. Despite the physical problems, I have been the same mentally my whole life.

In my opinion, I donā€™t think SCA itself is causing your depression.

Iā€™m just naturally a happy person otherwise this condition would definitely push me into sadness.

Shane

2 Likes
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Any form of depression is not uncommon with people who have SCA. Imagine you cannot do the things you did before, even when you are considered not too old. Even though ataxia itself have very little effect on the ā€œDepressiveā€ changes in the brain, it is very usual to have some form of ā€œhelplessnessā€ from itā€™s symptoms. People who exhibit these sign may benefit from anti depressants and take the ā€œEdgeā€ off as prescribed by your psychiatrist. If you donā€™tn need any anti depressants, there is no reason to use it.