Anti-depressants before treatment

[agente]

Hello, This is my first visit on this site, I just found out I have to have treatment, however because I have depression troubles in both sides of my family and I have an outsproken and quite strong character, my Hepatologue (excuse the french Im from Quebec Canada) has asked my family doctor to put me on anti-depressants before treatement. I started the anti-depress.. monday, its called Cymbalta, has anyone else tried this, I realy feel weird and have problems keeping food down, although that cant hurt as I am overweight. Did you all have anti-depressants before treatement, I heard the treatement causes rage and sometimes suicide attempts??? Thanks for being there, this seems to be a great support system.

[nygirl7]

If you have a history of depressiosn BEFORE treatment than you are going to HAVE to take one during treatment as the interferon can cause huge problems.

I started taking Paxill a month before treatment to avoid any depression problems and it worked marvelously for me.  In fact - I probably needed it all along and never really realized it.

It does take about amonth for your body to get used to it...then you feel just fine.

[Isobella]

I started on Zoloft last month in anticipation of starting treatment also.  For the first 2 weeks I lost my appitite completely and had to force myself to eat.  Good thing was I lost 8 pounds-bad thing was my appitite is back!  All in all it is working well.

Like nygirl, I feel I probably needed it all along.  I will probably stay on it post-tx.

Good luck to you.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Isobella

[doll face]

Before I even started treatment my doctor sdtarted ome on Zoloft but it kept me awake all night (I took it in the morning.) So we tried Remeron, It comes in either a pill form or a soluable tablet.(this is the one I prefer) It helps me to sleep at night and I don't have that drugged feeling in the morning. Ihave been on it ever since. Not for depression anymore just so I can sleep at night.  These meds you are about to start can give you bad thoughts so I suggest everyone should be on an antidepressant during therapy

good luck

and remember there are many different antidepressants out there. If the one you are on doesn't seem to be working than don't hesatate to ask your doctor for something else.

[Krusing]

I also, began taking Paxil about 2 months before tx.  I'm on week 27 and depression has been the ONLY friggin' side I haven't encountered!!

[Xenigma]

I waited to start AD's.  I haven't needed them so far and I am at week 32.
I do take Xanax daily though as I find the anxiety and irritability is what's bugging me, not depression. (Riba makes me uppety)  AD's and me don't get along.
I also want to mention that around weeks 4-8 or so, your hgb can tank and it will also mimic depression, the physical symptoms...
Tired, no get up and go, hard to focus, Muscle aches, out of breath, not wanting to shower etc...
Procrit put me back on track from the anemia.
You have to be in tune to what's causing what.
If your thyroid starts flip flopping you will also start feeling crappy.

Not everyone needs to treat prophylactically with an AD pre-tx.
Sometimes you do, especially if you have a history of the blues and depression, and then you need to switch around to find the best one for you as
they all act differently.
Good luck to you...
enigma

[Terrylee8]

I started on Prozac 6 weeks before I started tx.  I'm glad I did as I think it helps.  I end tx tomorrow after 48 weeks and I will come off them starting about 2 weeks post tx

[RALPH44]

I tried Cymbalta and zoloft and paxil and remron I try to stay away from that stuff they either cause weird dreams weight gain like you would not believe put on 40 pounds paxil made me angry an tired zoloft could not sleep got heart burn to and you have to ween your self off them. My Doctor said that they were told they are hard on the liver and he will not prescribe them ( I would not take them any way again) I take 1500 mg of inositol extra B complex multi vitiman flax seed oil because these vitiman make seritonin which is what these meds strip your body of. Oh and I take 2 of the emergen-c packets aday. I start doing this 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with OCD and anxity attacks. 5 week s on tx and I am fine 2 years and only 1 attack and OCD is under control. But I do realize some people have  to take these.  

Good luck and God Bless

[Dora82_05]

I couldn't take Cymbalta and Paxil made me want to rip someones head off. But most of that stuff just made me feel strange. One of them I felt like I was asleep and almost awake at the same time, that one was really wierd. Wish I could remember what it was. I do have some depression, everyday I have to push myself. So, I guess I will not be a candidate for treatments. I already have trouble thinking and going, and alot of that stuff just made me worse. But I will look into some of things you are trying. Can you tell me if any of it is hard on the liver? Have you asked or researched it? The only thing I found I can take and only if I get to a point that all I feel like doing is crying is Diazapam 2mg and I break it half. It seems to do the trick and then I'm ok for a few more weeks. I have a very low tolerance to anything. A half of benadryl helps me sleep but I noticed to many nights of that I start getting more down. Like I said, constant struggle. OH well, back to work I go....I will check back later. Take Care, ALL......

[RALPH44]

None it is hard on the liver the inositol is a mineral in the B vitaman family I checked with both of my doctors. B vitimans make seritonon and they are the ones that wash out of your body the quickest dont forget the emergen-c packets because does not stay in your system either. I used to take Diazapam made me tired. I do have some Clonzapan I only take that if I cant sleep.  low seritonon causes depression, anxiety, OCD. I get the women muti vitaman at GNC the one with bilberry in it. it oxygenates the blood and you can get the inositol there to the rest I get at Wal Mart.

I hope it works for you

[Dora82_05]

OK, you caught me off guard, are you a women? I saw Ralph and thought you were a guy.LOL Yeah, I take the women's with Bone density sups. i did start taking an extra B12. I will look for the others. And yeah, if I take a whole tab of the Diazapam it makes me tired, but the half is just enough. It just calms me down so I can make some sense and keep me from crying. then I'm OK for awhile. I think it's wierd. I do thank you.....You take care of yourself ;)

[RALPH44]

Yes I am a women it is a nickman my dad gaveme just always stuck the inositol will really help with the crying.


you take care ;)

[Dora82_05]

Well, I think it's pretty cool. It just means your loved. You take care also:)