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ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds

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5 years 4 months ago #69203 by StrayKat88
ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds was created by StrayKat88
I'm looking for any input/experience folks might have with taking an antidepressant or antianxiety type of med while having ITP. I'm struggling with anxiety (mostly health related) and am considering taking a med to get some relief. I talked with doc and he suggested Wellbutrin, but it seems most all of these SSRI type of products have platelet count reduction as a possible side effect. Given that I typically travel in the range of 27-90, I'm not able to take much in the way of platelet loss. Has anybody found a med or even something in the "natural health" sphere that has helped them with squashing platelets in the process? Thanks in advance for any ideas/experiences!
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5 years 4 months ago #69270 by MelA
Replied by MelA on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
You talked with your doctor - hematologist?
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD
  • mrsb04
  • Offline
  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #69273 by mrsb04
Replied by mrsb04 on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
When my mother died my haemo offered me Fluoxetine (Prozac). Really you need to check with your haematologist before taking any medications including herbal/homeopathic remedies. GP's (PCPs in US) are not a reliable source when one has ITP. I recently broke my wrists and mine told me to take Ibuprofen !!!
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5 years 3 months ago #69276 by StrayKat88
Replied by StrayKat88 on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
@mrsb04 Thanks for the response. I talked with my hematologist about this, and he wasn't able to be helpful. He suggested I take a drive to a local tourist destination to relax. That was the sum total of his answer. He offered nothing direct in re: type of meds to take that might not be a problem. He simply confirmed to me that SSRIs can indeed be problematic. I guess he's stronger with blood chemistry than psychology, lol.
  • mrsb04
  • Offline
  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
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5 years 3 months ago #69281 by mrsb04
Replied by mrsb04 on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
StrayKat 88
With an unprofessional attitude like that I would be looking for a new haemo
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5 years 3 months ago #69289 by ImPatient
Replied by ImPatient on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
StrayKat- I read somewhere that your platelet level has an effect on your serotonin level. I think a psychiatrist would be better suited to inform you about ssris or anti anxiety meds.
Did you have anxiety before ITP? What do you mean by health related anxiety? Did it occur due to physical issues or are you anxious because of your health, because in that case meds that change your brain chemistry may not be a great solution...
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5 years 3 months ago #69290 by StrayKat88
Replied by StrayKat88 on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
@mrsb04
Yeah, I've been thinking I might need to change up my hemo. I sure have respect for the depth of learning these docs have to become a hematologist, but there is a lot more to patient care than just the meds, tests, "the mechanics" of the disease. I haven't really had any luck with the meds so far anyway, so maybe a different perspective from somebody new would be helpful. Maybe not <shrug> My sense of this is that there seems to be a psychosomatic element to this disease, and that stress and anxiety levels might be affecting the way my immune system behaves. That's just my suspicion, and a more learned mind may think I'm full of dookey, buy I'd like to pursue as "wholistic" an approach as I can. No easy answers here though.... Thanks.
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5 years 3 months ago #69291 by StrayKat88
Replied by StrayKat88 on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
@Impatient The anxiety has been with me since my teens, and I'm now in my 60s. Yeah, a constant - and unwanted - companion. In spite of it, I had a "high functioning" career, raised a family, and just went on with things. Now that I have retired and my health has become problematic, the anxiety has ramped up. The constant tests, and now different treatments (with their own attendant risks) I find very trying. I have friends and family that swear by some of the depression/antianxiety meds, and thought; "Well, maybe it's time to give it a try." I did visit a doc who suggested Wellbutrin, but he seemed uniformed (no surprise) on ITP, and I think my current situation may be a bit out of his depth. My hemo seemed understandably resistant to adding anything else to the mix. Hence...I'm at a standstill and trying to figure something out. Thanks.
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5 years 3 months ago #69293 by ImPatient
Replied by ImPatient on topic ITP and Antidepressants/Antianxiety Meds
Hi StrayKat- That sounds quite pervasive. Understandable that it becomes more intense in this situation. I hope you will find out what helps you best soon.
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