Another question about AD's

[carolhab]

Hi everyone - I have been reading about people's experiences about taking AD's on tx.  I am on wk 8/48.  I have never taken AD's, and really did not want to take them.  But, as the days go by, and I drag through them (like everyone else here), I am now wondering if maybe a mild AD would be helpful. I also think there is a 'tough guy' feeling I have about not needing them, but that is so silly.  Since I don't know much about them, can folks tell me about their experiences with certian types, dose, side effects, and overall benefits, etc, to help me make an educated decision?
thanks so much,
sammy

[Southernboy]

Hi sammy,

About the best argument for taking the AD's I can think of is that there have been several studies done that show a decrease in tx efficacy with untreated depression.  TnHepGuy can probably supply the links to these studies.  Remember, the depression is a sx caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain when taking the tx meds.  It says nothing about you and should be dealt with just like any other sx.

Best to you in whatever you decide,
Steve

[honey1616]

There was days on tx that I also felt really down but didn't take ads,,,,I usually in a day or two could pull out of it and knew is was the tx so would try to do things to lift myself and make me happy.  Only you know how bad it is and if it continues for quite awhile,,,I would then talk to my dr about getting some to see if it helps you...

[cao]

I don't think that I would have made it through tx without ADs...but I was on a smaller dose before tx even started due to a pre-existing anxiety disorder.  I had never experienced depression until tx, though several members of my family suffer from it, so I imagine that I'm predisposed.  For me, upping the dose of ADs while on tx has allowed me to finish & finish as a happy partner to my husband and mom to my son.  I haven't had any terrible side effects as a result (though I'd caution against going on ADs without the input of a doctor that follows you closely).  My experience has been that friends and family put on ADs by their GPs have had a MUCH more difficult time than those followed closely by a phychiatrist.  ADs tend to make you even more jumpy the first couple weeks while your body is acclimating to them & a doctor that knows what additional medications to provide to counteract these side effects can make all the difference.

[DallasStar*]

Hi Sammy, I did 48 wks of Tx, without Ad's. I did howerver take Xanax when needed for anxiety. The Ad's that I have tried in the past made me very shaky, & I could not sleep. I did not want to take another pill to help with the other pills side effects, Some people benefit highly from them, guess I was just not one of them. I also took benadryl to sleep on shot night, it helped for sleeping & the itching.
Hope this helps, & I wish you the best on your TX.

Dallas

[cuteus]

the distinction has to be made between actual depression (clinical) and just experiencing the blahs from the crappy physical feeling.  The studies that link lower svr and depression address individuals with more than a mild case of depression.  There was even a study I read a year ago where those with a major depressive disorder had a better SVR rate than those who did not! go figure.
I remember joking about the fact that I did not go crazy enough to get SVR.
You will feel physically ill most days and that in itself is a depressing feeling, whether it merits treatment is up to a mental health professional and you.
I myself had a few weeks where I feared I would have to get some help, but decided to give it a waiting period, since most of the times I felt bad, it would get better on its own. If you are still menstruating and get PMS, that period might be quite trying.
If you are suffering extra symptoms due to the anemia, they can improve with  blood booster intervention.
I felt close to being a human after taking my vicoprofen for aches and the procrit for anemia.
I had no other personal stressors that contributed to the miserable feeling the meds gave me, so that is a factor to consider also.

[cao]

The point that cuteus makes is a really good one -- the ADs help with clinical depression (not wanting to leave the house, not wanting to eat, feeling excessively tired & weepy), but they don't help with the blah feeling that comes from feeling like **** all the time. I very much still feel that way, even with the ADs....so take into consideration which way you think you feel.

[Soleus]

I concur with cuteus as well. For me AD

[carolhab]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful input.. Cuteus, great point, I do have to decide if I am 'clinically depressed' or not.... I think I will hold off a little longer to see if I can tolerate the tx, and work on alleviating the physical symptoms.  I will, however, keep AD's in the back of my mind....
Soleus -  tough guys can be silly, can't they???? or is it that silly guys can be tough?? :) or maybe neither... I don't know my brain is fogging up... where are the windshield wipers??
sammy