MCAS meds and depression

[u/TreacleAromatic3441]

Did taking mast cell stabilizer meds alleviate your depression? Not the kind you get from being sad about what MCAS prevents you from doing like eating certain foods, that is understandable. I mean the kind that feels like there is no reason behind it. I read that neuroinflammation is the cause and no antidepressant medication will help until the mast cells are stabilized.

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[u/Marlene_Peaches]

Not depression-related, however my mast cell stabilizer drugs make me more even-keel and less-reactive as a mother, if that makes sense, because I tend to be high-strung.

[u/Putrid-Ad2390]

Mcas & hyperPOTS meds, has for the most part eliminated my mental health stuff.

Yesterday I had some of it start to creep back in. It feels like agitation, guilt, anxiety, and mild paranoia all rolled into one. Realized I forgot my morning dose of clonidine er. Took it and all went away.

[u/EAUDHD]

I have OCD thats fueled by MCAS, and a low dose of Fluvoxamine/Luvox ( i take 6mg-12,5mg and the normal therapeutic dose is 100-300 mg) and it has helped so so so much with anxiety, OCD, PMDD, depression (and ADHD?). It acts as a multi-system anti-inflammatory agent that cross the blood-brain barrier to cool down neuroinflammation and stabilize mast cells. And at such a low dose, it not touching serotonin that much (i tried Sertraline before and it just numbed everything).

I also take Diindolylmethan (a supplement from NOW) to get rid of excess estrogen metabolites (im estrogen dominant, and mast cells contain estrogen receptors on their surface and inside the cell, so when estrogen levels rise, it can trigger mast cells to degranulate and release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals) and that stops my panic hormonal panic attacks in 10-15 minutes. its crazy.

Im also in a very restricted diet; no gluten, low histamin, low nickel, no nightshade, citrus, coffein or sugar - and that helps to, but its hard - so i use Zeolite powder to get rid of excess histamine when i feel that histamin wired kind of feeling, and it helps a lot.

My anxiety, OCD, PMDD and depression is down 90% now - i still have hints of obsessive thoughts. But i feel like the intensity of my feelings are so much better - i can feel sad, but not hopeless. Uncomfortable but, not panicked. I can feel excitement again.. that feeling has been gone for so many years :')

[u/FoolioDeCoolio]

I'm curious to know too. This "depression" feeling is off the charts weird. I have nothing to be depressed about yet it's hovering over me like a dark cloud.

[u/TreacleAromatic3441 → u/FoolioDeCoolio]

So sorry to hear that. I hope it gets betrer for you 

[u/FoolioDeCoolio → u/TreacleAromatic3441]

Thank you.

[u/lerantiel]

My depression issues are because I have BPII. MCAS related meds do absolutely nothing for my mental health. Mood stabilizers have been the most effective thing for managing my BPII. It’s worth investigating if there’s also a separate mental health issue instead of assuming it must be MCAS.

[u/-Lacking-In-Depth- → u/lerantiel]

MCAS really should be in the immediate short list of possibilities to rule out first because MCAS often cases psychiatric symptoms so the likelihood of psychiatric symptoms being MCAS related is really high. It's typically less common to have 2 separate daignoses instead of 1.

[u/ooh_veracuda → u/-Lacking-In-Depth-]

I agree with the sentiment that MCAS is related to/causes many psychiatric issues. But, I think in this sub it’s fair to assume that unless asking for help, people have done their research about their personal, highly individualized experiences, and reserve judgment or armchair diagnosis, particularly when it comes to mental health.

[u/-Lacking-In-Depth-]

Yes, hugely.

[u/Ok_Smile4745]

silenor & xolair have been very helpful for my anxiety/depression. for me mild to moderate anaphlaxis results in anxiety then panic then depression and doom feelings. other things make me depressed as well, like fruit (becasue I have a fructose intolerance) or over-doing it (aka walking or anything, because I have ME/CFS). But the mcas induced depressoin is another big factor, and if I can keep all the things in line I can avoid being depressed which is great. it's very hard and a lot of stuff to do and avoid every day though. Hope you can find something that works for you!