Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

depression

Just wondering how many Avonex users stuggle with depression.   I usually get emotional a week before my period...but this time around it is going into 2 weeks.  I don't want to start an antidepressant if its not necessary but I have been emotional, feel blah, and very tired.  Maybe its just coming to terms with the diagnosis...Im not sure.  I have been taking avonex for 9 weeks.  If you are on an antidepressant what made you decide it was time to start it?  
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
572651 tn?1530999357
Tammy,
You are so new to all of this it isn't a surprise that you are struggling emotionally. We all do early on - and later, too.

In addition to the side effect of chemical depression from avonex there is the very real situational depression many of us feel when faced with a chronic disease.  Either way, this depression is very real and is best if you talk it through with your doctors.

Good luck and stay in touch,
Lulu
Helpful - 0
382218 tn?1341181487
Although it is recommended to stick with a DMD once treatment has been initiated, you`ll find that many here have had to switch for a number of different reasons - liver enzyme and depression issues with ther interferons; site reactions/allergy to Copaxone; etc.  

Since all the injectibles are about the same in efficacy, the best one is the one you will be compliant with.  When I had to switch to Copaxone, I dreaded the thought of as daily shot.  I can honestly say it is as easy and quick as brushing my teeth.  Because it`s injected in the skin and not the muscle, it`s so easy to do.  I don`t bother with the autoinjector anymore.  It did result in a burning sensation initially, till my body adjusted, and the site reactions decrease for most of us over time.  

This isn`t a sales pitch for Copaxone, lol, just some reassurance that if the injection and side effects of Avonex become too bothersome, you do have other options.  It takes a while for any of these to start actually helping, hence why docs don`t like switching unless there is a real need to do so.  I suggest you discuss your thoughts with your neuro; ultimately it is your body and your health, and hopefully s/he doesn`t insist you stay on a med you aren`t comfortable with.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.  I guess I kind of worry about what the doctors or other people might think if I go on an antidepressant.  I don't want others to think I'm crazy or weak.  I think I will wait and see if I can pull myself out of this rut.
I've already asked the neuro at my follow up visit last friday about switching to something easier to inject as my husband still has to give me the injections because I can't bring myself to do it.  And I told him the Avonex makes me so tired that I feel like I lose a day or 2 out of every week.  Although this week I have struggled with extreme tiredness right from the time I woke up and all day at work...but here it is midnight and now i can't go to sleep...isn't that crazy?
When I was first diagnosed he gave me the option of 3...now he wants me to stay with this one.  I'm not saying its terrible because it has kept me from having any more flairs and I am grateful for that...I just want my energy back...I'm tired of being tired.  If it were just me I had to worry about I would stop it for a month and see if I felt more energetic, less sadness, see if I felt more normal or if this is just me now and it had nothing to do with the avonex.  Its just something I think about alot but I know that it would upset my husband and family if I stopped taking it.
Helpful - 0
199882 tn?1310184542
Anti Depressants was one of the first medications I was put on... Yes I was severely depressed... I have always been very out going, very active, hard worker, and I even played on a softball team during the week and played in tournaments every weekend...

Then just like that I could barely do anything... I was so mad at GOD and everyone else in my life... There where times I wanted to die but I never got to the point where I would have attempted it...

My doctor put me on Cymbalta and later added Abilify to that... It has been a GOD send to me... Depression isn't something we can control on our own... I think if we are at the point where we are asking about it then we probably do need a little boost with it...

I still to this day get depressed and sometimes it's really bad... The good thing is I can usually work through it on my own... I did at one time see a therapist and she taught me different ways to get myself back on track...

I've never been one to like taking any type of pills and I still don't like it... But the fact that they make my quality of life a little more pleasurable is good enough for me... It may take some time to get the dosage correct and it also may take a couple different anti-depressants, but it's worth it...

Hang in there and we are here for you any time...

I'll be praying,
Carol
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Emotional = crying, feeling alone in all of this, everyone at work talking, laughing and conversing...I just don't feel like it.  My neuro did not do a screening.  I have struggled with depression in the past but I was going through a divorce and also had what they thought was guillain barre syndrome at the time.  I really dont want to go on antidepressants.  I just wondered how many others here had to take them and when they decided it was time.  Thanks for responding.
Helpful - 0
382218 tn?1341181487
When you say 'get emotional' what does that mean for you?   I ask because what I consider getting emotional for me would be different than what I think of as depression.  In fact in many patients, depression can outwardly appear to be the opposite of getting emotional, as in flat affect, a lack of emotional expressiveness.

I concur with the wait and see approach unless it is severe and disabling, which is not what you've described.  As you say, it could be a result of dealing with your recent dx.  I really struggled with my own dx, as most do.  I was tearful, panicked, feeling isolated, etc.  At that time, I recall my mother strongly pushing me towards anti-depressants (she's a big proponent, a long term user - and in my opinion, overprescribed, but that's another story).  I'm glad I didn't go this route, as I think it was important not to mask the emotions I was experiencing in order to come to terms with my dx.  

I'm not opposed to anti-depressants, some patients wouldn't survive or function without them.  I just think they need to be carefully prescribed and I believe some docs are too quick with the prescription pad instead of doing a thorough evaluation.  Definitely discuss with your neuro so they are aware.

Btw, my neuro did a depression screening prior to starting me on DMD.  Initially I tried Rebif but shortly afterwards switched to Copaxone due to liver enzyme elevaiton.  I think Ess is correct that risk of depression from interferons is greatest in those with a history of it.  I'm curious whether your neuro did a depression screening first?  I haven't heard of anyone else having this done; at the time I just figured it was a standard step in the process.

Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hi Tammy,

Like Ess says, the literature and prescribing information includes depression as a side affect. So, it's possible on the interferons. But I too have heard nothing of the paranoid.

This is a smart question, because we always have to weight the good with the bad. And, the pharm companies must list all the possibilities, regardless of the number of instances.

So, having said that, you can wait it out, see if it's just a slump that you'd be in anyway, or like Ess says, talk to the doc if it persists. Depression comes along with chronic diseases (among other things) too - so not necessarily just meds can be a contributor.

I've been on Rebif for years, and I have had some downs, but they went away, so I opted to not ask for anything. It was winter which also brings the blues for me @ times - especially if I can't get out and about.

Hope this helps, and more provide their thoughts on such an important question.
-Shell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, maybe Alex is reasoning here from one extremely exceptional case. I have never heard of paranoia, etc., coming from a DMD, and don't want to scare off anyone who is considering starting one.

However, the 3 interferon injectables, Avonex, Rebif and Betaseron, all can cause depression in a rather small percentage of users. I have read that this usually happens when the patient is already at risk for depression or has a history of it, but I cannot document that part.

This is such an individual thing. If you are otherwise doing well on Avonex, I would suggest watching the problem for a short while longer (providing it is not severe) to see if you can really correlate depression and Avonex usage. If so, starting an antidepressant would be a good idea. Many MSers have depression as a symptom regardless of DMD status, and you might check out our Health Page entry about this.

Your other option is to switch to a non-interferon. That generally means Copaxone, which has its own set of issues to be managed, mainly daily usage and skin reactions which are severe in some people, again a small number overall.

Since Gilenya is in pill form, this choice is now being made by many. However, being new, it doesn't have a real track record yet, and many neuros are watching and waiting before prescribing it. I have seen people here report hair loss as one effect of Gilenya, but don't know what else to look out for with this med.

If your depression persists, and especially if it becomes severe, talk to your neuro right away. Fortunately we have other choices, and nearly everyone can find something satisfactory.

Good luck with this,,
ess
Helpful - 0
1734735 tn?1413778071
I met with another MS gent today for advice on starting dmds. He has only had MS for 18mths and started with Avonex. He lasted only 3 months as he said the side effects were wicked. He started becoming paronoid and it was messing with his mind, even his wife told him to try something new. I am sure there are many people who are doing okay on it and it is very convenient at once a week injection but it turns some people into ugly green monsters.

Anyway, it has now made me feel more comfortable with my decision to start with Copaxane next week.

Blessings
Alex
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Tammy
I thought that Avonex did have a side effect of depression. I can't remember which ones cause that. I am on Copaxone. It doesn't cause depression, but I had bad depression shortly after I was dx. I literally woke up one day and couldn't stop crying. My husband was deployed to Iraq at the time, I lived away from my family and I wouldn't take anyone's calls. I lost 10 lbs in a week..I eventually called my MS doc and he put me on Welbutrin. I have been on that for about 2 yrs.

It's not bad enough that it's depressing to have MS, but MS also causes depression because it affects the brain. I thought i would just deal with this and be fine but I ended up needing something. I am glad I did. I tried once to stop taking it and it didn't take any time before I was back feeling hopeless.

I hope you can start to feel better about things even if you don't take an antidepressant. Everyone here is so helpful. They have picked me up when I didn't think I could get up.

Take care!!!

Kristi
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease