deppression ?

[thechief99]

I am 15 weeks into the 3 drug treatment wmyith incivek. I've been walking around with C for 20+ years and finally tests started going up,viral load etc.My doc suggested I try this triple theropy,I did and Im  now totally clean.She took me off the incivek at 13weeks see her this week to discuss my options. Going to 6 months with the Pegasus and rabaverin or go the complete 52 weeks.I'm all for stopping everything ASAP. I have always been on depression meds but during this treatment I had to supplament the lex

[stormy456]

Excellent suggestion, Pooh.

[pooh55811]

understand your concern about the Xanax. My suggestion would be to see a psychiatrist if you are not already seeing one and have the psychiatrist manage the depression. There are plenty of antidepressants that won't cause addiction.

Primary care physicians and general practice docs don't have the experience or expertise to treat depression, especially when it is complicated and when you are on drugs that can also make you depressed.

Best of luck.

[stormy456]

Caveat:  Protocol for INC is always 12 weeks, unless your doctor did a SOC lead-in for a week - is that what happened?

[stormy456]

Congratulations on your UND results, that's great news!  I think we need more information than you've provided here.  Have you had a biopsy?  If so, do you know your stage/grade of fibrosis?  Also, were you UND by week 4?  Once you answer those questions, we can tell you what the treatment protocol would be.  I don't believe there are any circumstances that you would treat for 52 weeks, by the way.  Even if you were not UND by week 4, or if you have more severe liver fibrosis, you would treat for a maximum of 48 weeks.  I'm a little concerned that your doctor had you treat with Incivek for 13 weeks, protocol is 12 weeks, ALWAYS.  This doesn't make sense to me.  Is your doctor a hepatologist or a GI experienced in treating Hep C?

I'm sorry that you're feeling depressed, but it is a fairly common side effect.  Your doctor should be the one to advise you on whether or not to go off of the Xanax, but if you do you need to be very very careful with withdrawal.  If it is keeping your depression at bay, you may want to consider waiting until EOT to stop taking it in my opinion.