Hello everyone,
I have a terminal Cancer, and on top of that my wife recently left me taking with her my 12 year old Son who is so precious to me.
My question is: I am suffering depression and most drugs used for depression are SRI (Seritonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and they can bring on a bout of CH which I experienced in 2006 when first diagnosed with cancer.
I am currently suffering depression and it has been suggested that a drug EDRONAX (REBOXETINE) should not be a problem to ues. Does anyone have any experience with this drug or can they suggest another drug safe to use for depression?
Many thanks in advance for your response.
Leigh Makepeace
Please reply to me at leigh.makepeace@gmail.com

All I can do for you is send prayers, can't answer those questions. that's a hell of a load you're carrying, keeping you in my family's prayers.

Joe

Hello Leigh,

I'm sorry, I do not have any experience with Reboxetine.  I only have experience with Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Cymbalta.  None of which "brought on" previous Cluster Headache cycles.  The one that actually did the best for me was the Cymbalta.  I did have 2 weeks of side effects after starting it though, which was vertigo.

Are you saying that antidepressants trigger a cycle for you?  Are you sure it just isn't coincidence that your cycle started at the same time you began the meds?

I'm very sorry to hear about the cancer and all of what you are going through right now.  Please read as much as you can here and post often.

take care,
mel

I'm on Celexa, for me, it didn't bring on my cycle. I'm on it for depression, PTSD,and OCD.

What you may want to do is speak with your neurologist. It also depends on if you're having just health-related depression, or something else.

Let the neurologist know what you've had the reactions with, they may be able to find one that won't effect you so badly.

I'll keep you in my prayers... I hope things get better for you.

Mystina

ETA: There are quite a few classes of drugs to treat depression, other than SSRI's. You might just have to try a few before you find the RIGHT one...

My aunt has spent her whole life mentally ill. (Her depression has caused her to be disabled.) She's turning 50 in a year or two... And only in the past few years has found medications that truly worked for her. That said, she didn't give up the hunt. If she can find something that helped her get through this, you can too.

Leigh, I strongly suggest you contact a hospice counselor about your depression.

The counselor may be able to get your wife to do the right thing and allow you contact with your son. I can not believe she would do such a thing to you, and your son should not be denied contact with you for his sake. I feel for you and the antidepressants will not fill the void of your respites with you son. Call the hospice and see what they can do for you. I wish you the best and if you need to talk, I’ll be there for you. PM me and we’ll hook up on the phone.

Best wishes for a solution in your time of need,

Roland.

Such a heavy load to bear at this time of the year; my heart goes out to you and your son. Have you considered trying a light therapy light to help with the depression? I seem to be going through SAD for the first time this year and the light seems to help bring up my mood. Hopefully it is also stimulating the melatonin and seratonin which will hold the CHs at bay.

I have never heard of this one before, but seems it has been around for a while.


"Reboxetine is structurally similar to fluoxetine, but it selectively and potently inhibits the reuptake of noradrenaline (Massana, 1998; Delgado & Michaels, 1999). It has no affinity for serotonin or dopamine reuptake sites and has negligible affinity for muscarinic, histaminic, or adrenergic receptors (Gutierrez et al, 1999)"

Interestingly, a side effect listed is migraine/headache!!!!!!

Have you ever been on a tricyclic antidep like amitriptyline or nortriptyline?
There's also the MAOI's, but they may be contraindicated with your possible other meds.


Hope some of this was helpful to you.

Take good care of yourself

In terms of outcome studies, the older tricyclic antide. are as effective as the SSRI.

Too often the advertising drives the market away from effective (and cheaper) products.

Discuss with your doc.....