My antidepressants are causing me to lose feeling in my hand and cramps in my legs

[Jay74]

I've been taking antidepressants on and off for about 12 years now but in about the last year or so I've started to develop a problem where when I take my meds I start to lose feeling in the palm of my left hand and into pinky finger and I get cramps/tightness in my legs. I've already seen four different doctors (2 neurologists and 2 psychiatrists) about it and none of them seem to know what the problem is. At first I thought the problem was neurological because the symptoms seem to mostly go away when I stop taking the meds (I still have a little numbness in my hand even without the meds) but now I'm starting to wonder if maybe it has something to do with poor circulation since it's affecting my hands and legs. I've tried a couple different medications (Lexapro, Effexor, Zoloft and St. John's Wort) since this problem started but they all seem to be causing this same problem. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this and what I could do to fix this problem? I tried going the all natural route and doing just vitamins and exercise but that still leaves me too depressed and I feel like I need at least a little help from antidepressants to get to where I need to be. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Your hands and feet going numb is most likely due to vasoconstriction. Taking an 81mg Aspirin might help you get through vasoconstriction and subsequent increased stroke risk, as it modifies the platelet abilites of blood and allows it to flow better through constricted blood vessels.

 

[tokenname]

Your hands and feet going numb is most likely due to vasoconstriction. Taking an 81mg Aspirin might help you get through vasoconstriction and subsequent increased stroke risk, as it modifies the platelet abilites of blood and allows it to flow better through constricted blood vessels.

Is vasoconstriction a side effect of anti depressants?
Op saying symptoms would mostly die down when stopping the AD's...
throws my brain off.
Not that it's difficult to do so.

 

[ErgicMergic]

It is a side effect of increased 5-HT and NE. My bad, I didn't read the OP's post very closely. Which AD is causing these problems in particular, as they vary widely in effects on neurotransmitter reuptake inhibition and selectiveness. Most of the OP's AD's are SSRIs....

 

[tokenname]

not too clear...seems to be saying.. all of them?

 

[ErgicMergic]

I've never used SSRI's, but my hands and feet get super numb and cold on LSD, which works on 5-HT, NE, and DA, heavily on all receptors.

 

[Jay74]

It's all of the medications (Lexapro, Effexor, Zoloft and St. John's Wort) that I've tried over the last 2 years or so have caused the numbness in my hands and tightness/cramps in my legs.

 

[tokenname]

I've never used SSRI's, but my hands and feet get super numb and cold on LSD, which works on 5-HT, NE, and DA, heavily on all receptors.

thc does this to me...

Jay...didn't you say the effects stop when not taking the meds?
There's no way I'd figure this out..
but I'm curious, anyhow.

BP good?

-token

 

[Jay74]

Yeah, the numbess in my hand mostly goes away (there's still a little bit left) and the cramps go completely away when I stop taking the meds. As far as my blood pressure goes, I don't remember the exact numbers the last time I had it done but the nurse said it was a little on the high side.

 

[Jay74]

I'm curious, if it is vasoconstriction that is causing my problems, is it possible to reverse this condition? In the past 8 months or so I've switched over to a paleo type diet and started work out on the treadmill about 30 to 40 minutes a day. I've lost about 15 pounds in the process.

 

[tokenname]

blood sugar test yet?

 

[Jay74]

I believe my blood sugar tests were normal from what I remember of my conversations with my doctor.

 

[tokenname]

Maybe Mr. Magic up there^^^..
will have some kind of ideas for you..

all i have are questions...
waaayyyyyyy too many questions...
which do no one any good, I think.

I hope you find the help you're needing.

-token

 

[ErgicMergic]

You're on the right path: exercise is fantastic for increasing blood flow. Paleo diets are cool and all, but try eating some whole grains, unless you have celiac disease that is. Whole grains are a bitch and a half for your body to digest, and the simple act of breaking down those complex carbs raises your metabolism, which I'm going to guess subsequently increases blood flow.

Stay away from vasoconstrictive medications, like anti-inflammatories. The exception to this would be 81mg Aspirin, as it's a specially formulated dosage of Aspirin specifically safe for daily use. Take one a day after you eat, and I'm sure it will help a lot with increasing bloodflow by letting the blood flow easier through those thinned blood vessels.

 

[Jay74]

Thank you both for your input. As a side note my doctor did discover that I have 2 copies of the C677T (MTHFR) genetic mutation which according to the write up he gave me "occurs in 1.5 - 15% of the population and is associated with increased plasma homocystine levels and is a risk factor for arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease and venous thrombosis". Maybe this genetic mutation thing somehow plays a factor in this, I'm not sure.

 

[tokenname]

Well, I put nothing in...

So..you're very welcome for nothing, mutant.

Keep up w/the dr's please...
make them earn that money!

 

[Pjkt2501]

Numb extremities.. I do sympathize with you there! My hands and feet can / will be freezing cold, regardless of conditions.

E_M may be onto something as I notice similar things (in a more extreme fashion than my usual in any case) as he mentions - icicle hands while tripping sometimes.

Good luck!