depression and treatment, and lymph node

Hi all,
Currently starting my 6th wk of treatment and feeling very depressed at times.  Teary, crying, feeling sorry for myself, etc.  Not usually like this.! Have taken a low dose of Prozac 10 mg for years for pms and my doc told me to increase to 20 mg.  Not sure if I need something else... this really came on suddenly and do not want it to get worse.
Does anyone have other depression meds that worked best during treatment?
Also, I have a swollen lymph node in my groin, very hard.  Did anyone ever have this sx?

Thank you......

[newleaf09]

Prozac was the original ssri (serotonen re-uptake inhibitor) and I think that the psych docs may think some of the later ones developed may be better than the Prozac.  Those are thinks like Zoloft, Lexapro & its sister drug Celexa, a few others.  You may need to try a few before you find the right one for you to use with this common side effect of interferon.  Lexapro was the only one I could take but it did lower my platelets; that was an issue for me but may not matter for you.  Take the mimimum dosage to do the job and you should feel perfectly normal on it.  You can alsways taper back off of it a few weeks after TX is finished.

I think swollen lymph nodes is also a fairly common problem on TX.  Mine swole and were painful in the jaw, but the problem went away after a few weeks.  Ask your doctor about it.

[Bill1954]

I used Lexapro while on treatment; but I’m not sure it’s particularly better than Prozac for this purpose. We’re all wired slightly differently, and our requirements to manage depression vary with these differences.

Interferon is serious medicine; I’ve talked with big, tuff biker-types that confided that they’d break down in tears over the darnedest things… Toyota commercials on TV, not having the fridge cleaned out, etc… so you’re not alone. This stuff has also been attributed to drug relapse with addicts that have been clean for years; it’s really strong stuff. I’m trying to relate to you that you’re not alone with your depression.

Talk to your doctor about this; there might be some additional meds that can be introduced. Be sure to mention it to those around you, so they have a fighting chance of understanding, or at least getting out of the way if that’s all they can offer.

Stay in touch with the folks in here; we’ve all been through this, at least to some extent. We’re more likely to understand than others that haven’t been down this path before. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to discuss this with the treatment doc, though… patients have been known to do scary things to themselves while taking these meds; let them watch you, and help where they can.

Humor, if you can stand it, is pretty good stuff too. Dumb but funny movies, and laughing at one’s self can combat depression as well as pharmaceuticals too; it’s hard to smile when the whole world looks bleak and grey, though.

All the best to you, and feel free to talk to me and others anytime,

Bill

[fashion345]

Thanks so much for listening.  Knew you would be out there and this is so helpful to know I am not alone.  :)

[meakea]

Fashion...I had enlarged lymph nodes during my treatment.

I first noticed it in my groin and that lasted just a few days.  But then it occurred in the back of my neck (along the left side of the middle of the back of my neck) and those stayed enlarged all through 3/4 of my tx.  They have returned to normal post treatment.

Even though it's a known (but not common) side effect of the tx meds, be sure to tell your doc so they can report side effects to the drug companies and so your doc can keep an eye on you.

[fashion345]

Thank you for your feedback.  Good to know and will let him know.

[epiphiny]

Hi!  I was already on 20 mg Prozac daily when I started my 2nd tx and within 5 weeks found myself quite depessed again.  I upped my dose to 40 mgs daily and  it really did the trick for me.  I think you might be better to increase your current med rather than trying to change meds during treatment. IMO, prozac is great and I would choose it over any other SSRI, mainly because of all the long term studies that have been done on it.

Depression is a very common side effect of the tx drugs and can generally be well managed.

All the best!

Epi :)

[uniqueflower]

Depression is a SERIOUS (although not common) side effect of interferon therapy.  In fact it often leads to suicidal thoughts.  This is NOT you.  It is a DRUG side effect.

Go IMMEDIATELY to your doctor if symptoms do not subside or get worse and DEMAND a different depression medication.  In my 6th week of treatment I developed suicidal thoughts and depression , recognized them for what they were and go put on Zoloft which took away the suicidal thoughts within a week.  I had to push the doctor to do a psych eval and a prescription which wasn't easy because I was REALLY depressed.  But somehow I worked through it to get the idea across that I was not thinking correctly and I knew it.

Take any depressive symptoms very seriously and see your doctor IN PERSON immediately.

By the way - I stopped the Zoloft right after TX ended (I am SVR) and haven't had a problem with it since.

[Mr Liver]

I agree with the above poster (uniqueflower) that this needs to be addressed ASAP. Depression is the number one reason for treatment discontinuation and is usually avoidable, but in your case its obvious you have been under-medicated. I know the feeling when it comes to the rapid rate of decline. The depression hits you hard and fast and there is little time to react. Since you already have therapeutic levels of prozac in your blood your doctor may decide to increase the dosage. If your dose is increased it won't take long to start helping, and until then you have to do as much as you can to keep from sliding deeper into what many describe as 'the black hole'. Try to go outside for 20 minutes per day. Don't isolate yourself. Try to be around people even if its just the mall. Bill, above suggested comedy for some relief and I agree that it helped me some when I was fighting chemical depression,too. Internet radio also has some good comedy channels. These are all little band-aids for a much larger problem that I hope you can take action on quickly. Best of luck with this and if your symptoms increase do not hesitate to go to the nearest emergency room. Depression can be a very serious condition if left untreated so take action as fast as you can. Best of luck and keep us apprised of how you are doing .
ML

[fashion345]

Great advice and most appreciated!

Thank you!

[nygirl7]

I took Paxill 20mg on treatment although I'd never really had any history, I didn't want to get it.  Many of us have.

I defnitely agree you need to be at the doctors right away. This can be a SEVERE side effect of interferon and you don't want it to get any worse than it already is.

Know that you are NOT alone and that there are many people who understand what you are going through. I think without this forum I would have gotten depressed in the lonliness of my disease and treatment but with the people in here, having comradery, it helped a LOT.

Keep posting. You will find it helps!

[fashion345]

Thank you.   I increased the Prozac and it is really helping.
I appreciate your support!

[cb867]

i was already on effexor. My doc upped the milligrams and put me on ativan for anxiety. Seemed to work for me.
Good Luck

[fashion345]

Thank you, nice to know not alone!

[IMstacie]

Bill said it pretty much and I agree with epiphiny about just increasing the prozac instead of changing.  I was on lexapro but had taken prozac in the past and prefer it.  No AD withdraw symptoms from prozac.  Also, you would have to be off the prozac some period of time before you could begin another AD.

Regarding the enlarged lymph nodes, yes had them also, under my arms and in my groin.  I don't even remember when they finally disappeared.  

I'm glad you are starting to feel better!

[fashion345]

YuK,

Did your doc ever feel the need to treat  you in any way for the enlarged lymph nodes?

Thanks for your feedback!  I really appreiciate it!