Post Treatment Depression Craziness!!!

[peanut43611]

I haven't visited this forum in quite sometime. I am 9 months Post Treatment and am battling Depression & Severe Mood Swings - I feel like I'm going CRAZY!!! Directly after treatment I was so happy that it was finally over, I did all kinds of things that I never would do throughout the summer, just enjoying life to the fullest. Now I'm angry or crying all the time, I've tried diet, exercise, anything to shake myself out of it, but nothing seems to help. Question is has anyone else experienced this or heard of it this long after treatment? or am I just going Crazy? Any & All thoghts on this subject are very well appreciated, Thanks!!!!

[Diane12855]

A friend of mine took Chantix to quit smoking and she had MAJOR issues. It was to the point that her husband said he didn't know her anymore and they have had a great marriage for 15 years. It took about 6 months after stopping it before she started to be her old self again.

I don't know what your age is, but menopause can make you feel like you're going crazy too so have them check your hormones.

Diane

[peanut43611]

Thanks for asking Bill, my treatment was a success!!!
I wasn't placed on any anti-depressants during treatment, but later started taking zyban & then chantix which are both anti-depressants to help me quit smoking, they made it worse, so of course I quit them and that's been months ago.
I sure miss this forum everyone on here is always so helpful & supportive. I think I need to continue to visit this sight often, it always helps to know I'm not alone. Thanks everyone!!! I'll let you guys know what the Doc says when I get back.

[HectorSF]

Hi. Welcome back.

"Now I'm angry or crying all the time".
You should get a referral from your doctor to go see a Psychiatrist. They can evaluate your condition. If they find that you are depressed or have another afffective disorder they can help you find a drug or combination of drugs that will alleviate your symptoms.

"Depression & Severe Mood Swings - I feel like I'm going CRAZY".
You might want to think about describing your symptoms by using examples of what you are experiencing. This will assist the Psychiatrist in helping to diagnosis your problem and find appropriate treatment for your condition. So you might want to think about what you mean by "depression"? Describe what do you mean by "severe mood swings"?

Good luck.
Hectorsf.

[paen53]

I felt pretty good right after tx ended, but I think  now that was sheer euphoria about being done. Then from 2-4 months post had some anxiety/depression issues crop up. I thought I was managing just fine, but if someone would refer back to my tx time, I would break down and sob. And I could be happy as a lark the moment before. Dr. put me on a low dose of Buspar which seems to help. I am now 5 months post tx.

I echo the others to talk to your Dr. and if meds or counseling would help. I don't know much about PTSD, but many symptoms jive with it. Right now, I'm hoping more distance, time wise, helps, or counseling will be my next course of action.

Hang in there and best of luck to you!

[nygirl7]

Sorry while I was typing you posted - I am glad you are going to the doctor.  you'll get to the bottom of this, hang in there!

[nygirl7]

I agree with everybody above. 9 months does seem like a long time for it to be directly related to the interferon but it has to be something causing it!

Have the doc do a really good blood workup on you and if you need it why not just do a short course of antidepressents to get you through?  There certainly is no shame in taking them, personally I wish I had never stopped them and often think about going back on them.

It could be that you are going through some sort of post traumatic thing after all treatment is HARD and just getting through it is exhausting.

Talk to your doctor you shouldn't have to live like this.

Good luck!

[Bill1954]

We’re you prescribed an antidepressant during HCV therapy?

When I stopped HCV therapy, I developed significant depression post treatment; strange, because I tolerated the meds pretty well for several years. Looking back, I realized that this depression was likely attributable to abruptly stopping the Lexapro at end of treatment, rather than stopping the HCV meds.

I hope your HMO doc can sort this out for you; what a drag. What is your HCV status, by the way; was the treatment successful?

Take care, and good luck—

--Bill

[peanut43611]

I am headed to see my HMO this afternoon for help - Hopefully!!! Really didn't link it to my treatment til I had gone in to my Hep Dr. for the last of my Hep A & B immunizations and mentioned being depressed, he immediately changed all my blood work orders for my 1yr check-up, so I naturally became alarmed. I'm leaning towards a chemical imbalance also.

[GreatBird]

My endocrinologist said it could take 1-2 years to recover. Have you had blood workups? Looked at your thyroid, etc.?

[Trinity4]

Correction:  Nine months

[Trinity4]

It happens, not to everyone but it does happen.  None months seems like a long time to start experiencing a depression that would be directly attributed to the antiviral drugs since the drugs are completely out of your system by now.  However, the drugs may have caused a chemical imbalance that won't go away without medical intervention or medication.  See a doctor, consider an AD and maybe some counseling.

Best to you,
Trinity

[peanut43611]

Thank You DragonHater for your positive words of encouragement :) Well Appreciated!

[DragonHater]

I have not yet gone through treatment, I am waiting for the new PI's, but researching this topic, many say it takes as long to feel better as long of a time that you treated. (1yr-1yr), everyone's different, take care of yourself-be patient you will get there.