AD'S

I am takin Paxil 20 mg and just read a post from a women who is also taking same while txing and she is gaining weight. Are others experiencing the same on ad's you were prescribed and what are they? Have others experienced energy and lack of hunger on other ad's and what are they? Looking forward to your response. I don't know how I am gonna get up (it's 4:00am) in the am..I just can't sleep!

[gjonez]

I was taking Paxil when I started tx, I didn't suffer weight or energy change. I stopped taking the Paxil two weeks into treatment but the Riba (1800)/ Pegasys (180) seem to have caused a twenty pound weight loss and I can't remember when I had energy. I'll be doing shot twenty-three on 6/7.

[ladywhy]

Why did you stop the Paxil. I am asking because I really don't know if this is the right one for me.  

[ladywhy]

Wow, that's alot of riba! I'm taking the same amount of Pegasys but only 1000mg of riba. hmmm. Believe me....I understand the energy part. Be well and hope your day is sx free!

[settecasi1]

I took paxil on my first TX and weight stayed the same. I was nauseated all the time.
I am into my 6th week of 48 and am doing Zoloft. Much better. No nausea and a much better attitude.
Beware of stopping AD's cold turkey. You have to gradually get off them or you will loose your temper along with some of your friends.

I'm doing 1200 Riva.    

[ladywhy]

I hear you loud and clear. The stigma, the difficulties with support and everything you said. Don't let that stop you from taking care of yourself. People on this forum have given me so much support....some I feel are like my surrogate family. They know exactly what I am going through...'cause they have been there and  that in itself is a Godsend. We are not alone. The archives are filled with important info that really answer alot of questions...and so do alot of knowledgable heppers (that's a term I learned here :) All the best...keep in touch and welcome to the forum!
Yvonne

[Liv]

Sorry for whining.  I went back and read some of the posts and have to applaud all you Dragon Slayers out there.  Your courage and determination are enviable.   Many have so much else to deal with in addition to this tx.  Wish you all the best.

[Liv]

I just called my regular doc re: prescribing an AD and he suggested Zoloft.  Said 50% of this drug is metabolized by the liver.  I'm not even treating yet but have these cycles of panic/depression.  I'm too old for menopause so it can't be hormonal.  Thyroid is fine etc.  Adding to the depression is that my husband finds it difficult to deal with me when I have difficulty dealing with the issues of having Hep C.  As long as I coast along and remain upbeat and positive everything is fine.  But when I get into a funk, he can't deal.  I think that's part of the reason I haven't treated yet thinking of all the possible debilitating side effects and feeling that he wouldn't be able to help me through it.  I guess having any disease is a lonely enough journey but I also think that the stigma associated with this one isolates one even more.  I've always been the one to lift up other people but now when I look around,  there's no one behind me.  I feel like my family is disapponted in that I haven't been able to rise above this and I disappoint myself so I guess Zoloft is a good place to start.

[froggydan]

Dear Liv, i read your questions and i would like to say that its never too late to start your treatment, i'm pretty sure your family (and your husband) will change attitudes towards you when they see your "in" the treatment , just let them the time to adjust and i hope its gonna be them who will support you through your journey - for me it was very important to communicate with everyone : explaining what was this disease,where it came from,and whats the treatment for and which side effects i'm gonna have..or not (even if I didn't knew a lot of it when i started).
So after a time of adaptation they now support me a lot and are rather helpful and caring. So i just hope the same to you with your family (my wife was even more scared than me in the beginning ;-)

hope this helps, and good luck with your choice, whatever you choose !

[Liv]

Thanks so much for your response and encouragement.  I was being considered for a trial but think the AD's would exclude me.

[ladywhy]

Liv, regarding being excluded from trials because of taking ad's 'aint necessarily so. I know of some people (in this forum) who are taking ad's and are in studies. If you haven't already..find a really knowledgable GI or much better yet, a hepatologist..and write down a bunch of questions and get them answered...and let him/her tell you what is available and what is your best option. Go for it, girl! (and stay in touch)
Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Yvonne