What meds

[Shnoogy]

Okay I had my appointment with the head docter as I like to call her has diagnosed me with biplor disorder type 2 and has told me to do some research on what kind of treatment and drugs are okay to take with Hep C and while on treatment...since you guys are experienced I thought I would come to you...for ideas on what drugs I can take to her to suggest since she seems to want me to have some sort of control on what I put into my body and not just take whatever she tells me too.  I think thats kinda nice of her.   She wants me to be informed so thats why I am doing the research I guess...that and she doesnt know much about hep c herself so we are learning together...I think she is wonderful so far and dont wish to try to find another head doc....that and she takes my insurance so I will take what I can get!   I know depression and anxiety come with treatment so if you guys could help me with this I would appriciate it!  .Im glad my hep doc made me do this before treatment otherwise it might have gotten bad...Im already severly moody and stuff...so getting it under controll now might help....she had suggested lamictal and abilify abd wanted me to check on those

[mkp13]

I'm also bipolar II.  I knew that depression was a somewhat-common side effect of HepC treatment, but was very concerned about taking an antidepressant because it might go too far and cause mania.  My hepatologist and I decided to try it without any psychological meds and see how things went.  I'm in week 24 and haven't had to use any mind-drugs at all.  I'm not sure I could have stuck to that if I'd been doing 48 weeks of treatment, because these past 4 weeks have been pretty rough, but the antidepressants take 2-6 weeks to really kick in and it didn't seem worth it because I end the HepC treatment at the end of week 24.  (Geno 1b but in Telaprevir trial which only goes 24 weeks.)

FYI, my problems over the past month have been anxiety and irritability.  Sometimes pretty severe irritability.  Fortunately they're not bad all day every day.  I had one bad week but since then it's been a problem less than half the time.  Knowing it's a drug side-effect helps a lot.

[Marc1955]

Shnoogy – if you begin treatment, who will be the physician overseeing the treatment? That is the most important person to start with in asking your questions about medication. The treatment does impact brain chemistry. I'm not surprised that your head doctor wouldn't be knowledgeable, since this treatment is pretty specialized. But you need to be very, very careful and informed before you start. The most important thing about treatment is staying on it regardless of what side effects you experience. This could be challenging with underlying mental health issues. Unfortunately I don't have specific information about people with bipolar disorder undergoing treatment. Perhaps someone on this board will. But speak to your treating physician. There is no way you should start treatment until you have good solid answers.

[Marcia2202]

Sorry, I have no knowledge on this, but am wishing you all the best. hugs, marcia

[Shnoogy]

okay...diod my own research with my docs help and we came up with abilify and effexor extended release and lamictal