Hepatitis b core antibody

[proof]

I recently donated blood and received a letter saying my blood tested positive for the hepatitis b core antibody (IgG/IgM) and postive for the hepatitis b core antidody.

It then went on to say don't be concerned because all your other hepatitis related testing was negative and normal(HBsAg, ALT, HCV) your positive test for the anti-HBc indicates a probable past exposure to hepatitis. end of letter

Lastly, I would like to know, if you have been exposed to hepatitis in the past and your test is negative, can you still have some symptoms, ie muscle and joint aches.  Please Advise

[Galen]

Let me begin by saying that there are no doctors here - this is a patient-to-patient forum.  However, joint and muscle pain is not normally associated with hepatitis unless it is chronic (ie. you have it still and have for a long time) and long term.  I know that there is a tendency to blame hep for all of our ills, but these things happen to people who have no other disease.  You should probaly disuss your problems with your doctor.  If you get no answers there, perhaps you could consult with another.  Good luck.

[jg2001]

This story appeared on the front page of Yahoo this morning.

Suicide Caution Sought for Antidepressants    
1 hour, 3 minutes ago  Add Health - AP to My Yahoo!


By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON - Patients on some popular antidepressants should be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide, the government warned Monday in asking the makers of 10 drugs to add the caution to their labels.


Related Links
• Antidepressants Health Advisory (FDA)    

Although the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites)'s investigation into the possible suicide connection initially focused on children given the drugs, its warning is aimed at both adult and pediatric use.

It isn't clear yet that the drugs actually do lead to suicide, the FDA stressed. But until that is settled, advisers to the FDA called last month for stronger warnings to doctors and parents that the antidepressants may cause agitation, anxiety and hostility in a subset of patients who may be unusually prone to rare side effects.

On Monday, the FDA followed its advisers' recommendation and issued a public health advisory putting doctors, patients, families and other caregivers on notice to be particularly vigilant for signs of worsening depression or suicidal thoughts at the beginning of anti-depressant therapy or whenever the dose is changed.

The drugs of concern are all newer-generation antidepressants: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, Remeron, Lexapro, Luvox, Serzone and Wellbutrin. Most are known to affect the brain chemical serotonin.

British health authorities sounded the alarm last year, saying long-suppressed research suggests certain antidepressants might sometimes increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children and teenagers. Because only one drug, Prozac, has been proven to alleviate pediatric depression, Britain declared others — drugs called SSRIs and their close relatives — unsuitable for depressed youth.

The FDA issued a caution on pediatric use last year, but Monday's action — especially the addition of the warning to drug labels — goes significantly further.

Dozens of anguished parents pleaded with FDA in a meeting last month to add such warnings, citing preteens and teenagers who hanged themselves or slashed their wrists shortly after starting the antidepressants. Parent after parent described children who had become extremely agitated or anxious shortly after starting the antidepressants, and seemingly sudden impulses that turned deadly.

[cuteus]

TY for that info.  It reinforces my belief that ads are overprescribed in many cases, in order to "treat" normal emotional reactions.  It is the extreme emotional reaction that merits treatment, in my opinion.  It is becoming the ritalin of today.
I have hx of mental disorders in my paternal line, had a normal bout with depression caused by extreme fear for my daughter in 96, treated with zoloft.  It took the edge off but the fears remained, sx included anorexia and loss of libido. I said no to them pre tx and still, #39 shot, saying no.  There are other options, but a pill is the easiest.  My belief.

[LvdByGod]

in my case prozack stopped the suicidal thoughts, and brought me out of the dark. it was a Godsend for me and it felt like it saved my life. (though it may not work the same in every individual)

the trouble with monitoring people on Antidepressents is that you have a group of people dealing with depression and major Psych problems in some cases,and the patients are unstable to begin with.

that has always been a problem in proving that ads can "cause" some folks to go over the edge. the problem could be that the dr. has not found the right one for that patient.  or that the patient was'nt monitored or prepared correctly. the problem could be the person was intent on killing themselves anyway...there are alot of "factors" that they can not control in these studies...

there are many different kinds of ads and dr.s try to find the one that actually takes away the suicidal thoughts and dark days.  

you must have follow up on beginning ads with a professional psych or dr. who understands ads in order to find the right one for you. i went to a psychiatrist(sp).

you should not stay on an ad that doesn't relieve your depression after a month or so or makes your problems seem worse.

also, some of them take along time to start working as did the prozack for me. it took about a month to really start working. (i began takeing them 10+ years ago,for a lifetime problem with depression).

it took about a month for the side effects to tapper off (speedy like), and for it to begin to relieve my deppresion. my dr. told me about the side effects befor starting prozack. for me prozack was a good choice because i was so overweight and it has been known to help people loose weight. it did work on me and was such a relief...this is just my experience.

i had tried several other ads before that one and they didn't work or had side effects i did not care for. it took me awhile to find the one that helped me.  

ads are not for everyone and should be concidered serious like beginning any other drug for treatment. just my 2-5 cents. sandi

[LvdByGod]

an additional note; i would be very careful in treating a child with certain ADs. the prozack is know to have a speedy effect.especially in the first few weeks,then it does tapper off to no sides at all.

if you are a child or or anxiety is a problem, you may not be able to handle this sort of an effect. if you are an adult and are prepared for such an effect. you know what to expect and can decide if it is too much for you. kids don't understand what is happening to them. prozack for kids??? i would pick another type, this one is too speedy at first. there are many that don't have this side.

my guess is that prozack is not prescribed too often for those on tx, because of the sides of the interferon/riba. this one could add to the feeling of not wanting to eat. or the speedy,anxious effect. in tx there are probably BETTER choices.

if you are just depressed with no anxioty, and feeling sluggish and need to shed a few lbs. anyway, it may be your dr.s choice for you.

[cuteus]

Most of the studies available focus on suicide attempts rather than suicide completion.  Most completed suicides happen early in the illness.  what significance this might have in tx recomendations remains to be studied. Narsad.org has excellent info and links to mental health clinical trials.
A high rate of completed suicides happen months after ads are started, speculation is that maybe the person now feels "stronger" enough to complete it. The mind is a complex thing and most of the tx out there is based on trial & error and scientific/medical guessing.
Drs don't have the time to follow closely a child in tx, parents have to be hypervigilant and informed.  No one can leave their health in the sole hands of providers and pharmaceuticals.

I love the movie:"whose life is it anyway?" with richard dreyfuss.  He tells the dr: "if you want tranquility, you take the pill" I have the right to be depressed and it is a normal reaction to my quadraplegia and its life consequences seems to be what he was inferring. Controversial movie at best.

Again, extreme emotional disturbance, needs intervention.

If I had gone by the test that states  that dark moods lasting 3 weeks should be treated, I would be on ad's now.  That gauge is akin the 2log drop, is A part of the assessment.
Ads are reached for many times to take the edge off life, maybe is a good thing for some, is scary that we are such a pill oriented society, though.    where is my riba?

[LvdByGod]

good info... i completely agree. i was in such desparation for years. so i sought help and forturnately recieved it. some people take prozack and other ads as recreational drugs. imagin that!!! very bad...

they are serious and need serious concideration, on the part of the dr. and patient.

[Xenigma]

Hi everyone-
When we moved from Fl. to NY 5 years ago, my son became very depressed, had many panic attacks (they were almost constant) and he couldn't eat. He lost 20 pounds in like 6-8 weeks. The school would call me that I need to come get him cause is BP is so low and faint. We tried many AD's but the only one that worked for him (Finally) was Prozac.  He was 11 years old at the time and couldn't swallow pills.  Prozac comes in liquid and it really saved his life. We moved back to FL recently and we are now weaning him off it. He's been on it daily for 4 years and he wants to get off it. He should be off it completely in a week and a half.  We started cutting him down by 1/4 teaspoons in December.  We did it very slowly and <Knock on Wood> he is doing fine. I have to say Prozac was a life saver in my sons case.  It's just waiting the 4-6 weeks for it to kick in that's the hardest.
Now my daughter went on Paxil for 2 months when we moved back to FL.  She's 20.  When she wanted to stop the Paxil she had horrible withdrawal symptoms.  We even tapered her dose off and she was still very sick and she was only on it daily for 6 weeks and then the last 2 weeks we cut her down. Paxil is a hard one to get off of, but a great one to be on. If you need an AD you have to find the one that's right for you and wean yourself off it very gradually.
Have a good day everyone.
Hugs,
Enigma

[Fubarcat]

My husband is on Lexapro.  He's been taking it for about the last 3 weeks.  He has terrible insomnia and restless legs with it.  Has anyone had these sides, and how long should he give it before he asks for a different type of AD?  He does not have Hep C, he's depressed due to recent loss of job, life in general, etc. etc.