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Dear All: I was just diagnosed and my neurologist is starting me on Rebif. I am worried about the side effects, mainly the depression/anxiety. A girl I work with has MS and she is on Gilenya and she said her neuro started her on an anti-depressant (Celexa) right away. Is this common??

I get the 'blues' every once in awhile, but I don't think I'm depressed. My thinking is, should I start so that the depression doesn't sink in and then I'm trying to dig myself out? Should I ask my primary/neuro to start me on an anti-depressant with the Rebif?? Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

Thanks everyone,
LA

hi libby welcome to the club :S hehe
question related to the depression issue: what's your normal exercise regimen like?
personally I have not been put on anti depressants but then, I am not on any dmds either.

I've never taken an anti-depressant but I know people who have. It is extremely difficult to go off them. I'd say only take them as a last resort when you really need help.

I was on Rebif for many years with no other medications. I started to get very irritable, snapping at people for the least little thing. Then someone told me that was an MS symptom - as well as depression. It could be the Rebif or it could be the MS. My GP prescribed Pristiq and that has nicely resolved my irritability & depression problems. Do not even think of taking that kind of medication unless you actually need it. It is not preventative medication like a vaccine. If,as and when you need help ask your Dr. but not until then.

LibbyA wrote:Dear All: I was just diagnosed and my neurologist is starting me on Rebif. I am worried about the side effects, mainly the depression/anxiety. A girl I work with has MS and she is on Gilenya and she said her neuro started her on an anti-depressant (Celexa) right away. Is this common??

I get the 'blues' every once in awhile, but I don't think I'm depressed. My thinking is, should I start so that the depression doesn't sink in and then I'm trying to dig myself out? Should I ask my primary/neuro to start me on an anti-depressant with the Rebif?? Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

Exercise is good for depression.

From the Mayo Clinic...

Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... t-20046495

Exercise helps MS patients...

Aerobic exercise in people with multiple sclerosis: its feasibility and secondary benefits.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24453776

From Harvard Health...

Exercise and Depression
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/ ... xcerpt.htm

From Time magazine...

http://content.time.com/time/health/art ... 21,00.html

In 1999, Duke University researchers demonstrated in a randomized controlled trial that depressed adults who participated in an aerobic-exercise plan improved as much as those treated with sertraline, the drug that, marketed as Zoloft, was earning Pfizer more than $3 billion annually before its patent expired in 2006.

my dose of gym starts at 11am today ;)

Depression is one the side effects listed for Rebif. Best to understand side effects of any drug you take.

http://www.rebif.com/pages/about-rebif/ ... de_Effects


http://www.druglib.com/reported-side-ef ... ess_death/