Oh I am sorry. That is a paid membership site. I didn't realize until I checked the link I posted above. Again , sorry.

kramer, are you able to give us a little summery of anything new ?

I think a lot of us could support a link between HCV and depression? It is bone crushing at times.

HI NZ. There is a lot of great news on HCV and treatment these days.
I usually just check a few sites for current news and post those links here with a header.
You could check
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/
http://cahn.ca/aggregator/sources/1
or you could search my name and all my posts will come up.

In all the 30 plus years I've had Hep C, having a transplant over 2 years ago after early cirrhosis and cancer were found, and now after being on anti-rejection drugs and finding out that my new liver may already be cirrhotic, I've never been depressed or needed AD's. So I'm wondering if I will need to get on them before they start my Hep C treatments, coming up soon. I've never taken treatments before. I don't want to start ADs unnecessarily, so should I just wait and see if I have any depression after treatments start? I've always stayed close to The Lord, and have never felt alone, knowing He is giving me strength and is walking with me. But I know depression could happen to me as well as anyone else. My doctors usually start patients on ADs a couple of weeks before starting treatments, but I don't want to do that.

Good morning Marilyn and I felt the same way. In retrospect I wish I did take an SSRI though. Interferon definitely depresses me and I can feel it coming on. It can linger but it always leaves. It's often exacerbated by other concerns but the drug can make you feel horribly depressed. This is from someone who never hot depressed prior. Never. It's a rough ride often.

Hi Marilyn,

I am only 3.5 weeks into treatment and my doc talked to me re depression each time i have seen him. I feel sad due to loss of health, vitality, and side effects of tx, but not depressed. it passes, I think it is normal to feel down when you feel crappy--- its when it overwhelms, or there are no moments of joy, serinity, hope that I will ask for the meds. I think it is good to be in a conversation with your doc about it, and don't hesitate to call. My doc has a 24 hr service and I can get meds within an hour of asking (already did it with anti-nausea meds on the first weekend of tx). Knowing signs and symptoms of depression, journaling, and communicating with Doc are important.

I took two different ad's all throughout tx - saved so much madness - allowed me to work - saved my sanity - it was a very useful adjunct forme- easily weaned off them after my 6 month post results ( actually it was about 8 months post tx)- many docs here will not treat unless psych eval has been conducted

I was never what I would call clinically depressed until I found out several months ago how far my HCV had progressed. Then came the Fatigue a couple months ago. Fatigue maybe secondary to depression, maybe not. But I knew I had to get on an AD and finally did a month ago. I feel better - no longer wake up crying and just lying there and sobbing. Part of my issue could be that I don't know yet whether I am going to treat with the triple. Another part is that my May biopsy was "suboptimal and fragmented" so an exact stage cannot be determined, but the educated better than a guess is 3-4, either pre- or early cirrhotic. All this has been a mental and emotional sledgehammer for me.

The A/D (I take the smallest dose of Citalopram - generic Celexa) has taken away the deep sorrow I was feeling. I am SO glad I'm taking it.

I'm sure it depends on each person - some need it; some do not. I need it now, even when not treating. Yes, indeed, chronic disease is linked to depression - how could it not be? Obsessive thoughts about one's disease are not easy to brush aside in the mind. High stress - depression would logically follow. And this is even WITHOUT Interferon.

I see yet another doc next week (back to Vegas - a good one up there), as I try to make this decision about treatment. I just KNOW I/fear/on would lay me out flat. Yet I'm at the stage where tx is .... well, almost necessary to give it a damn SHOT. Just don't know...

I was depressed pre, during and what I hope is post HCV...