use of antidepressants

[kborus]

Are there any antidepressants that are better than others to use when a person has hepatitis C?  Are there any that should be avoided?  What kind of tests should be done and when do you start to worry?

[cindyazure]

yes I am going thru the wringer mentally & physically.  Sometimes I think the relationships I had before contributed to the problem.  If I put them thru the test now it is all part of the larger plan to turn me into a better person w/ people I can actually depend on, good times & bad.  If this is to tuff for them, o well.  I'll start all over.  I've done it before.  God works in mysterious ways & its all for the good in the end.  thanx for ur input.  I'm new to this cite & appreciate it.

[hph5477]

I've had the same problem.  I've dropped another size in clothes so my clothes really do hang off me now.  Best I can offer is that it's tough to gain it back.  I'm week 9/48 and have only lost about 6 lbs but can't really afford to lose anymore.  I keep a food journal to make sure that I am getting enough food/calories daily to maintain my weight.  I can tell that if my caloric intake is less than 2000+, I will lose weight that day.  You might try keeping a food journal for awhile and see if it helps.  Of course, it will mean eating even when you are not hungry.  I started out eating every couple hours; now my appetite is pretty much back to normal with the 3 meals/daily and a couple snacks.

Good luck and try keeping that weight on.

[louisep]

Sorry to jump in on this one....didn't want to start a new thread...and didn't want to go too far down & get missed.  I hope you don't mind?
I did my 3rd shot Mon am and went to my Gp for more bloods today.  I've been a little concerned about my weight so asked my GP to weigh me....I've lost over half a stone since Dec 1st!  The thing is...I'm only little anyway, 5 foot 5, and I was just over 8 and a half stone, so it looks quite dramatic...my clothes are hanging off!   I generally eat like a horse!  And since I started TX, my appetite hasn't been too bad...even on yucky days, I've forced myself to eat 3 times a day....I know alot of people have talked about weight loss but it seems quite a lot and I really can't afford to lose anymore!  Am I gonna start gaining soon?  Don't get to see my Hep nurse until Dec 22nd.
Thanks guys,
Louise

[DH Bill]

This may sound crazy but I'm glad the hcv/tx has happened to me. I do believe I'm turning into somebody I want to be "A new me".

I started on Effexor before tx and it appears to be working although I don't know how I would be with out it. I considered stopping ad just to have one less drug in my system but the unknown is to big right now and I don't wnt to rock the boat.

It seems at the start a lot of garbage came out of me and was good but I can see it could go to far and hurt more than help.

BTW I'm male, 54, 1b, low vl, minimal damage # 20 of 48 this week.

Bill

[MajNeni]

That's ok as long as you don't destroy all the relationships around you, or worst case scenario, get "suicidal ideation" and carry it out... that's been known to happen to formerly "non-depressed" people on interferon.  Docs want to be cautious, and if there is even a hint of depression, many give mild, low dose ad's preventively.  
I agree, a new me - physically and mentally - is part of what I am hoping for after tx.
Maj Neni

[cindyazure]

what's wrong with some riba-rage?  I'm venting stuff that's been eating me up for years, decades even.  Maybe what went wrong in the first place.  Wouldn't it be great to come full circle at the end and come out a whole new, healthy person.  Physically and mentally.

[mofo]

There is no definite answer to your question.  These meds affect everyone in different ways.  More importantly, it takes time to ramp-up on most of these meds, so you won't notice the full affect for a while.  If you are having difficulty now, I would suggest trying to find the right med, for you, BEFORE starting the treatment.

[cindee]

I was on prozac before tx. Then my liver dr. requested my shrink to change me to lexapro...I ended up on 30 mg a day. It worked for a while about 8months...then we changed to effexor XR 75mg a day. I'm done w/48/48 and it seems to be working for me. Hope you find the right one...sometimes it's just trial @ error. Prayers to all, Cindee

[slarso]

I use paxil and it works. I deceided that I would take it before I started TX, so far,5/48, so good. I am not aware of side effects from Paxil, I do take a small dose, 20mg I think. I read an interesting medical paper on tx and depression. In a nutshell, it stated that depression grows and manifests itself at about 12 weeks.When they give ssri's to the patients their depression level drops dramatically in a couple of weeks. If you start tx on an AD, the depression level stays low and flat.The level of depresion was measured my std. depression tests. The conclusion of the article was that prophaltic use of AD's apears to be a valid idea. I will try to find the paper and post it

Steve

[kborus]

Thanks to all!  Have any of you had any liver problems with any antidepressants?

[petespin]

at the end of october I couldn't take the depression and I was put on paxil.  Worked fine but gave me tremors.  I am now on lexapro and have to agree with all of the favorable comments as it works great for me, with just some diarrhea and some funky dreams as sides (very mild on both though).  Be prepared for a little trial and error and be patient, something will work.

[new-sojourn]

I smoked pot.  I'm ESLD (end stage liver disease) and cl@3wks, did 24wks,now 15mo post-tx, still SVR.

[jonihs]

Maybe it's just me, but LMFAO!!!!  Joni

[MichaelT]

It is a very individual thing to decide what anti-depressant to use. What may be an excellent choice for you may not be such a good choice for me.

Some docs have their "favorites" that they have had success with, but in reality, to determine what anti-depressant, combination of anti-depressants, or even anti-psychotic (used as an anti-depressant) to use to combat treatment induced depression is trial and error.

Should you experience depression, try to get with a psychiatrist that has dealt with our kind of treatment if you possibly can. He or she can probably shorten the trial and error period and get you relief.

God bless!   -Michael

[Sambone Martian Ambassador To the moon]

so it makes you have very short lived sx????????

[jonihs]

Unlike the others, I had alot of time to decide before tx. I chose Effexor, because, unlike the other meds it can take up to 6 weeks to totally take effect, however, if the meds are bothersome,you can up your dosage and it takes effect in that same couple days  Another thing I like about it is I'm on Effexor XR and it is also an anti-anxiety, which the closer I got to tx., the more I needed. But now theres things like depression and riba-rage I may have to deal with, I'm ready. I felt no sx. except losing sleep for 3 or 4 nights, and vivid dreams when I did sleep, but I never felt sleepy or groggy. Just my $.02 worth.  Joni

[kelmalec1]

My doc switched me from Prozac to Lexapro a couple of weeks ago.  Since I am on the transplant list he said the reasoning was because the Prozac does stuff to the levels of immunosuppresants I will be on post transplant.  He said Lexapro will be fine for posttransplant and has less side effects (not supposed to have the sexual side effects like most SSRIs - yeah!!!).  I tried Wellbutrin before I was diagnosed with autoimmune hep (to help lose weight) and it made me feel awful - maybe it was my liver warning me that a problem existed (hindsight!!)  So far the Lexapro has not done as good of a job as my Prozac did but my doc said he may need to increase the dosage - I only take 10mg and I can take up to 30mg.  I'm sure at a little higher level this stuff will work it's magic but right now I'm trying to adjust on the 10 mg before asking to up it.  - Kellie

[ziggyc]

I was put on Lexapro two weeks ago. Already feeling more like my old self.  My doctor likes Lexapro because if has less sx.  Also, if you do have sx they are very short lived.

[girlwithcurl]

zoloft is the best choice bc it has the safest profile.  But many SSRIs can be used if the dose is decreased.  I was on Lexapro and it was a good thing!  Really took the edge off the rage and sadness.  Lexapro is a good choice too bc it has a fast onset of action (only about 2 weeks to see results) and you can stop taking it without having to taper off like a lot of the others.  I quit taking the Lexapro one week after tx with no problem at all.  Ask your doc bc it really depends on the stage of your liver disease.  Good luck.