uncontrollable anxiety

[tjaloha]

Aloha all.  well just about 9wks into tx (doing pegasus high dose trial) numbers looking great, dropped 4.3 log in 4wks with minimal sx until just a few weeks ago.  signs of depression and crazy anxiety are setting in.  some days not as bad as others but the bad days make me feel i belong in a f'n funny farm.  Hard to get up in the morning, hard to focus on daily work/events, low low low energy, hard to get out of the house even though i live in beautiful Hawaii, hands shake, eyes feel like they are bouncing around in my skull, heart palpates....this sucks.  Some days I lay in bed thinking, "what's the point."  I find myself going to some very dark places at times.  Doesn't help matters that I hurt a good friends feeling recently, uncharacteristic of me and have been having a hard time dealing with these drugs in my system. I keep reminding myself it's just the drugs and this too shall pass but it isn't always that easy. I see a psych regularly, he told me eventually I will likely need to go on meds to counter the sx but I want to try to get through the "12 wk loading phase" w/o depression meds.

anyone try this?  It seems like quite a few posters here talk about things getting easier after the 12 wk period.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  

thanks for letting me vent a little.  I'm tired of venting to my friends and I'll bet their tired of hearing it. I must sound like a broken record. Nice to have a place to go to do so.

Getting 8wk pcr results in next wk, will update the progress for those interested in the study.

Peace and aloha to you all.
TK

[illo]

Ask your doc about taking Phosphatidylserine, Theanine and Tryptophan (naturally in turkey given to pets to calm them).
All are for calming effects.  All are Amino Acids naturally occurring in the body. I don't know if any are harmful with tx in large quantities.  Maybe an ND would know.
I do take Ornithine safely which puts me to sleep in record time.  Sometimes some Melatonin.

[illo]

Ask your doc about taking Phosphatidylserine, Theanine and Tryptophan (naturally in turkey given to pets to calm them).
All are for calming effects.  All are Amino Acids naturally occurring in the body. I don't know if any are harmful with tx in large quantities.  Maybe an ND would know.
I do take Ornithine safely which puts me to sleep in record time.  Sometimes some Melatonin.

[Bill1028]

I was a big fan of Melatonin, but it has been linked to autoimmune disease.

[goldyn]

The pill that i used to calm me down was ativan , it a chill pill just makes you stop shaken and your mind stop going it also can relax you so you can sleep better, its been around for years so docs arent afraid to prescribe it, and you dont have to take everyday if you dont want too...

[rosygirl]

When I was treating, I had uncontrollable anxiety which to me were like panic attacks.  I learned to stay away from situations that triggered that.  For instance, I would not let my grandkids come spend the weekend because I knew their screaming would set me off.  It probably won't go away after the 12 weeks.  If it is too bad, ask your doctor for some anti anxiety meds.  It is the meds, so don't be afraid to ask.  I am off treament now and back to normal, so that proves it's the meds.

[wyntre9]

I understand how you feel.

I'm at week 22 (of 48 -72).

I toughed it out the first five months, but a couple of weeks ago i hit my breaking point.

I'm now on prozac and i do feel much calmer.

I think everyone has a different threshold and some don't require any helper meds at all but if you're having as many sx as you describe, i'd recommend starting AD's sooner rather than later.  i really waited too long.

good Luck,

Wyntre

[web52]

anti-depressants take time to take effect, so if you're going to wait, consider it might be a month before improvement. that can be a long time to wait when you have significant depression. as to the 12 weeks, for me it was week 29 before my sides got much better.

[mauilady]

Howzit TJ!  My worst moments were during weeks 9-12; I even got a psychiatric evaluation, in which it was determined I wasn't a menace to myself or society(!!  LOL)  And I got a Rx for Prozac, which I hid away in a drawer, where it still remains.  I'm glad I didn't resort to taking the AD, because since week 12 has passed, I'm way better.  You sound like a totally positive guy, so hang in there, brah!  I was going to say "go take a walk in the Pupukea Forest Reserve", but then, you may not have the energy!!

Listen to your body; if it tells you to lighten up, then lighten up!  Don't fight it, it will only get worse.  Now, thankfully, my worst side effects are the itching.  I still get fatigued, but, whatevahs!  The moment will pass.  Life is good!

Aloha,

Michelle

[tjaloha]

thanks for the words of advice all.

I'm going to give it another month or so or until I feel I exhausted all other means of dealing with the sx.  At that point I'll go for the AD's

wishing you all total SVR.

Peace.

[illo]

I haven't seen those stats anywhere.  Can you link me to them?  My ND says OK to take. That most people stop making it after 40 and still need it.

[tjaloha]

mahalos michelle-

yep that's what i'm concerned about, starting the ad's then not knowing if the dep/anx fades on its own and then I'm stuck taking another pill every day for nothing.  I've been through depression/anxiety before and it passed so that's what i need to keep telling myself, this too shall pass.

now if they only had an rx for increasing ones appetite.  pakalolo??  

peace and much aloha.
tom

[Bill1028]

The temporal relation observed between melatonin use and the development of autoimmune hepatitis raises the possibility that the drug might be involved in the pathogenesis of this patient's autoimmune disease

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9412927&dopt=Abstract&itool=iconabstr




Several types of people should avoid taking the drug in order to avoid unforeseen problems. These people include pregnant women, people with immune-system cancers including lymphoma and leukemia, people with autoimmune diseases or serious allergies, and healthy children.

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/PY0055/melatonin/who.html




Melatonin's long-term safety has not been established. There are growing concerns about the possibility of damage to the retina of the eye associated with melatonin use.

Because of concerns about transmission of viruses through animal products, melatonin derived from cow pineal glands should not be taken. Melatonin has been banned from over-the-counter sale in Great Britain, Canada, and many European countries. Most melatonin sold in the U.S. is synthetic, although some health food store clerks may confuse customers by insisting the products are "all natural."

http://www.websciences.org/sltbr/melfaq.htm


Just having HCV increases our chances of getting autoimmune disease, retina problems, and lymphoma.  Then we add interferon that may increase our chances, why add another potential contributor?  Again, there hasn't been enough studies on humans to determine the safety of melatonin.  

[illo]

I found nothing to prove melatonin causes autoimmune disease in any of the articles.  One article said there may be an influence.  Not enough to not utilize its benefits.  On the other hand, Tylenol and Advil cause 150,000 serious side effects a year & approx 400 o 1500 deaths depending on the sources.  I wouldn't worry too much about Melatonin when people are scoffing down anti-inflamms which can definately cause liver disease.  I know of no one dying of melatonin.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=11017

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/20/health/20drug.html?ex=1179547200&en=1b4878fa750e3251&ei=5070

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=629

[illo]

This is interesting.....  

The Mayo clinic has promising trials of people with liver cancer and other cancers.  Lots of benefits...helps with platelet drops.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin/NS_patient-melatonin

http://tfn.net/HealthGazette/melaton.html

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/melatonin.htm#Conclusions%20on%20Melatonin

http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2004/melatnpr.htm

[FullOfHope77]

Don't quit!!! Lexipro is designed for High Anxiety and helped me greatly. If you can handle some synthtic opiods then use them as they help too. But don't quit as there are answers and everyone that's been through it and honest will tell you that you're one of us now. It WILL change and you will return to normal and it is worth the work. Maybe you will be close to clearing at 8? It does get a little 'easier' as you get more acustomed to the drugs but I do believe that Lexipro is good for the anxiety as I only used 5 mg a day and was enough. Will start soon on Teleprevir with SOC and plan to do the same. We're with you don't stop.

[mauilady]

If pakalolo works for you, I can see no harm done; personally, it sends me too far out into lala land.  :O}

My appetite never really was much of a problem; I make sure I begin my day with a big smoothie: papaya, banana, pineapple, oj or lemon juice, soy milk, and lots of Protein Powder (whey based) and Nutritional Yeast... and "Greens 'n Things" that I get at Down to Earth Natural Foods.

I figured that since I'm already dealing with a bit of an alcohol dependency (uh-oh, not THAT subject again!!), I didn't want to throw in ADs, even though they say they're no problem.  I think there is too much of a tendency these days to hand out pills for whatever ails you, without first dealing with the actual problem.

See ya!  Michelle

[LadyY]

I am in (I think) my 9 of 48 weeks. I totally relate. I couldn't get out of the house yesterday..missed work and an important appt....not dr's. Exhaustion...not clear thinking...etc.etc.. The 6th week of tx..dr. put me on paxil (generic) that seemed to have helped initially...What I keep hearing is the first 12 weeks the body has to adjust to this assault of toxins...and then we get somewhat better. Don't discount the help of a/d's outright. See how you feel. My doc is gonna start me on b-12 shots next mo. when I see him. For energy....I hope it helps. All the best to you TJ and
Aloha.
Yvonne