Hi, i justwant to say i am also on cellcept and although i do suffer from all of those symptoms, i am pretty sure i suffered them before the cellcept also. How long have you been off them? Do you feel any better? I hope you manage to find a treatment that helps. Hugs x

Jacquelin,

Thank you for the help. I was not feeling that way before I was on the Cellcept, and it just kept getting worse the longer I took it. I do take antidepressants, but had been stable on them for several years.

My rheum. put me back on Methotrexate which has worked in the past, but it is taking some time to get over the anxiety from the cellcept. I had been on it for three weeks thinking it would get better - we divided the doses. But I should've known because the same thing happened when he tried the cellcept and imuran in the weeks before.

I guess I just need to be patient because it has been a couple months of this crazy trial and error. I think I was trying to be a "good" patient too, and not complain.

Thanks for your help

It's likely the steroids. Sometimes there's a cumulative effect. There's nothing in Cellcept to cause anxiety or anything else mood altering. But anxiety, depression and crying are TYPICAL of prednisone. Imuran won't cause it either. But the idea that you are sicker and NEED another medication may be depressing and worry over possible side effects can cause anxiety.

Keep in mind that it's depressing to HAVE a chronic disease and you may also be having some peri-menopausal symptoms like altered levels of estrogen which can cause mood changes too. You might want to see your GYN and get your hormones checked.

As for the steroids, many people have fewer problems on Medrol (methylprednisonlone) than with prednisone. Since you do have a chronic disease, you might want to see a psychiatrist and get stronger mood stabilizing medications. Basically, there are a lot of balls in the air and any could be causing this problem or it could be all together each contributing to it. It's important to be followed by a good psychiatrist who knows his meds and lupus so that you can keep your mood stable. The stress you cause your body when you get anxious and upset only makes your disease worse.

Good luck with this. Don't be embarrassed. You're sick, not crazy.

Tracy

Sorry to hear about your anxiety and such. I have to say I'm enclined to agree with Tracy. I have been on cellcept for 7 mos, it is the third immunosuppressant I've been on and I don't recall any issues with anxiety. Mind you. Have had my battles with anxiety and panic attacks, more so when I was on steroids it seems.

Talk to your doctor I'm sure he/she will have some suggestions.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Hugs

Mel

Thanks for the replies. I am feeling much better now that I am off the Cellcept - atleast mood wise.

I don't want to contradict anyone, but several medical sites have stated that Cellcept can cause severe anxiety, depression, and strange thoughts. And that you should contact your doctor right away... I wish I hadn't waited 3 weeks, as things got really bad.

I had the same reaction on it and also quit taking it. Please don't be embarrassed!! Panic and anxiety cause people to react abnormally and you should view it as a sideffect not a personal failure or embarrassment!!

I would like to say i have been on cellcpet 1000mg from 2008 present day. And my anxiety and depression have been sky high. I was never depressed before it never had anxiety. I could talk to anyone know i have a hard time even talking to my family

I have to agree. My pre-existing, (and medicated) anxiety, depression and panic is at an all time high. The only new factor is CellCept which I've been on for 5 months now at 3000mg daily. I also take Plaquenil and prednisone 5-7.5mg (I have not been able to get off prednisone for the 3 yrs since my diagnosis-I flare as soon as I try to wean down). I have a panic attack at least twice a day. I'm fully medicated for depression and anxiety/panic so I do not know what else could be causing this... I was on Benlysta and I need to get back on it asap because it was working. The other medication that did seem to work was Actemera which is off label for Lupus... I don't have any positive tests for RA whatsoever (but it hasn't been looked at recently) - I only have positive tests for ds-DNA, ANA, +SSA, AND SSB (Sjögren's), and the usual elevated CRP. I do however have a great number of positive genetic errors that are associated with RA (I've done genetic testing). So I am wondering if this is Lupus and RA somehow...

Wow takkyone you're on 3000mg a day. That's quite a lot especially since you're on plaquenil and prednisone. My Drs. say a lower amount of Cellcept is needed if you're already on prednisone. I don't take those other 2. I take 1G of Cellcept twice a day. And been on it since 2010.

I have some anxiety issues, but only if it is something I don't want to mess up. I'm a expat teacher and I'm very outgoing so I don't know what I would do if I was depressed or had anxiety talking to people. I didn't even know that was one of the common side effects. hmm I think I have only had the insomnia issues, but if that happens I take 3mg of melatonin.