HYPER, ANTSY, UP ALL NIGHT LONG, IRRITABLE..POST TX

[darcar]

HELP!
my bf..has been on interferon / ribavirin for 3 years straight...he is now off of it only two weeks and his moods are all over the place.
before he was always sleeping..now he is very hyper, talks alot, cant sleep all night long,
restless.
he is on 20mg paxil a day..and also smokes alot of pot to calm him down..but he doesnt seem any mellower to me..especially since he stopped the interferon/ ribavirin.
Has anyone experienced this?
is this normal?
he was on tx once before and then off it years before for six months but then the virus came back and he had to go back on it again.
He doesnt remember if he was like this the last time around when he was off the meds.
What is going on..
please help.
thanks !
Darcar

[jmjm530]

Come to think of it, it may have been "ativan" or another anti-anxiety agent, that the person noted had problems withdrawing from. Can't remember. But in any event, xanax is addicting and that should be factored in before prescribing to anyone -- especially someone with an addictive/substance abuse personality.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Yes, highly addictive and withdrawal can be incredibly difficult. That's what my shrink told me and someone here recently posted a horror story on withdrawing, although for some reason she had to stop taking it all at once. This isn't to say that he shouldn't take xanax, just be aware of the issues and discuss with your doctor.

-- Jim

[darcar]

maybe thats why they didnt prescribe xanax...because it is highly addictive?

my guess is your guess is correct jim.

thanks.
darcar

[jmjm530]

Be careful with xanax given what you describe as your husband's "addictive/substance abuse personality". Make sure you discuss this with any doctor before asking them to prescribe xanax.

-- Jim

[darcar]

thanks .to both !
the idea about the xanax is a good idea..because i dont see much effect from the paxil on his anxiety and restlessness. I wish he didnt smoke pot,  because i figure its just not good for his lungs and cant be good for his liver either...it still has to detoxify one more thing , right? BUT,
He has that addictive/ substance abuse personality which if he didnt have that, he probably would not have HepC today. So, getting him to stop smoking pot...well...i dont have any illusions about that one!
Also, i do wonder if perhaps this is more his regular personality when OFF the meds?
i have known him only on int/rib therapy..and he was sort of anxious even then...but now is the first time in years he is off it..and its the first time im knowing him minus tx.
His daughter is hyper too...so im wondering if maybe this is just him!?
Alagirl..i dont think its a result of anemia..although i wondered about that possibility too...
but his blood counts were always fine on tx...
it seems to be more of an anxiety thing going on.
Well.. we will see...
it sure seems like a rollercoaster on and off tx!
thanks very much for your feedback.
:-)

[desrt]

Saying that pot is deadly and worse for your liver than alcohol is one of the sillier things I've seen posted here lately. Even the hardcore anti-pot people couldn't agree with that.
And, no, I don't smoke.