I always thought my anxiety & depression was situational but can't say for certain that it isn't related to HCV since I've been living with that for 30+ yrs. I tend to blame every ache & pain, vision impairment, indigestion etc on HCV but who knows how much can actually be attributed to that. I did notice that tx itself had a direct impact on my anxiety levels, depression & insomnia so I was glad to be under the care of a therapist & on the antidepressant Prozac plus Xanax for anxiety. Once off the tx I was wheened off those meds as well as my therapist & I'm feeling fine.

Were you able to continue with your Xanax during treatment? Am looking to possibly start treatment within the next few months, and am also prescribed Xanax for anxiety. Was wondering if I would still be able to use when needed during treatment.

VAbuttafly, it's hard to know for sure but I suspect that a poor liver condition can contribute to our emotional state just as it contributes to our physical state. I had HCV pretty much all my life and I was always an abnormally anxious kid. I too wonder if the HCV contributed to that. My anxiety peaked to the point that I needed Xanax in about 2006. I was dx'd with HCV in 2008. I don't really think it was a coincidence that my anxiety was escalating as my liver was declining. But, again, I will never know for sure.

Yogiji, I couldn't tolerate antidepressants while on treatment meds but my doc did give me some Xanax to use sparingly during my treatment.

Thankfully I haven't had to deal with that except through tx and my divorce.


@ yogi, I took Xanax sparingly throughout tx also. No anti-depressants.

Thanks guys!

Yogiji - I was given clonazepam while on Riba.

But another thing to think about is trying to get on one of newer off-label tx such as Sovaldi & Olysio that you take without riba or intrferon and thus they do not increase any depression or anxiety. And, in fact, having one of those existing conditions, can help get off-label approval.

VaButt -

Physicians are finding an increasing correlation with HCV infection and clinical depression. Learn about the four possible mechanisms linking depression with Hepatitis C, as well as the role standard combination therapy may play in this relationship.
http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/mt/archives/2009/01/why_depression.html

Yes Rass, thanks, I am going to doc on 4th and again on 18th to try for the off label. :-)

vabuttafly,

I found this which is also from the site RASS posted. You are not alone.

www.hepatitiscentral.com/hcv/symptoms/chronic-hepatitis-c-symptoms.htm

And, this one.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/symptoms.html

@KaryMelly

I too was found to have anxiety before my diagnosis (2010-anxiety, 2011-HCV (I asked to be tested)). And, I was infected probably around the age of 3, so I have had it almost my whole life. As a kid, I was anxious about a lot of things and as a result, shy, introverted, and mostly a loner.

In 2010, the doc prescribed me valium (no more than 2mg, even though I was prescribed 5mg) for a few years, then a new doc wanted me off those. I had therapy too, but it didn't make anxiety go away. Zoloft was prescribed, but I was afraid of it....vicious cycle of anxiety, I know. But, I finally took the plunge for myself and my child and took the silly pills. I feel better now that it has been over a month, and since it is long lasting, I don't have to worry about the short term valium rollercoaster.

I look forward to getting rid of the HCV cause I have read that people get rid of the virus, then they get rid of the anxiety, etc. I can't wait!

I'll tell you one thing...having to wait and wait for test results certainly increases MY anxiety! I am BARELY able to concentrate on ANYTHING besides HCv these days!

Lol, RASS, me too, and I haven't ever been treated! Though I am in the process of trying to get into a trial. It is a lot tougher than I thought. Guess there is a lot of personal footwork you have to do. Get release from this doc, and that one, it's too much paperwork and finding addresses, etc. lol. BUT, even if I can figure out how to go through this trial stuff, and they don't accept me, it is okay cause perhaps by then the new meds will be accepted by my ins.

Don't worry, RASS. It is possible that this combo doesn't work on you, but another one will. Keep taking the med like prescribed and when it is done, you will know for sure! :)

@ LoveEachOther... Your history of anxiety is so very similar to mine and I also had HCV all my life. I had a blood transfusion at 2 days of age. As a child I didn't know there was such a thing as anxiety; I thought everyone felt the way I did until I got a bit older and realized that it was just me. I can remember having episodes where I thought I was dying and I would curl up on the couch and lay there as long as my mother would let me. I never did tell her what was wrong; I would just say I didn't feel good.

Yes, my anxiety is SO MUCH better now that I'm SVR. In fact, I would say that whatever anxiety I have now is probably normal situational type anxiety. Though sometimes when I do feel anxiety creeping up on me I get a huge jolt of anxiety just thinking about how it used to be. Funny but not really.