Procrit

[TeeVee36]

I took my first injection of Procrit Friday night after taking my Interferon injection.  I have been feeling worse than normal and have become emotionally out of control.  I was bursting out crying yesterday and didn't want to come to work yesterday or today.  

Does Procrit cause bad feelings or make you feel weaker?  

I just hope this passes soon and i can get back to feeling better.  

TV

[sfbaygirl]

I gained weight on tx, with all the ice cream etc for the Riba.  Depression is very common on tx and perhaps Zoloft isn't for you. I would try something else. Some of these new fangled anti D's drove me nutz when I tried them. I too was put on Prozac a month before tx. There are cases of suicide due to depression on tx. I am surprised your Dr didn't warn you. About 30% of us have depression on tx.  I would rethink those anti depressants. Prozac seems pretty mild to me.  I didn't gain weight on it. I lost post tx 30 lbs!  

As Nygirl says, Procrit takes time to work....about 2 weeks.  Until it works you will feel really lousy.  Get those CBC's every week and make sure your blood counts are up and please talk to your dr about anti D's.  

[TeeVee36]

I am not on an antidepressant.  

5 yrs ago I tried Zoloft when i started my tx and only lasted 3 wks.  I had severe insomnia and sleeping pills didn't even help.  I was an emotional wreck crying all of the time.  They pulled me off tx and wanted to add something or adjust something and I said no way and just walked away from txing all together.  I really think that the Zoloft was a major part of my sx back then.  So this time around I didn't go on a antidepressant and wasn't even encouraged or ever suggested to go on one.  I also heard that weight gain was a very common sx from antidepressants in general.  I had lost 20 lbs pre-tx with weight watchers and was not going to take anything that could cause unexplained weight gain.  That would make me really depressed...

Unlike the majority, I haven't lost any weight on tx.  I have gone up and down 2 lbs and that is because I monitor my weight.  

TV

[nygirl7]

The Procrit will help you so much - it's just going to take some time for it to work.

Are you on an antidepressant?  My docstarted me on one a month before I even started treatment to offset this type of behavior completely.  That is from the interferon (depression).  Plus when you have the anemia you just feel so so bad and worn out it's hard NOT to cry about it - it isn't easy.

Give the Procrit a chance to work and also talk to a doc about getting a good AD on board. It should help you a lot.

[geterdone]

yes, it is the combination of effects you are feeling but will go away in time. The Procrit is just one more drug that is added to your system. NOT all suffer the sx from it but there are a few who do or did and that includes me. Just because some don’t does not mean that you are not feeling it. Just give it time to work and read the paperwork that came with it.

jasper

[frijole]

NO I don't think procrit generates an emotional response.  However, if you are taking Procrit you are anemic and the Ribavirn is impacting your life  .  It might be the ribavirin or the anemia, but the treatment definitley makes one emotional.   I am not an emotional person but Katrina and Rita hit while I was treating.  When I arrived at work every morning, I was in tears from listening to all of the heart felt stories of survivors on NPR.  
Heck, even dorky commercials on tv got to me.  It is part of the process and fairly normal.
frijole

[billstrong1969]

Sorry to hear that you're not feeling well; that makes 2 of us.  Thanks for your advice about sleeping and the headache.  I see my doc on Friday so I'll bring these symptoms up to him.  Feel better sweetie!

billstrong1969