Symptoms or Side Effects?

If you've ever looked at an exhaustive list of FMS symptoms ( and believe me it has gotten longer in the 10 years I've had it) you've gotta wonder if some of the symptoms are actually side effects of medication.

Some of you might not know that anti-depressants actually help with fibro pain. Effexor is one of the major anti-depressants that has been prescribed for the pain. There are now specific medications for FMS pain. I have personally never tried any. I have benefited from this aspect of anti-depressants.

As my anti-depressant medication is lowered (because mentally I feel fabulous!) I feel more pain. Sucks but it's like the lesser of 2 evils.

Anyway, I have to say that a lot of listed symptoms I did not develop until I took certain meds. For instance, before Effexor I had never had a migraine. On Effexor they were a regular occurrence. Off of Effexor, I haven't had one since.

On Wellbutrin, I developed teeth clenching and grinding, TMJ symptoms. I never had them prior to that. I am still on Wellbutrin and am happy for it's motivational properties. But a mouth guard is now a night time regular.

Muscle twitches are also not something I experienced pre-Wellbutrin (accept for the few times I experienced Serotonin Syndrome - but that's another post).

And how does one untangle the confusion of whether or not your fatigue at any given moment is FMS related or a side effect of meds?

Those are a few of my symptom/side effect queries. Anyone else have these thoughts?

Till the next post.....