Sedatives/Anti-Depressants

[jmjm530]

Looking for some collective wisdom here.

As you probably know if you've been reading my posts, one of my worst side effects on treatment is reflux. The traditional medicines (PPI's, H2's, Antacids) are only helping marginally. Same with diet changes (lived on rice gruel and boiled chicken for a month. UGGGH! and still only a little relief)

A few days ago I decided to approach the problem differently. Like many, the riba puts me under a lot of physical and mental stress. When I'm alone (most of the time these days LOL) it's really not so bad. But most real life interactions are magnified. If I'm talking on the phone with a friend or relative that I don't quite get along with, things are like 100 per cent worse than they used to be pre-treatment.)

Anyway, my new approach is to try to reduce my stress level which hopefully will help reduce the reflux. This is not a novel approach as many have linked stress and reflux.

After trying meditation, Alexander technique, breathing exercises, massage, etc, I've come to the conclusion that for now MS Riba is stronger mistress than I can handle on my own. So...I've turned to some drugs for help.

(RAN OUT OF ROOM SO I'LL CONTINUE BY ANSWERING MY OWN POST)


(ran o

[willing]

sorry the tx grind is starting to wear - it will do that. I had pretty sharp  suicidal tendencies when I was a teen, but survived that and made it to the ripe old age of 50 with no major depression problems until I started the combo meds. By the 12th week, the thought of having to keep doing all that breathing seemed  just too much to ask for. Then I started on lexapro, and other than an occasional trip to the gun shop ( never ended up buying one : I was just too depressed to deal with all the gun-registration paperwork) I made it through the rest of ny 48 weeks. So my experience is that the ADs helped a lot. But probably more important is tossing every single item of unneccesary baggage out of your life for the duration of this trip : ie if those phone calls are giving you grief, rip out the phone and smile. No one other than those going through tx at the same time as you are will have a clue what you're going through. At some point, regardless of what happend with the virus, you've got to dig back out (get your energy level back, stop the ADs, etc. ). This takes a (surprisingly long) while, and the less chemicals you have to "undo" the better, so it's probably better to strip your life to the bare minimum than it is to take more meds in order to keep coping...all the best.

[jmjm530]

I've been thinking of trying Lexapro myself, especially if I remain groggy with the xanax. I know its considered an anti-depressive, but do you think it will help conteract the physical stress my body feels from the ribavin? Also, when you say you took a half dose, how many mg was that. Thanks.

[Laika]

My experience...I've had some depression & anxiety issues prior to treatment--nothing too huge.  I never took xanax or valium for anything but sleep because they made me too groggy, tired.  Xanax was a regular sleep medication for me for years.  After I was diagnosed with hepC, I decided to quit taking them and re-learn how to sleep on my own.  I later came to feel that Xanax hung me over, gave me a "bad day" the next day...depressed for no reason.  So I'm not really a big fan of Xanax.  Not to mention the fact that my #1 complaint on treatment is fatigue--I would not do ANYTHING to make that worse!

I started taking an AD, Lexapro, about the 4th wk of treatment, for anxiety--I usually only take a half-dose a day.  At night, if I'm feeling edgy, I'll take another half, but generally I have not had sleeping problems on treatment. The Lexapro has definitely helped me to get thru this treatment, and I believe it is a better first choice than Xanax or Valium.  I am not aware of any side effects from it.  

Hope this helps,
Laika

[jmjm530]

"The only thing I would like to add is to never take Valium and Xanax together."
-----------------------

WHOOPS! Read this post a little too late. LOL. As part of my experiment, I took a dose of each today about six hours apart. (2.5mg valium and .25 mg xanax) And, yes, I do feel a little sicker than usual. Thanks for the heads up.

Question--even with the small doses of xanax by itself, I've felt pretty out out it for a couple of days. Groggy and a bit off balance. Does this disappear with time?

[Xenigma]

The only thing I would like to add is to never take Valium and Xanax together.  It can make you very sick.  If taking the Xanax makes you feel better while on treatment then take it.  Your Doc will cut you down slowly when it is time to stop (Usually over 4-6 weeks)so you won't feel too badly.
Just no Xanax and Valium together.  Wait at least 12 hours (or more) before switching from one to the other, and stay with that one. Using both from day to day is not good.
Feel better  :-)
Enigma

[chellski]

i was being treated for depression even before tx....the doctor had me switch from wellbutrin to zoloft (wellbutrin is not liver friendly).  I take zoloft daily which helps 85%with depression; and i also take klonopin for anxiety/nerves.  I don't care what tom cruise says - i've tried everything natural to deal with depression NOTHING has helped but medication...
everything was kind of changed to go with my new tx...i still get sad; but i don't want to not feel at all....it seems to be working for me...
good luck
and be well...
<3 michelle