To be completely fed up with long Covid and consider antidepressants to help the constant exhaustion?

[WorriedWilma123]

I don’t know if anyone has been in a similar position but I’m completely floored and in constant agony since having Covid back in the summer.
I’ve had months off work dosed up on diazepam for the back pain which I’ve been waiting for an MRI since the start of December and have just been given an appt for March.
Im now on nerve pain blockers which don’t seem to be doing much and the back pain is still awful but what is the most dehabilitating is the complete exhaustion.
I am tired ALL the time, from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to sleep.
I struggle to drive as my eyes get heavy, it’s just awful.
I’m so worried I’ll lose my job or at least won’t be able to financially cope when I go onto SSP.
I have been taking folic acid and vitamin D as the blood tests I pushed for showed I was low in those and I also take iron supplements.
I’ve had private B12 injections and a vitamin infusion on an IV privately to try and get some energy but nothing has worked.
Would antidepressants be something to try?
Do these give you an energy boost at all?
Completely lost but willing to give anything a go at this point.
Thank you for any help!

One of the side effects of many AD is fatigue.
The nerve pain blockers also commonly have fatigue as a side effect too.

I have M.E & Fibromyalgia so I totally understand how you feel. I’m also on the above medications, I couldn’t even tolerate Amitriptyline as it left me a zombie-not a chance I could drive-Gabapentin I’m okay to drive on if I take a lower dose but my full dose knocks me out! I take my AD at night because they make me feel even more tired.

I have vitamin B12 injections every 10 weeks, am on a double dose of prescription Vitamin D & iron etc etc. Watching to see if anyone suggests something that boosts energy.

I hope you manage to recover soon OP

Thank you so much - what a shame as was really hopeful.
What dose Gabapentin are you on?
It’s so hard as I can’t distinguish as I’m so tired I don’t even know if it’s long Covid or the Gabapentin now

Do some research into the amounts of B12 & Vit D that you are taking - some people take a lot more than the RDA

I also take Magnesium, Zinc, Vit K2 Methyl Folate and ubiquinol

I have had CFS/ME & FM for many years and I am slowly not getting over Covid from October

Could you be peri-menopausal?

You say you are driving Op, are you working too? Is there any way you can take some time off to really rest and recover? You might have rushed into things too soon and not actually given yourself time to heal. Very difficult if you are self employed or have kids that need constant help etc.

I take 400 mg of gabapentin at night, or else I’m rolling from one side of the bed to the other all night in pain.
If I need to go somewhere, or drive in the day, I have to miss a dose or take a low dose of 200 or 300mg

I’ve just checked and mine is 300mg 3 times a day.
That’s just taking the edge off of the nerve pain through my hands and legs.
I can feel it creeping back an hour or so before my next dose.
The back pain is a very deep set pain which these do nothing for so I’m just having to live with that as the codiene and diazepam just knock me out, I can’t stay awake at all on those.
It’s just so hard to tell if the exhaustion is related to long Covid as I felt very much like this before I even started the Gabapentin or is indeed being made worse by the Gabapentin.
I have been off work for months and will soon go onto SSP which financially I cannot afford to do but I can’t work like this - the driving is a 10 minute drive to drop the kids at school.
Apart from that - I’m asleep.
It’s truly awful.
Prefablin was mentioned recently by the doctor - has anyone tried these on here?

Sorry not peri menopausal
Early 30s and bloods recently done only showed low in folic acid and vitamin D

I wonder if the diazepam could be making things worse for you?
I also take diazepam but if I take it for more than 3 days in a row I experience the most awful fatigue that can last for quite a while. Are you able to stop the diazepam and see if it makes any difference?

I also take pregabalin - I believe it's similar to gabapentin, and that doesn't give me any issues with fatigue.

I haven’t taken codiene or diazepam for over a week as I wanted to see if there were any issues with the tiredness with it even though I was only taking at night time.
The doctor mentioned pregabalin but seemed cautious about the side effects, weight gain and fatigue were ones she mentioned!
How are you on it?

@WorriedWilma123

I haven’t taken codiene or diazepam for over a week as I wanted to see if there were any issues with the tiredness with it even though I was only taking at night time. The doctor mentioned pregabalin but seemed cautious about the side effects, weight gain and fatigue were ones she mentioned! How are you on it?

Ah I see - and I'm guessing you've felt no different cutting out the diazepam & codeine? I'm fine on pregabalin - have been on it for 6 years now. I take it for anxiety rather than pain though. When first going on it or upping your dose you get a floaty-type feeling for a few days but I quite like it - it's not fatiguey, for me it's like being happy-drunk! Personally I haven't had fatigue as a side-effect but I guess it could affect us all differently. I was chubby when I first went on it and have actually lost almost 3 stone since taking it (the pregab didn't cause the weight loss, I altered my diet & upped exercise) so weight gain isn't inevitable.

I feel for you though - fatigue is the absolute pits.

Thanks so much for your reply!
Will speak to the doctor again and see what they advise
I haven’t felt any less tired without the codeine or diazepam so hard for me to distinguish whether it’s the Gabapentin or long Covid causing the fatigue.
Weight gain only a concern for me currently unable to excercise as severe back pain and tiredness

One of the things that helped me with fatigue was pacing. I found it goes against how I'm wired as a person and takes a bit of time to really do it properly but it is worth it as it really is effective.
You have my sympathy, fatigue is horrible. The good news is that it will pass and you will recover in time.

I am honestly doing nothing though!
I bring the kids to school and sleep until I collect them and then sleep all night again.
Typing this my eyes are closing - it’s hideous

Just another thought - what dosage of codeine were you on? As one symptom of codeine withdrawal is fatigue also. So could be a horrible massive combination of the codeine/diaz withdrawal with the covid fatigue thrown in.

Also, has your thyroid been checked?

15mg but haven’t taken it for over a week and even then it was only now and again at night to sleep and only one tablet so wouldn’t have thought I would have withdrawal - I couldn’t take it more than that as I would literally feel my eyes closing.
Yep all bloods normal apart from the folate and vitamin D which I’ve been on supplants for now for over a month!
Thanks so much for the replies

Ah yes, that does sound like a small dose of codeine so prob not enough to be causing withdrawals.
I really feel for you. I've found that my diet does affect my fatigue levels but I'm so rubbish at actually putting it into practice, and when you're feeling run down you just don't have the headspace to plan & cook meals anyway!
I would say just try anything you can - any medication you're offered - you can always stop it if it's not working for you.

My brother took gabapentin and diazepam for a while for a back injury and it turned him into a zombie. Maybe its worth a medication review conversation?
So sorry, it must be awful.

Definitely get your medications checked. Also highly recommend seeing an osteopath for your back issues. Mine is ace. Hope you feel better soon x

Low folate, vitamin d and iron all cause awful fatigue. I'd really focus on getting these up asap. Make sure they check your ferritin as this can also cause fatigue if it's under 50 in women.

Interestingly covid also caused me to develop a new folate deficiency.

I corrected that in few weeks though by taking 5mg a day (which is the amount you should be taking for a deficiency) of this:

Methyltetrahydrofolate Vitamin B9... https:// www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NTUBVZQ?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

Normal time to correct is 4 months if 5mg of folic acid.

Iron you should be taking 200mg 3 x a day of ferrous fumerate with vit c to aid absorption and reduce constipation.

Vitamin d you should be taking 300,000iu over 6-10 weeks. Then retest.

You've had private b12 injections, was it low before that?

Covid can also mess with your thyroid function (I have pre existing thyroid disease and covid buggered up my previously good conversion so now I am on different medication (T3)). Luckily I have a really good endo as this would not have been picked up by a GP as everything was "in range". There is lots of evidence of impaired thyroid function after covid.

I have fibromyalgia and with it comes chronic fatigue. I only take medication at night as I can't work otherwise. I take gabapentin and amitriptyline to sleep. I use heat packs for pain in the day. It doesn't get rid of it but I've just got used to living with it. I hated feeling drugged and being unable to think.

If the Gabapentin isn’t helping the pain then I would stop taking that too as a common side effect is fatigue

It does help the nerve pain but not the back pain. Its weird as the back pain feels so different to anything I’ve experienced - very deep but not muscular.
I didn’t take Gabapentin yesterday afternoon or evening and I was awake until 3am feeling pins and needles everywhere, my tongue was fizzing and I felt like I was going to vomit.
I was so so tired but I just couldn’t switch off to sleep.
I’m going to have to try without the Gabapentin or at least only take at night though in case it is still early responsible for the fatigue.
I was tired before and sleeping lots so I know long Covid is partly responsible but this past week has been absolutely horrendous.
Thank you for the advice

My mood is taking a real beating with this all now; I’m in agony today after being half the night.

Doctor was lovely who I saw today but he said if the Gabapentin isn’t stopping the pain altogether then pointless persevering especially if causing me to be even more tired than I already am.
He advised a low dose of fluoxetine 10mg for 2 weeks and then have another meet before increasing to 20mg.
Apparently long Covid sufferers are benefitting from short course for fatigue.
Who knows