Xanax & AD's...

[tkarasz]

I am in the BOC trial for Hep C.This is my 13th week of treatment. Since day one I have been taking Xanax (.5 mg pill at night) to help me sleep. That has been working out fine. Lately, I have been feeling irratable and disengaged. My doc wants me to start taking an AD called Celexa (Citalporam). This is my deal: I'm worried about extra side effects. Does anyone else take both? It doesn't seem to be an issue with the Doc's, but then again their view point is that if there's a problem, lets just try something else. I don't want extra drugs screwing with me! Maybe I should stop the Xanax? Soon I may have to start on the Procrit...How much can a lab rat take? I'm already taking six Riba's a day, 12 blue BOC pills, Interferon, gerd medication, three Lovanza for high Trig, and the Xanax: so sick of pills!

[GreatBird]

I'm not taking anything to sleep. I take half a .25 pill of Xanax to do my shot (I'm such a weenie) and occasionally when my stomach is totally tied in knots because it seems to help--although I'm pursuing better fixes for that. The study nurse told me last week that Xanax is hard on the liver. I didn't know that.

Mostly I just wanted to commiserate on the pills. Bleh. I've got the 12 blue pills, 4 riba, plus Procrit plus I'm starting to take my vitamins again. Too much! (And I'm not close to where you are with pills.)

Can't you take something that's specifically for sleep if that's what you need it for?

[tkarasz]

   If I take sleeping pills, I always wake up around 1:00 in the morning and can't fall back to sleep. That's hard to deal with when I get up @ 4 for work. The Xanax stops the head spins. I can just feel everything stop and then I'm out til morning. But it doesn't do anything for the serotonin levels.

    I did not know about it being hard on the liver either. You'd thing since I'm being treated for Hep C that maybe a doctor would have mentioned it? I will definetely bring it up.

Yep, I really hate pills. I also hate the little palm pilot that I have to enter my dosing information into every day. I'm just not happy! But then again, yesterday was shot day, what did I expect? Hope your doing well, and thanks for responding.

[GreatBird]

You have no idea how much I DETEST AND ABHOR the Palm Pilot. What a PITA. Why can't we just fill out something on the internet?? :sigh:

Now here's a funny thing . . . this morning I put some very expensive face cream on my tummy (it was from a sample) and for the first time in weeks the red spots have really calmed down and almost look happy. Maybe I need to buy some really good face cream for my belly for the time being.

Good luck solving the sleep problem. Maybe the ADs will end up helping with that. I am not taking any. I was going to, but my body was having such an intense onslaught at the beginning of tx from the SOC meds that I decided to put it off and haven't needed anything so far.

[Rockerforlife]

The palm pilotis worse than the tx..LOL...it take on averagae about 6 minutes everynite to enter the info...BTW....ive been trying different creams and stuff for the itchy rashes i get from the injection sites   i also get a very mild rash on my arems sometimes...im finding a tsp of  coconut oil mixed with 3-5 drops of wild oregeno oil really does help...no more itch and the rashes goes away

[meakea]

I'm in week 23 of my TX and I am not on ADs but I do take an occasional Xanax.  I did try two different ADs (one at week 4 and one at week 12 or so) but I couldn't tolerate either one of them because of the extra harsh side effects.  The first one was Celexa which I only took it for 3 days and the second one was Zoloft which I only took it for 2 days.  (My side effects from them were extreme nausea and diarrhea,sandpaper dry mouth and also feeling very "out of it".)  

My NP didn't say anything to me about Xanax being hard on the liver but then I only use it occasionally and I can't imagine that it's enough to do any harm in comparison to the excellent relief I get from the anxiety.

If Xanax is helping you sleep that is a HUGE plus.  Sleep goes a long way in helping us avoid depression and all the health issues that come with sleep deprivation.  

If you want to try ADs, I believe it is permissible to take both Xanax and ADs at the same time, at least until the ADs really kick in so that you don't need the Xanax...which I've heard takes 4-6 weeks.

[JustBlue]

I totally hate pills too, and even the riba snacks I hated to take. That being said, I did not take anything for sleep or nerves at all for the first few months. I was OK until the insomnia hit real bad. I became incapable of napping for any longer than maybe 30min. After a few months of that, I was just about a raving lunatic and had to cave in and ask for a very mild anti D which helped me relax just a bit to get a couple hours of broken sleep each nite. My work was suffering before but the increase in sleep helped enormously.
I could not find anything that says the two drugs don't mix.
http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=1114
http://chealth.canoe.ca/drug_info_details.asp?channel_id=0&relation_id=0&brand_name_id=333&page_no=1
Maybe if you talked to your dr to ask if you could try the mildest dose of the Celexa and possibly stop the xanax; would that work for you? You could find that the Celexa worked to calm you and help you sleep.
I don't know what you have tried so far for the sleep issues, but you could try some echinacea decaf tea or some herbal teas, something with lemongrass to relax a bit before bed.

[fretboard]

I was on all that stuff, the xanax and the celexa and the BOC trial and the only thing I noticed between everything was this.  The celexa gave me a very dry and funky tasting mouth in the morning, but it wasn't unbearable.  You're already feeling the brunt of the mix, so you're really just adding the Celexa.  I had hardly any difference, just what I said a little bit of the funk mouth.  good luck, maybe it won't bother you at all

[bajawoman]

You can take both but just space them out like take the AD in the morning and the xanex at night it should be fine  

I prefer Lexapro over Celexa for depression   and take both Lexapro and Xanex
only take xanex  for bad panic attacks when needed 5mg  for sleep it is not that great as it wears off fast better with a sleep aid like Ambien

Make sure you start out what ever AD you take with a small dose to start if the doctor agrees but 5mg to start then work up to 10 and if you need to take more slowly up to 20mg starting out full dose may make you very uncomfortable better to start slow

I am speaking of Lexapro for me Celexa did not work well didn't feel good on it
everyone is different it may be just fine

baja

[Tippyclubb]

The thing about xanax is you can't just quit them, you have to be weened off slowly.  I hear you go through a withdrawal period of high anxiety and nervousness. If you decide to stop break, the .5 in half for a week, and then break .25 in half for a week.  Do it gradually and you should be okay.

To: Great Bird

I have never heard xanax is hard on the liver.  Hmmm!  I've been taking them for 30 years with very little liver damage.  See you never know what to believe.  Now here's the thing I heard about xanax.  About 6-7 months ago Vertex trail called but when I told them I was taking xanax ( 1 mg ) I was refused entrance into the trial because of it.  They called back 2 months ago and she asked if I was still taking xanax and I told her yes but had cut my dose to .5.  I was accepted but told never to take more than that.  When I asked her why she said because they think high levels of xanax could affect viral load, but they are still investigating this.  Never heard anything like that before.

Wow you guys are taking lots of pills and I thought taking 11 was awful!

[Marc1955]

I took celexa while on treatment for a year. It is definitely a strong medication which has its place in treatment. Interferon interferes (no pun intended!) with serotonin receptors in the brain. The celexa compensates for that. It does have its own side effects – apathy, lack of energy, and loss of libido are ones that come to mind.

To me, it's your choice. You will be irritable and short tempered on treatment. The celexa will help with that. However it will also chill you out. When I started taking it, I was experiencing brain fog. I literally couldn't read from the beginning to the end of a sentence. I needed the celexa and it helped.

I know nothing about xanax. That sort of drug did nothing for me while on treatment so I never tried any. I also don't like medications that are prone to create dependency issues.

Here's one alternative suggestion: are you exercising while on treatment? Exercise improves the serotonin uptake in the brain. For me, it's proven effective in giving me a better emotional balance. I now go to the gym pretty much seven days a week. (Keeps me from snapping at my wife.) Because of the situation we are in with the drugs, I think the exercise has a more noticeable effect than it does on generally healthy people. You might try that as a way to improve your mood before resorting to the medication.

[jankar]

I take 20 mg Citalopram daily, half a Zopiclone every night to sleep and a whole one if I need to take another half later plus I have Lorazapam if I get anxious.  I love them all - the sleeping pill is also a muscle relaxant which helps with the symptoms as well.  I took the Lorazapam for two weeks - just a half daily when I was feeling really anxious and then didn't need them any more as the Citalopram kicked in.  I hated the idea of taking so many drugs, of possible addiction problems but decided I would sort it all out at he end of treatment.

The side effects could be the treatment sx anyway - who can tell but my mood just keeps on getting better and am more able to handle the sx!  Not much irritability and very little mood swings.

Week 18 - am starting to feel good!  been taking the Citalopram since first week of December which was Week 10 I think and it took 6 weeks to really work well.  Plus I didn't go to work for 8 weeks but feeling OK! Stress makes symptoms worse as well.

[goldyn]

I found out that ativan which is similar to xanax, it takes longer to hit you but last longer so you can chill out for a while and fall asleep, it was a lifeline  for me , im an anxiuos person any way and add a year of tx with 5 kids and a job it kept me on an even keel, it is also more liver friendly then xanax.....
                                                        Blessings
                                                                     Goldyn

[tkarasz]

Thanks for all the comments. One of my problems with deciding is that the AD's also require a withdrawal period, as does the Xanax. So what if the AD and me just don't get along? Then I still have to stay on a reduced dose until I withdraw. Then what? start a new AD? It's like Russian Roulette... I would love for the AD to be able to replace the Xanax.

I'll probably end up taking the plunge: My big mouth is starting to get me into trouble at work, and I'm very disengaged at home. If everyone is telling me I suck, than I must suck! Also, I believe that the lack of serotonin is a big part of why I quit treatment after 8 months the first time around. Boating season hit and I just said screw it! I need to stay on for the full ride this time.

Seriously, I really appreciate all the comment. There were things I hadn't considered. We'll, I off to chip the rest of the ice out of the driveway! That's part one of my exercise plan for today. See ya!

[DragonSlayer45]

I take Xanax and Lexapro along with Ambien.

just as a little background. I have very strong opinions about the pharmaceutical industry. I personally think that most medicines now a days are way over prescribed. You can not go tot he doctor with out coming out with a prescription for something anymore it seems. The television commercials are almost dominated by drug companies anymore. I will save my diatribe about industry and political influence for some other day.Having said that, I was well aware of all the sides from SOC and the benefits and necessity of some meds to help with sides for some people.

My first 8 weeks were pretty easy. I thought I was going to be lucky and not suffer too badly during this treatment. Then the insomnia,  irritability, rage, and all the other wonderful neuropsychological stuff began. My doctor prescribed me Ambien to sleep and Xanax for anxiety. I refused it. A few weeks later I gave in and began taking the Ambien to sleep. It helped. I would rarely take the Xanax though, only when necessary (he prescribed it 2 x's daily) as i just did not want to take it and felt I could manage  without it . Then when the rage started to become an serious issue he told me straight out I was going on Lexapro and to take the Xanax or I was coming off treatment. I did and began to get better and began to function more normally. It helped enormously.

I still would not take the Xanax  very much (only when really needed) but took the Ambien and Lexapro as directed. Around week 28 I began having some more issues and was waking up as others mentioned around 2am every night.

I told my doctor what was going on. I thought for sure he would change my AD or up my dose. To my surprise he said that is not the problem he instructed me to take the .25mg of Xanax 2 x's like he prescribed and to also take another .5 at bed with the Ambien. I was very surprised when he told me this. I decided to follow his instructions completely. Guess what, for the first time in my treatment, the "old me" is back. At least as close as can be expected when taking this treatment.

I was also in a trial (R7128) and have been UND  since  week 4. I am currently in week 35. The bottom line is if you need the meds to stay the course, listen to your doctor.

I have read comments from some others that feel all this type of medicine is not necessary, and I used to think I would not and did not need it. The interferon in particular can really do a  number on you. This is not an easy treatment and for some is a nightmare. listen to your doctor, especially if he or she is a good one.

I have 13 weeks to go and I am still UND and I WILL BE SVR. I am doing what it takes to go the distance. I am a competitive person by nature and will not lose this battle. I just needed a few more weapons in my arsenal to battle the beast!!! Mark my words this Dragon will be vanquished! Losing is not an option.

[lapis]

I really appreciated your post.

I share the same strong feelings about the pharmaceutical industry, and sometimes I cannot believe I am supporting them to the extent that I am at this time!  I take as many daily meds as my 81-year old mother!!  And before tx I only took Synthroid and one as-needed medicine daily.

I started Zoloft in wk 3 when nervous energy, irritability, anger began.  Sometimes I take a benzodiazepine (Clonazepam, similar to Xanax) for sleep, and when I was really sick (GI virus along with tx anemia, that was fun!) I took it twice a day for anxiety.  I have Ambien also, which I alternate with the benzo when I want a really sound night's sleep.  Then there is the Benadryl for itching.  Sometimes I am drowsy the next morning, but my sleep is really important to me so it's a trade-off.

I know that I will have a "drug habit" when I finish tx, but the goal is to finish, as you said!!  I have no concerns about quitting these other meds when the time comes.