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317787 tn?1473358451

Incivek blocks prozac - severe anxiety is with me

Hello this is not a question more an attempt to help anyone else going though SEVERE Anxiety, if you can't sleep or stop talking or don't feel like eating.
I started the Prozac 4 to 6 weeks before Incivek so it would be in my system to help with depression and anxiety
I just called the Specialty Pharmacist at Aetna and she said my problem is that the Incivek has been blocking my Prozac and that is why I am driving all of you crazy with pleas for help
I apologize from the bottom of my heart.  I hope you can understand me wanting to share what the pharmacy told me.  I mean no offense, I am still on treatment week 14 of 24 I was UND at 4 8 10 12 weeks
I would like to thank all the people that have PM'd me with support and suggestions, at least now I know what to do.  I am in a little bit of trouble but I will be ok and I will be SVR!
You all are right, you have to fight and you have to be proactive and you can not give up, even when people te4ll you, oh that is not a side effect of Incivek, it's not but it blocked my prozac per pharmacy.  I am now having panic attacks
Thank you all so very much. My HGB is now 9.8 and the doc says I am stable, no rescue drugs.  My next call may be to a blood specialist,
I wish you all the very best as always.  The Incivek is still in my system so I now do not know how much Prozac to take or how much was blocked for 12 weeks.
Dee1956
Best Answer
Avatar universal
You are not driving anyone crazy. We are all different and no medication will effect everyone in the same way (as you know) AND the health professionals and doctors learn as more people take the treatment meds and the other meds that waylay some of the sides. I took a generic for zoloft while on treatment to prevent depression and I think it did a good job. That said however, one thing I did not share with anyone here is that I feel that I had an emotional  "meltdown" around 8-10 weeks in to the treatment. This had absolutely nothing to do with my stopping incivek- the only reason I stopped was on doctor's order due to severe rash. I did not discuss the meltdown with him either. I worked as a senior manager and fortunately was slated to take a few days off work for vacation around that time. I am so glad for that coincidence. It also happpened that I had a ton of vacation time available (never missed work and didn't take other time off). I have been off work since that time and able to use vacation time. I was starting to lose it when I went on that vacation but unfortunately my perspective on what was going on with me left me along with everything else and I could not stop what was happening or control it. I was able to isolate myself enough at work due to my job (before I went out) so that the stuff that did happen at work, I managed to hide. No one at work knew of my treatment and they still don't. There were times that I either laughed way, way, way, too much or sat in my office in the dark and just cried. I just could not keep it together. I do have a terminally ill family member and I think people assumed something was up with that when I looked funny coming out of my office. I am fine now but the craziness didn't stop until weeks after I stopped the incivek. I don't know that it was caused by the incivek but I think so and I know from the rash that it takes a while for incivek to get out of your system. It was still worth taking all of the meds to get rid of the hep c but it does seem strange, doesn't it? Now that I am a lot more "sane" I know that something was really wrong at that time. I also could not sleep.

Remember that one of the reasons drs began routinely prescribing the ADs was because some people were depressed to the point of harming themselves. Can the drugs alone or in combination cause other emotional or behavioral issues? It doesn't seem like much of a stretch. The doctors should continue to prescribe the ADs but maybe they will find out that some are better than others and will be able to get this treatment process fine tuned. Sorry to go on so long but this is an important topic. Thank you for bringing it up.  Even though I am repeating myself I must say again that it was still worth taking the meds to get rid of the hep c and I am so happy that the tx is working for you, Dee.  I hope everything else gets better for you!
42 Responses
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317787 tn?1473358451
Hello, I want to thank everyone who tried to help me during this horrible time.  It took 3 weeks; I am finally sleeping through the night.  Still a little anxious however I could chalk that up to peg and riba if my memory of the last time serves me right :)
Thank you all very much.  What I was trying to say before but it did not come out right.  When someone comes on here and is asking for help it doesn't do them any good to bring out the ole statistics. First I was shaking so badly i could not undrstand HRSEWSPR, thank you for the explanation, great answer, really helped me tremendously.   When your body is going through something it just is.  I am happy I found out what it was and I have asked Vertex to please send out alerts.  My doctors office has gone to pharmacy and gotten an updated list of the medications that can be increased by up to 70% or decreased by 70%, that would be dangerous for a heart patient.
Again, thank you everyone
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
All, I just wanted to thank everyone, I was in the middle of a panic attack, after the doc called it got worst, that is not the best time for me to start writing.  I have done my 14th of 24 shot and I pray that I will be ok.

@Trish and endo is an excellent idea, my thyroid was fin until I started tx however this doc is not going to help me.  He just told me to ride out the withdrawal.  I hope he never goes through anything like this it is awful
It is better and I do appreciate everyone trying to help me through my meltdown.  One person said it took them 10 days to 2 weeks, another said a month  I wonder if it makes any difference in your um..digestion lol
The fat helps the body absorb the incivek which always made me sleepy.  I thought I should still eat some fat.  I am much calmer than I was
I am taking a break this weekend and read, I can read again for the first time in 11 days and I am a book worm.  Thank you all again
Dee
Helpful - 0
683664 tn?1330966324
Oh my, I haven't been around much and now I see this.  So sorry you've been going through all this!  I just want to add another voice of support for you, will be following along to see how you're doing.  Wishing you all the best, relief, comfort, support, rest, responsive caregivers (!!!) ...

Lapis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
And yes....we've come a long ways, baby.  :)  Rooting for you, Dee.

Trish
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dee...how about putting a call in directly to your Endocrinologist who monitors your thyroid ongoing.  My Hepatologist sent me to an Endocrinologist when my thyroid issues started and it wouldn't hurt to check in with your Endocrinologist and have him/her monitoring your thyroid issues independently.  Your Hepatologist won't manage those issues, although they'll watch for them and would be good for your Endocrinologist to keep closer tabs on you while you're going through treatment.  Just a thought, Dee.  

Can see you have your thinking cap on this morning.....deep breaths and hang in there.  You're doing great.

Trish
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Thank you so much I am slowly working through the maze of problems that I am facing.  The one thing I do know is that my mind is strong.  I have not lost my ability to research.  I will get through this.
Thank you so much

@Willb, thank you, I feel better this morning, got 5 hours of sleep,

Love Dee
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Der Trish as of Nov 23 my TSWH is 1.06 down from Sept 28th o3.45
I just tried to call the Hepatologists office, they are having a Christmas party and are not taking calls
I tried the clinical technician who when you call it says she is a nurse,
her msg says she will return calls on Monday
I went bak out to the menu and hit the button to speak to a nurse to ask them if my TSH change could be causing an additional problem and it went directly to the clinical tech.  I tried another numer on the menu and received medical records who admitted they are having a party and he could not help me.  I hope people can understand that I have never been in this situation and am terrified.  At no point was I ever upset with anyone, My anxiety is so high my husband has a rope on my ankle to keep me down on the ground lol
Thanks again everyone.  My doc who I can call about the TSH change opens soon
Helpful - 0
1923802 tn?1331986928
Ya I would be upset to, if my doc made a mistake like that and no apoligy?wow ...he could have said really sorry bout what you gave gone through or something,anyway hope things are lookin better now.DanniXo
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
As I try to thank each and every one of you I do feel bettter
Thank you so much
Dee


@Trish my TSH is 1.06 was 3.45 at the begining, no change in doseage, I am calling my doc today  Thank you
Helpful - 0
1923802 tn?1331986928
Stay strong...and I'm huggin ya ,I'm sorry I really don't know what to say,I understand panic attacts all to well,hope the doc finds the combo for ya to get through this time :) take care dee
                                       Dannixo
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Thank you so much for kind words, I know it is my anxiety that has my perceptions off and I misinterpret, I appreciate everyone here and I am now afraid to continue, I am on week 14 of 24 weeks and tonight is shot night.
I am going for weekly blood work
Thank you again
Dee
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Hey there, we have come a long way from the R1626 haven't we?  I think you ar right.  It is difficult to know what is going on when you are shaking and nervous don;t want to eat, can't sleep
I asked for this blood work as I was afraid, it took a while for me to see the lowered TSH which to me meant I was on too much medicine.  I will call,  I can not drive right now due to the shaking and cramps though I did make it up to Walmart yesterday to pick up the anti anxiety meds
I will talk to my doc about TSH he is very good.  It is just that this all happened this week
Thank you so much for your support.  I am 55 years old and have never gone through withdrawals in my life, I though I was dying.  I am much better though still shaky I feel better.  My Aunt said this happened to my Grandmother once when she mixed up her thyroid meds.  Thank you Trish
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Dee...you sound much better. We are all rooting for you .Every one has made some excellent points and no-one is in the least upset with you. :0)
Will
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Thank you so much for the information.  I have een told that I am stable and do not need rescue drugs but have been asured, the first blood work that shows a problem they will help me
I think I may be on their radaor now LOL
Especially since I was his first Incivek patient, he is a Hepatologist and he is experiences with Riba and Peg however if Vertex did not mention possible interactions what could he do?  Don't I sound better?  I feel better and to every person who has responded, you have helped me and kept me going and my eye is on the prize..It has been a rough road since Nov 28th however I believe I have gotten some good advice and a doctors support..
You are right about the blood work though a regular doc would not understand the numbers, maybe a hemotologist - blood specialist?
Thank you again I am really out of breath just typing, it is so weird
Dee
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Thank you so very much for sharing, now that the doctor has called and verified that I should have had my xanax modified as the Incivek would make it a double dose.  Also the Prozac that I used in the last trial very well was able to work 36 hours a week; was abruptly stopped which is dangerous.
I appreciate your feedback  I am doing a little better today.  I thought that if the drug was approved in May and I did not start till Sept and they had studied for 10 years someone would know.  However saying that, before I found out the doc just kept saying that it was the Incivek, that the drug was very hard and I was just going to have to bear up which I was desperately trying.  I have been told I have done very well
Bless you again for your reswponse, I am very vulnerable, insecure and today is shot day woo hoo
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Last night when I wrote wht happened I was upset and when I finished typing was just too tired to retype. Sorry for the caps, I know it means a person is yelling or crazy I was neither.  Well, maybe angry but I apologize
Thank you for your support, I slept 5 hours last night and today is shot day whoo hoo!!!!!!  I am UND
Love to all of you
Dee
Helpful - 0
1654058 tn?1407159066
Well I'll join the sleepless talk. I never could take Ads. I have taken 1/2 ambien or 1/2 Xanax to sleep, but use it sparingly. Not al all most nights cause I can fall asleep, just up at midnight n it's too late to take something n get up at 5:30 for work.
I will say that you're such a sweet lady. Everyone on here are all just trying to muddle through in their own way. We analyze everything. And we should. Its a fight to enjoy our lives here on this planet. As an outside objective viewpoint reading these posts? I hear love n concern. Not a person here wants to see you or anyone else suffer needlessly. Any one of is would fight for you and with you to get some relief.
Speaking for myself - I know I'm a lil crazy right now. My thots are good some days n messy 10 minutes later. This roller coaster is the pits. . Grab every minute of peace you can find. Please know you're not alone. I glory in ur spunk n determination. You're taking care of Dee. Just do that. Everything is going to turn out fine in the long run. Thats my truth that keeps me going n I'm sticking w it. Xoxo Karen :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dee, I'm not going to comment on the Prozac / anxiety meds as I don't know enough about the interactions to make a comment.  I was reading through your symptoms though and I was thinking..."she sounds like me when my thyroid went hyperactive" and I kept reading...and then I got to this:

" for my thyroid TSH which went from 3 d.35 down to 1 which means my thyroid meds were being increased "

That's hyperactive thyroid, Dee.  Did your doctor say anything about that?  That doesn't mean you need your thyroid meds increased, it means you're hyperactive and making TOO MUCH thyroid hormone.    Your TSH is dropping.  Mine dropped to .02 when they caught it.  My hands were shaking and I couldn't focus as well, my balance was a little off.  I was sleeping about two hours a night.  Felt like an airplane ready to take off all the time.  My hep doctor asked me to hold out my hands when I told him how I was feeling and my hands were shaking.  He put me on beta blockers right away until I could get to an endocrinologist.

You might have a whole bunch of things going on at the same time here, Dee.

I'd push for an appointment with your endocrinologist about your thyroid asap.  Call them yourself and tell them your thyroid TSH is at 1 (or is it at .1, Dee?)  Tell them you're not sleeping at all and that your anxiety is heightened.  Tell them you're on interferon and that it can impact auto-immune issues.  I hope you have a good endocrinologist.

I'd also talk to that doctor about getting on procrit asap to bring your HGB up.  Below 10 is the point where most doctors do something about that. I'm not sure what he means by stabilized if you get winded by typing.  I remember those days when it was too tiring to sit at the keyboard and type and needed to lie down.  Please ask that doc about procrit - it takes about 3 weeks to kick in and I wouldn't want to see your hgb to keep dropping.

What week is this now, Dee?

And NOBODY is bothered by your posts or your questions, I know willbb and all of us are concerned on whether you were getting good information and good care, we all want you to get through this and get SVR and everyone is trying to help as best they can.

Hang in there, girlie.  Take it a step at a time, an hour at a time, a day at a time.  You're going to get there.

Trish
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
You have every right to be upset. This is infuriating.

I wish you were here and could go to my hepatologist, He is always so kind, compassionate and willing to work with me.
And I love that he never hesitates to say, ' we don't know." His ego is not his main interest.

Hopefully, you will feel better soon and can move forward.

Good luck,
OH
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
After 8 days of severe abrupt withdrawal from my Prozac because Incivek has been blocking absorption, and withdrawal for Xanax because for every xanax I appropriately took the Incivek turned it into 2 doses and for my thyroid TSH which went from 3 d.35 down to 1 which means my thyroid meds were being increased

I just received a call from my top hepatologist and he told me that it is unfortunate that that you are experiencing this problem. We did not realize until yesterday when you called (again and again) that there is a problem and I am not sure what we could have done. I asked why we did not change my prozac, etc., and he said that most of those antidepressants are going to have the same symptoms.  

For all of you like me fight, call your doctors and tell them what you are experiencing. I am feeling withdrawals for the first time in my life.  He never said he was sorry for my pain or mistake in not checking the meds when I called to ask for them to recheck drug interactions.

Please e4xcuse me I am so hurt and upset that no one believed me because it was not written down yet.  Now the Doc has checked with Vertex it is fact.   For all of you who have supported amd comforted me thank you God Bless you and never give up in this fight against Hep C.  It will not happen to every one but it will happen.  I guess the part that gets me is how hwsaid how unfortunate it was that I started treatment so early (Sept 1st)
I love all of you very much
Dee
Helpful - 0
190885 tn?1333025891
dee...i thought it was riba and prozac that could be trouble with some folks...when i have more time i'll try to look up that link someone sent me..hopefully last tx that wasn't a problem for you...good luck....billy
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Avatar universal
Dee,
You wrote:  * I will not write any more as I can tell some people might be angry with me,*  
I'm sure no one on this forum is angry with you.  I'm sure everyone cares about you and wants you to be well and have relief from the side effects of therapy.  Best wishes for a calm, happy, relaxing day!
Advocate1955
Helpful - 0
1794638 tn?1345155061
Oh Dee, My heart is with you.  I absolutely know what your are talking about.  I have been on Lexa Pro for 10 years and knew in advance that INC might cause Potential  loss of concomitant medication activity.    So the doctor pumped it up a little and increased my ativan to 3 mg a day.  All I can say is that it has been an emotional and physical roller coaster over the last 12 weeks on INC.   I just was not willing to change my AD, because of previous sx and adverse reactions, so I just fought it out.   But I will say that there were times that the anxiety was pretty well kept under control because the INC made me really sleepy, so in the long run it was all good.  
Now on my 4th day post INC and I am starting to see some comeback qualities from my AD, ie:  a little more motivation and energy, but I am still hitting a wall around 4-5PM everyday and the confusion & brain fog sets in along with body aches and pain.   My sleep has been intermittent at night and I am not getting solid sleep until about 3AM-6AM.  
Hang tough girl   Prayers
Helpful - 0
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