The longer I am in a vertical position, the worse the blood pooling and hypotension. I am getting improvement from taking Midodrine and using compression socks, but I am having problems with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

In the past, before taking Midodrine, I was given several different anti-depressants, but they all made the orthostatic hypotension worse.

Does anyone use an antidepressant along with taking Midodrine? Does the antidepressant cancel out the effect of the Midodrine?

I feel caught in a Catch-22?

Thanks

Each and every SSRI I tried causes severe insomnia for me, and I wasn't on Midodrine at the time, so guessing this is just how our bodies react to those type of drugs.

I am not taking an anti-depressant now, but thought that I may be needing one.

In the past before I started taking Midodrine, when I was tried on different anti-depressants, they all made the blood pooling and hypotension worse.

Was wondering if I were to combine an anti-depressant with MIdodrine, would the Midodrine fail to work because of the hypotensive nature of anti-depressants.

Anyone commbine these two meds? Does the antidepresant cause the midodrine not to work?

Thanks

I was on Amatine - which I think is Midodrine alone and with Prozac. The Amatine didn't do anything for me and actually made my hr worse. I stayed on the prozac for anxiety and it seems to have worked - unfortunatley after a stressful period this winter the anxiety came back despite the prozac (after 10 years) but it seems to be getting a bit better with forcing myself to go places and do things that cause anxiety along with breathing techniques..... I can't say it makes the blood pooling and OI worse but it helps me cope. As for sleeping I also take .5 clonazapam - the first 4 hours, give or take depending on the night are pretty good - the next 4 or so I wake often and the sleep isn't as good. I do not feel refreshed upon waking. Hope this helps a bit.

Donna

Thanks, I'm having such difficulty. Sometimes, I don't sleep AT ALL. So employment is really difficult. I was taking Elavil, which helped with sleeping, but it caused weight gain and made the blood pooling and low blood pressure much worse.

Also, I'm having symptoms of PTSD. Trying to determine if the midodrine is making me extra anxious. I'm dealing with some painful family problems which is stimulating the PTSD.

I keep getting caught in such catch 22s with my health. I guess if adjusting my Synthroid doesn't reduce the anxiety, that I will have to see a mental health profession. If I can't get both of these resolved, then it may be disability time.

Thanks

If you do decide to try an SSRI for anxiety note that it can increase the anxiety at first even on a low dose b/f it gets better - it is hell going on and off them if you do suffer anxiety. I went off my meds twice for tests and I told my doc never again. Counselling is a way to go too.

I hope this resolves soon for you b/c I know that once the anxiety is reduced some of the other symptoms are easier to deal with, or that is what I found. Not to say even without anxiety this illness is easy but the anxiety is just plan YUCKY!

Donna

morningglory,
I am sorry to hear you are having some problems with anxiety, ptsd, etc... I know that all too well Anyway, I've had a tough time with antidepressants myself but finally settled with wellbutrin. it does not seem to affect my bp. I know that effexor generally has a side effect of INCREASING bp - so we tried that one - but I had other side effects I couldn't take. My psych and I were just discussing elavil for my headaches and she said it would probably not be a great idea because of the marked hypotension it is known for. I guess it's just a try and see type thing...but think about Effexor if you havne't already. Good luck.

I was put on the Effexor specifically for the side effects of hypertension and tachycardia! It is actually working. In the morning, before I take it, my BP is around 85/55. About an hour after I take it my BP has been up around 110/60. Also, my heart rate is also up after I take it. If you need an antidepressant, this is one that should not drop your bp. It is working better for me than the Florinef, water logging, and salt loading, although I am still doing all of these things.

If you take it, make sure that you take it in the morning because it can make you feel like you had one too many cups of coffee in the beginning. But that is short lived, maybe a couple of hours at worst.

Thanks everyone. Not sleeping at all can make a person totally nuts.

I have heard of Effexor before. May try it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I take cymbalta with midodrine with no problem. Not sure if the cymbalta is working, but there it is...

I have had problems with orthostatic hypotension being a side effect of anti-depressants before, but the problem was mostly with tricyclics.

Thanks again. At least I know that there are meds that don't make the pooling and hypotension worse.

Glad to know that I am not alone.

PLease have your vitamin D checked, as it is becoming more and more clear that many of us have severe deficiencies (and I mean like not even traceable). This can really make one feel awful and depressed, and predisposes a person to a lot of nasty life threatening diseases. Don't rely on OTC supplements or dairy. Get ur vit D tested and if that is your problem u will be followed carefully. Believe me, I am getting help for it now, and it dramatically is improving my mood more than anything. FUrther, it can cause early osteoporosis, and my doc cannot believe I haven't broken anything with the number of times I am up and then down. LOts of bruises, but not breaks.

I'm with Neshema1 about the D. I take a D, calcium and magnesium supplement and also get outside for 20 minutes every day. It really helps.

I've used the SSRI Lexapro and always took it in the morning. i never had difiiculty sleeping after the first few months of it (takes that long to calm down the autonomic symptoms). YES going on and off SSRI's make anxiety worse for 1-2 weeks for every dose change. Hang in there!

Someone posted this link before and it is interesting relating to serotonin and brain stem abnormalities in SIDs babies.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20080703/D91MIETO

Some anti-depressants I was allergic to, some made my pots symptoms worse. I've tried SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricylcics.

Only one had me 'up and about' -- prothiaden (an old tricyclic) but I wasn't sleeping more than 2 hours a night on it. I could do just about anything -- including house work and swimming 2kms a day -- but I was a mass of bruises from clumsiness, could not hold a thought, and couldn't concentrate on anything. I actually was 'speeding.' And I put on a lot of weight with it.

I was actually in a state of mind that I was almost manic. Eventually, after about 20 months on it I took myself off it. My mind was so muddled during that period that until recently I could swear I was only on it for 9 months but now I can sort out the dates in my head I realize the doc who put me on the prothiaden put me on it a whole year earlier than I had remembered.

My sister takes Prozac with no problem or side-effects at all.