interferon and depression

[allHailye2]

has anyone stopped taking an interferon and noticed that their depression got better?

[Alicious]

When I was on them, I actually started getting suicidal thoughts, which is not my norm. I went off, and the the problem stopped.

Interferons can cause depression, so if you suspect it, it's definitely worth a chat with your doctor to see what your options are.

[lydialou]

I have taken Rebif for a number of years and hadn't noticed a lot of depression. But a year ago, I began to have problems with anxiety. None of it was rational. I talked to my neuro and the NP and was just trying to deal with it. I started keeping a gratitude journal and tried to focus on the positive things in my life rather than those crazy feelings of what it that were creeping into my mind. This last year, the frequency of those episodes has increased a lot. It's hard for me to do some things-like make plans to visit friends out of town. Crazy I know.

Anyway at my most recent checkup we decided to start an anti-depressant and to decrease my rebif to see if that would help my mental state and serotonin levels in my brain. I will let you know how things go for me. She told me if might take several weeks to notice a change.

Lydialou

[allHailye2]

@Lydialou

i just commented on another post under you too. heh

i was on anti-depressants even before my dx's. they've also been switched up over the years. that's why i'm really hopeful (wishing) that stopping rebif will help my depression. it's a bit ridiculous.

i hope the changes you're making help you.

[JerryD]

I was at a seminar, this week, and the speaker was a MS specialist who has been in the field for 20+ years. She said that interferons cause patients to experience increased anxiety and depression. She said that this was common, in her clinical practice.