Talked to Doc today about sleep/irritability issues - (Lexapro)

[msa1633]

Called docs office Monday and they called in trazodone. I took it last night with two xanax and it kept me up just about all night.
Got in to doc today. He wants me to start Lexapro 20mg for depression and for sleep right now he told me to continue xanax and wants me to try lunesta instead of ambian CR.

He said once Lexapro takes effect, 10+ days, my symptoms should improve and I should sleep better. Man, I hope so.

Also, we agreed if I wasn't undetectable at 12 weeks on the riba and IFN it would be best to stop tx. My bx was a grade 1, stage 1 to 2.

Any one else on the Lexapro? Did it work for you?

[willows]

I started on Paxil a few months ago in preparation for my tx.  This is my second try and I was fairly depressed on the first round, so this time I made a plan and part of it was to get stable on a good anti-dee.  It does take about two weeks and kind of gave me a tummy ache, but now I don't even know I'm taking it.  I'm not depressed anymore and am ready to start the ole interferon train again. So your doc is right, you should feel better on an anti-depressant.  

Sleeping, tho, seems like everyone on tx has a hard time sleeping.  I totally avoided taking naps in the daytime to help make it easier to sleep, but for me, riba made me kind of speedy so i had a lot of late nights.  I drank lots of peppermint tea and took warm baths and tried melatonin.  Seemed to help a bit.  

Good luck on your sleeping, if it gets really bad, remember this......the squeaky wheel gets the most goodies and help from the doctor, because he gets tired of hearing the squeak.  Keep tellin him you can't sleep.  Lunesta is probably better, somebody told me it makes your mouth taste like you slept with pickles under your tongue, but doesn't seem too bad, just brush first thing!  

Personally, I love pickles and when I can't sleep, I get on the ole puter and do my hep c research.  I have totally earned my "liver geek" name, you might try that.  Nothing like a little research to put you to sleep quick.  Take care.
Willow

[bustingout]

My Mother takes Lexapro and she is sold on it. Of course she doesn't have hepc or on treatment. I was on anti-deps. on treatment and as for as getting sleep, they didn't much help. But the Xanax and Restoril did help me to sleep. Maybe a higher dose might work for you.

[Pauly Boy]

Sorry to hear about your sx. These things can be a real P.I.T.A. Are you depressed or are you just unable to sleep properly? The answer to that would give your doc a hint as to what to prescribe. Most folks go thru an inability to sleep while taking Ribaviran. This is usually dealt with by using a drug like Ambien, Lunesta. Trazadone might be helpful as well. If depression is causing your inability to sleep than doing the A/D meds ( Lexapro, etc.) might be a proper course of action. In my case I can sleep around the clock. I'm so tired, fatigued; etal, I need to force myself to get up and out. It's like all the enegy has been taken right out of me. Regarding the A/D's I went on Wellbutrin before starting tx because years ago I had used that for about a year and it proved very effective for me. Before going on Wellbutrin I was on Lexapro for a couple of months, increase dosage, but it didn't help so we went to Wellbutrin and it worked like a charm. A/D meds are a trial and error type of a thing. Keep trying until you hit the one that works. Your doc can be of help in this matter, he'll advise you as to which meds work on which part of the system. As far as sleep was concerned, I can give you some experience I had with sleep aids a while ago. Ambien works for me, but I've never taken Lunesta. I have taken Trazadone and although it made me sleep, I had very bad side effects the next morning from a very small dose of it. I was groggy and drugged the good part of the morning. But again this does not happen to everyone. I hope that you find a good answer for your situation. I hope and pray you are UND at 12 weeks!!! Kill those bugs!!!      Pauly

[SJL]

Please see post below which Magnum started about infergen torture.If anyone else took infergen, I would like your feedback also.

Sandy

[Mister beagle bailey]

I took Lunesta and it helped me sleep.  There have been others here on the forum that takes Lexapro and felt it really helped.

What is your geno type and viral load?

Beagle

[beamishboy]

i use melatonin also-helps....GOODLUCK w/ lexapro

[sfbaygirl]

I too am having problems with sleep and anxiety. I am on Prozac for many years and have tried xanax. Xanax didn't work for me, Ativan knocks me out, which is great if I haven't slept for a while. Today I am going to be re-evaluated, possibly change my AD, and get something for anxiety and depression. I have heard from my psychologist that AD's don't work for ever and it might be good to switch every few years. I am also taking ambien, not CR, and I wake up after 4 hours, or every hour sometimes, so obviously this isn't working either. Maybe I will ask about Lunesta.

I'll let you know how it turns out for me. I'll look for your posts as to see how all your new meds are working. Sleep/anxiety problems are really hard to tolerate!

[Kalio1]

Good morning hope today is a little better. I know you have been down, I have been sending you "good vibes" it can be pretty rough some days when it dawns on you how long you have to do this! Glad you are seeing about an AD change, that might do the trick. I try not to look forward and focus on how far I have ome instead because I get so overwhelmed at how much my life has been reduced. Stay positive kiddo! We will beat this thing. Let us know how the visits go. Be seeing you soon!

[sfbaygirl]

Thanks! My shrink asked if I kept a journal the other day. I said I didn't, but if I did I would be MORE depressed. I don't want to remember what it's been like! I guess mid way through tx (almost) and it just wears me down. Never knowing what my day will be like. I had Ribarage the day I went to Santa Cruz. That is no good for anyone! I don't say much, but broil inside. Makes for pleasant company.

It's hard to think how much longer we both have to go. Geez, March or April? I went to dinner w/ my mother in law the other night. She has houses in France, Palm Springs and SF (right below Neil Young) and she invited us to her farm in S. France next summer. Also she told me she is going to take me to a spa in Carmel for a few days, when tx is over. This REALLY made me feel good. I have something to look forward to!

I am looking forward to changing AD's, sleep aids etc. Doing something about what is going on always makes me feel better.

How are you doing? Shot effects wear off yet? I take mine between dr's appts. They don't seem to hit me for a day or two or three...

[sfbaygirl]

The Riba seems to be hitting me an hour later too. It never did before. Changes constantly. Don't you just wish for some stable sx? LOL

My heating pad helps with the bone pain. Not much else seems to help. Pain meds take the edge off a bit. Right now it isn't bothering me too much. I canceled my Neulasta shot hoping those shark liver pills help...we'll see when I get my labs this week. Hope it has worked!

So the baby is off to college, huh? Where is he going? Has your other son heard about Grad school yet? I didn't realize you moved to SB recently. My older son may be moving near you. Maybe we can visit more. I am looking forward to seeing you in Sept.

I wasn't even worried about the case files until John asked me if I was going to be able to do it. (Now I'm worried!) While I read the transcripts, briefs etc. I make notes all over the hundreds of pages, so I can go back to remind myself what the issue or law is. Not sure why I understand these, I sure can't read medical studies!

[NYgirl]

I take Paxill and Ambien and both work GREAT for me :)

You said: Also, we agreed if I wasn't undetectable at 12 weeks on the riba and IFN it would be best to stop tx.

I believe most doctors agree that going to week 24 is the key......a LOT of people are not clear at week 12 but then do clear to Undetectible after that and before 24.

my doctors all said that there was no reason to quit before then (I am a geno 1 though, are you not?)

I didn't think ANY doctor had anyone stop treatment before 24 if there was viral load present at that point then they would.

[Kalio1]

Today seems better so far but I just popped the Riba so I wil know in an hour or so lol
I thik of you often as I too have suh problems with bone pain and I don't even take neup. or anything. Don't know what the deal is, but it has gotten pretty extreme of late. My "baby" (who is almost 19)starts college next week and I have to find a way to get out and do some school shopping for him. He did so wel i his summer classes I am trying to reward/encourage him. He got a job working construction and the guy is working around his school schedule and paying him well thank heavens. It was hard on him when we relocated down to SB, he grew up in Sebastopol and lived his whole life in the same house. We moved right after he graduated high school, waited until he did actually. He is adjusting making new friends and atually seems happy now. I got my fingers crossed it will stay that way.

PS. I hear you on the stress and worry you are going thru when thinking about reading case files, brain fog would scare me too doing that job. Maybe one you get into it you will find you aren't as bad as you think! Cant wait to hear what your docs say today.

[Alady1620]

I'm glad you got with the doc about your sleep problems.  If it is possible, I recommend you take the antidepressant in the morning time.  I hear they can keep you awake at night.

Great news on the biopsy!

[msa1633]

I AM DEPRESSED!  There I said it. I have been in denial but after reading the facts, I have just about every symptom. Now my sleep problem may or may not be a symptom of the depression but I am depressed. (said it again)
I guess my macho brain wouldn't let me think there was anything I couldn't handle mentally on my own. I started the Lexapro today. I am looking forward to some relief.

[msa1633]

Thanks for the support. This is the first AD I have ever taken in my life. I am in my 34th week of tx.  (30 weeks on NM283 and 4 weeks on riba) Guess it has just taken it's toll on me.

[msa1633]

I went through 30 weeks of a NM283 trial and VL got down from 4.8 million to 360 and then started increasing at week 24. I continued until week 30. I continued IFN but stopped trial drug for one week then started riba. VL had gone back up to 468,000.
If the riba works I would have to most likely go through a full 48 weeks of it, right behind the 30 weeks of the trial. I am not willing to do that if I am not comfortable with my odds of SVR. If I am not undetectable at week 12 of the riba I am going to give my body a rest from tx. My bx was a stage 1 to 2 so there is no rush.

[msa1633]

OK, thanks. I started it at lunch today but only took 1/2 fearful of a bad reaction. Everything seemed fine. I will take a whole one tomorrow in the AM. I am on the 20mg. I think I feel a little better today just knowing that I will be feeling better soon.
Last few weeks of tx, and stress at work and lack of sleep had me at a point where I thought I was going to snap.
I think I may take a few vacation days and do something fun!

[msa1633]

Thanks everyone for you comments and input!

[Alady1620]

Remember, you won't know if it's working for at least a month so give it time.