Riba rage?

Anyone having any riba rage or extreme irritation? People around here have got a new nickname for me...Linda Blair LOL Everyone knew how difficult this would be going into it with me but I will be a rats butt if they don't ask me , "whats wrong with you"? My head spins around and well you can only imagine...exorcist LOL I didnt have such of a difficult time last times I did treatment but I was 8 years younger last one I did. I am 48 now and pre-menopausal going into this so.... Just wondering if anyone else feels extreme irritability?

[susan400]

YES!!!!!   I am being completely b*tchy and I even don't like myself too much lately.  I almost would rather be alone or with just 1 other person that to be around alot of people because my tolerance for people has declined significantly since starting treatment again, 7 wks ago.  I know it's the drugs because I'm not normally like this.  It's really bad when you scream at a telephone person who has basically been harassing me with phone calls and yesterday, I reached my limit. When I saw on the caller idea that it was them again, I screamed into the phone w/o saying hello, STOP CALLING ME!  These morons were calling me repeatedly over a $5.63 bill, that I had already paid and it had in fact already cleared my bank, so I was totally over the top when I got about the 6th phone call about this dumb thing.  Anyhow, normally, I wouldn't have blown a gasket like that over this annoying thing, but this time..   well, you know what I mean, right?   Susan400

[cakes8267]

I hated myself until I started doing generic Zoloff, now I won't go a day without it.  1/2 pill each night and I am a new woman

[indy531]

Does everyone get riba rage? Is it just irritability or bizarre behavior?

[pcds]

The rage is real and ugly.  I had a really bad day at work, I now increased zoloft and it made a difference.  It's irritability on steriods.

[frijole]

It can get nasty can't it. I mean it is funny looking back but I remember some pretty brutal times txing.  Riba Road Rage was especially bad.  Watch out traffic!  I never took any anti-depressants and my husband and I promised not to divorce during treatment.  We made it through somehow.  Sometimes I just had to bite my tongue.

frijole

[crossroadsec]

Help me Tom Cruise! Help me Oprah! Help me TBJ! I had my 1st Riba rage. Had my meds shipped to my friends apartment this month. I called fedex 2 xs and gave them my cell phone number and said, "Please have driver call if there is a problem locating the apartment." I waited 6 hours. Kept tracking. The driver had left the package at the apartment leasing office and said no one answered the door. I WAS HERE WAITING.
Oh I gave a tongue blistering discourse on my right to live, and their potential liability for $20,000 in meds, my right to privacy - Not to mention lousy customer service. I have a friend who's worked for them for 30 years. He would never avoid walking up 3 flights of stairs especially if the customer had called. It felt kinda good actually. I was in awe of my own anger. Wow. Glad I'm not alone in this... Karen :)

[James10500]

Don't hesitate to get some Zoloft worked for me big time.  There meds do crazy (pardon the pun) things to us.  I know a person in another forum who can't even go into the grocery store w/o freaking out. I suggested people with RIBA rage go on AD'. She's  so far gone she berated me called me names and told me I was weak because in needed AD's these meds drove her nutz.  Don't let it happen to you, get help, riba rage is serious.

Good luck it's one of the tougher things to deal with while on tx.

[indy531]

I have taken 150 mg. imipramine (very old fashioned mood  elevator, but works best for me for 30 yrs) and will increase to 200mg as I am having sleep disruption prior to tx. Hep doc knows  and I'll call him if there are any 'rages' (I really need my job). Last night on Ambian I told my husband the ceiling was breathing-he completely freaked out! Will let doc know Monday. I don't want to get irritable.

[lapis]

I was terrible on tx.  In the first week I was being snarky with husband and feeling irritated and anxious much of the time.  When I told my tx team about this they started me on low dose Zoloft.  It worked quickly and made such a difference.  Later in tx things started getting bad again and we increased the dose.  Again it really helped.  Hang in there, ask your doc about taking the AD's if you feel you need them.  I only needed them during tx, stopped them gradually after tx was finished and doing great now.

Good luck!
Lapis

[dointime]

My theory is that riba was developed by the military to turn the soldiers into rabid fighting machines.  Afterwards they discovered - oh my gosh - it has antiviral properties too.

I have absolutely no evidence for the above.

dointime  

[flcyclist]

lol

[lapis]

You've got me smiling.  Thanks for the grin!

Lapis

[hrsepwrguy]

VERY FUNNY !!!!!  :)

[susan400]

No Anti-D's for me.  I don't like them at all.  Years ago, I tried several different types of them and I hated the side effects and said that I'd never do them again.  I am not depressed and I don't want the anti-D's just for my Riba rage.  Susan400

[ribman]

i was "going off" on everyone around me at 5 weeks.slept very sporadically.discussed it with my doctor and he put me on 50 mg zoloft and 30 mg remeron.i only take half the remeron at night i sleep like a baby and have not had an angry episode or sleepness nights since week 6.i was staunchly opposed to meds........not anymore they work.

[cakes8267]

I found out that I can't maintain working my job, my marriage and my family without the AD's.  My life is somewhat normal on them, I don't mind being around people as a matter a fact, I like being around them!

[curiouslady1]

If I get to be in the study, I will not take any extra drugs or supplements.  I will increase my sessions with my great shrink who is better than a chemical. I don't know about irritability but I have a theory about the depression.  If you cannot make it out of bed or up the steps and are as anemic as hell, of course you will be depressed.  Helplessness is vry close to depression and is very aggravating and it is hard to tell the difference between fatigue and depression; the lights are low in both

[curiouslady1]

Also, I just bought two tibetan meditation tapes.

[willbb]

When it gets like this often AD:s are beneficial  :)  

http://0.tqn.com/d/hepatitis/1/G/T/-/-/-/LividLiver.jpg

[robo229]

I tap into the riba rage like a reservoir of controlled aggression.  It's sometimes liberating to let people know you're onto them when they try to take advantage of you.  Haven't been out of control yet.

robo

[lynda607]

Ribavirin will make you irritable, impatient and on edge.  Interferon is usually the culprit that leads to inappropriate outbursts.  Interferon causes depression and irritability and anger are common symptoms of depression.  Rage itself is a psychiatric manifestation and interferon is the drug with the FDA-mandated psychiatric warnings - not the ribavirin.

[willbb]

lynda is spot on ...but "RIBA RAGE" sounds way more cool than Intereferon rage :)

[crossroadsec]

Doin time- lol. I think I read about that study in Rolling Stone Magazine. I tried ads years ago. No worky for me. I do take 1/2 Xanax if I need sleep.
I've got a Tibetan singing bowl and use prayer n meditation a lot. I've even resorted to smoking a few cigarettes. My Dr said to do whatever it takes to get by for 11 months.
If I'm gonna be an elaborate fighting machine, I want a tricked out uniform to go w it.. Karen :)

[curiouslady1]

I stopped short of the bowl but I did get the tapes of the bowl :)

[flcyclist]

Agree with Lynda also.  I was thinking the same thing about interferon possibly being the culprit.  For me there is a profound difference between irritable and full of rage.   Since the level of riba is rather consistant with a dose every 12 hrs, and inf given once a week, I do notice some lower levels of tolerence earlier in the week.  Might be just a coincidence?  Of course, my outbursts ALWAYS appropriate and don't try to tell me otherwise. - shot Friday night.  lol

[dixiechicdana]

I'm just b----- all the time lol

[dixiechicdana]

I'm going to ask for ADs tomorrow. I already have some anger issues when not on treatment and now I am like son of sam or something. Have been getting really panicky feeling, my relationship is teetering on the edge. I just hope all this stress isn't hindering the treatment....

[BeckyJoInMaui]

Riba Rage? Well, that's a pretty nice way of saying completely insane. At times I am cussing & yelling at a small crumb. Or how about at night laying there with Guns & Roses in your head  yelling at you loaded like a freight train, I'm on the night train.   Yeah, that says it. Your body is loaded with monster drugs trying to kill a monster. My family has decided to not talk with me, because they are mad if I've taken drugs to keep it all manageable & they're wondering why I'm talking groggy. Then they state well, you're saying alot of cuss words lately & it's not nice to us so they won't talk to me at all & let me know I am not of sound mind.  If I just took a shot I'm so crazy I'd like to tell them where to shove a shot into theirselves. It's not the real me. It's crazy. Like get a chainsaw & chop up the furniture. Or feel like the Hulk busting out of your skin. I do laugh & joke. But alot of people, mostly my family don't get it. I'm glad my sons try & my friends try.  Wow, irritability is not even it. It's crazy nuts! I pray to God each day to make it through & hopefully in the future help others. My son says no water after shot equals turret syndrome for my mom! lol.  yes, water. If you have family stepping away I feel your pain. But I actually don't understand why any of them do that. I flipped out on the verizon lady & finally told her I was on hep c treatment: it turned into a blessing because her brother is going through it. All I can say is hang on  hang on tight! If you believe in God man go to him.

[orphanedhawk]

Oh thanks for making me laugh!
I woke up one day and yelled at my husband, " I'm so irritated at feeling irritable."
Yesterday, I let it all out on the AT&T guy on the phone, tears and all.
Heck, if you can learn to direct the rage it can work for you.

Luckily, I can usually spot it within myself which is why I turned down the Thanksgiving invitations. Don't want to have to do damage control from tongue lashings afterwords, better to stay home.

If I could stay focused enough to paint, which I can't, I'd enter my Frida Kahlo period right about now.

[his3707]

dont get me going,  we;ll be here all day!

[Wildorchid1121]

Oh boy it got so bad I almost got divorced!!!!! I would snap at my husband and argue for no reason at all, everything made me upset, moody, cranky, and snappy.
I would even yell at my dog whenever she barked, which is all the time, every time!!!

I Thank God my hubby knew it was not me but the meds. Now that I finished treatment I feel so much better, and everything seems like a very bad nightmare.

[suziep20]

you don't even know the half of it.. during an online banking problem went
pathetically postal. they were wrong but it was so embarrassing since my 21 yr old son witnessed part of it though he did not know i was on treatment..

yeah, i am not inane, just plain crazy like the rest of us!

[nygirl7]

You know it's not really the riba it's the interferon right, it's just called ribarage cause it sounds snappier (no pun intended).

[hrsepwrguy]

Have been told to shut up, take my anxiety meds and go back to bed on a couple of occasions, by family members I'm staying with while treating and it was well deserved.

[indy531]

just lost it in the shower-showerhead was leaking, DH fixed it. He then did a dead on imitation of me losing it soaking wet and mad as a wet hen. I'm glad I'm already on AD's.

[Livinontheedge]

Riba Rage is pretty prevalent in me right now.   I had a Huge episode this morning and told everyone to go away.   I am on anxiety meds & AD but INC is really making my AD not work full potential right now.  
11 days on countdown off of Inc, so I am hopefully looking at some peaceful days for the future.   Ready for Riba Retirement, and it cant come soon enough :)    

[rockymoe]

I went off on my dog the other night. I gave them a treat and my boxer has to sniff it and make sure it's boxer worthy, so while he was doing this the 126lb yellow lab ponces like a shark stole it. I pulled him out from under the table, stuck mhand down his throat got the treat and gave it to the boxer. My husband was hysterically laughing! :)

[starshine1ca]

I remember my first treatment back in 2000 when I was taken 3 interferon shots a week.  I had to go the clinic to get my lab work done every 2 weeks and one day I went, feeling just horrible...and was waiting at the front of the line when this guy walks in and decides he is going to stand in front of me....obviously he did not know the danger that lurked behind him. The nurse called out, "Who's next?" and I screamed in a voice only Linda Blair can do, "I AM!!!!"  This man's face went white and he quickly moved aside...(smart move!) and I proceeded to the front desk.  Everyone in the clinic was looking at me like I  was a crazy...which now that I think of it, I must have been at that point...lol ...thank goodness we can laugh about our experiences...

[DragonSlayer45]

NYgirl is 100% correct. Everyone likes to call it riba rage but it is the interferon that causes the irritability. On one occasion I started yelling at some huge guy that was about the size of an NFL lineman in a parking garage. I got so bad that I went off on a Philadelphia cop who told me I could not have my car where it was. I went into a profanity laced tirade, I just totally snapped. I still to this day can not understand why he did not arrest me.  On both occasions I was wanting them to engage me, which is totally crazy and out of character for me. It was at that moment that I knew I needed help. My doctor put me on Lexapro and Xanax. He also sat my 2 youngest sons down wen he saw them with me on another occasion and explained to them that the medicine I was taking was making daddy so angry. He said it is really important that they understand it is the medicine doing this to daddy. I still to this day appreciate him doing that as I did not ask him to. He is the head of Gastroenterology at UPenn and he stopped what he was doing and went out of his way to sit them down and explain this to them when he saw them.

[rockymoe]

We all need to continue to tell these stories Laughter is Life's bet Medicine!
These made me laugh:)

[indy531]

Dh's new nickname for me is "The Terror"; I'm gonna call PCP and see if AD's need adjusting, or am I just crabby 'cause I can't eat. Thrush s ux.

[robo229]

You are not alone.
I've always been a calm person, but while on tx, I have trouble backing down from a confrontation. Examples...slamming my hand on my steering wheel in frustration, almost physical confrontation with my wife,  firing off a few angry emails,  Yelling at my father (a physician who would do/say/spend anything to see me get well) that he was crossing the line in forcing me to make suggestion on meds to my Dr. )  Dad was right and never should've doubted him.  

Part of the problem is that the adrenaline rush of a dispute makes me think clearly and is a little liberating from the anemia and drug induced zombie I sometimes feel like.

Am doing better on Wellbutrin in AM and low dose Xanax before I walk into the house after work to prevent a family argument.  Lexapro sexual side effects were a deal breaker and Wellbutrin is working better.

If you don't have a psychiatrist ,get one.  Mine might be my most important treatment team member.

Good Luck,
R

[frijole]

These stories are great -- but rockymo -- that has to be a classic.    I can just see you putting your fist down the dog's throat to retrieve the dog bone and your hubby cracking up!  You cracked me up too.

I have just become more reclusive than I normally am.  On the weekends if I see no one or get no calls, I am as happy as a lark..  In fact, lately I have been wondering if I even like people at all.  They are such a burden sometimes.

frijole

[Interfurgen]

you know it's not us !!, we are not in rage ( great movie ) it is them , WE are the ones eating xanax zolotfa, By the hand fulls. And them, the people around us, even stop to ask them self , ( WHY DID WE , TALK SO NICELY AND THE SPELLS WE CAST AT THEM . WHATS WRONG WITH LINDA BLAIR .SHE, IS MY POSTER BABBIE DOLL ) Hay, when you look like chucky,they should be mine reader ( hello ) See this what is coool about are Forum one of us goes a little off to even say riba rage,we all know how linda blair is feeling.