getting started on rebif-- depression as a side effect
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:45 pm
Hi, I'm new to this forum, have been dx in Feb 2010 with RRMS. Sorry this is going to be long, hope someone knows anything about this kind of stuff!
I have first been started on Avonex by my neuro- after 1 shot with half the dose I became severely depressed after about 2 days, so my neuro told me to stop it immediately and go onto Rebif the week after. Six days after the Avonex shot, as if someone had flicked a switch, I was completely back to normal again.
So I started Rebif with 1/4 dose for the first week and then increased 1/4 each week until the full dose. It went well for almost 3 weeks, then, on the weekend after 1 week of 3/4 dose I felt a bit flat, but not too badly, so I thought maybe I'm just down in general, then, into the week with full dose, I broke into tears at work and got severely depressed again.
When I finally reached my neuro, he told me to stop immediately and that it's OK to pause for up to a week. He told me to see my psychiatrist (as I am on an antidepressant) for advice. I got an appointment to see the psychiatrist in one week. My neurologist's appointment is another week after that. That makes it two weeks. So what am I supposed to do in the second week?? Also, I have already talked to my psychiatrist about this issue and he has told me I can't increase my dose any further, so I don't expect to get any new information from him.
I deducted from my neuro's reaction that he apparently thinks it's worth trying to stay on Rebif, but as he simply didn't give me any advice, I've decided to take it into my own hands, not that I have a choice at the moment. So I cut back the dose to 1/2 dose again last Friday, as that seemed to be still OK in the past. Since then I haven't been depressed, so I've decided to keep going with 1/2 dose for the time being.
If anyone here has any experience with Rebif and depression as a side effect, I'd be really grateful for any advice or information.
Also, is it normal to be left alone with that as I have described- or am I just expecting too much?
Thanks a lot in advance,
all the best, Rike
I have first been started on Avonex by my neuro- after 1 shot with half the dose I became severely depressed after about 2 days, so my neuro told me to stop it immediately and go onto Rebif the week after. Six days after the Avonex shot, as if someone had flicked a switch, I was completely back to normal again.
So I started Rebif with 1/4 dose for the first week and then increased 1/4 each week until the full dose. It went well for almost 3 weeks, then, on the weekend after 1 week of 3/4 dose I felt a bit flat, but not too badly, so I thought maybe I'm just down in general, then, into the week with full dose, I broke into tears at work and got severely depressed again.
When I finally reached my neuro, he told me to stop immediately and that it's OK to pause for up to a week. He told me to see my psychiatrist (as I am on an antidepressant) for advice. I got an appointment to see the psychiatrist in one week. My neurologist's appointment is another week after that. That makes it two weeks. So what am I supposed to do in the second week?? Also, I have already talked to my psychiatrist about this issue and he has told me I can't increase my dose any further, so I don't expect to get any new information from him.
I deducted from my neuro's reaction that he apparently thinks it's worth trying to stay on Rebif, but as he simply didn't give me any advice, I've decided to take it into my own hands, not that I have a choice at the moment. So I cut back the dose to 1/2 dose again last Friday, as that seemed to be still OK in the past. Since then I haven't been depressed, so I've decided to keep going with 1/2 dose for the time being.
If anyone here has any experience with Rebif and depression as a side effect, I'd be really grateful for any advice or information.
Also, is it normal to be left alone with that as I have described- or am I just expecting too much?
Thanks a lot in advance,
all the best, Rike