Originally Posted by
WiseMonkey
I've been on doxepin 10mg (very low dose) for my CFS for 25 years. Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant and at a low level is good for irritable bowel as well as sleep. My Dr asked me to stop taking it.
Doxepin comes in a capsule of 10mg/lowest dose so I asked for some amitriptyline (which comes in tablet form), so I could cut them in half but they don't work as well for me as doxepin. I had all sorts of CFS symptoms coming up and have largely returned to the doxepin.
Apparently there was a large study done which suggested that older patients who took this for 3 years were more susceptible to dementia even at the lowest dose of 10mg.
As well as tricyclic's, antihistamines, antispasmodics, anti anxiety meds and some cough medicines are also in contention as well as SSRI's.
This is quiet controversial and 2 specialists I've spoken to hadn't even seen the article. These low dose antidepressants are often the frontline treatment for CFS/fibromyalgia symptoms.