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Depression and Betaseron

Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 12:44 pm
by musicman
Hi all. I imagine this may have been covered but please bear with me. I have been experiencing an increase in depression since I started Betaseron. It's been three months now and my mood has steadily declined. Can this be attributed to this medication? I do have bipolar disorder and it was stable prior to starting betaseron. I'm going to talk to my neuro ASAP but thought I'd see what other folks have exerienced. Thanks in advance.

Re: Depression and Betaseron

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 11:14 pm
by NHE
musicman wrote:Hi all. I imagine this may have been covered but please bear with me. I have been experiencing an increase in depression since I started Betaseron. It's been three months now and my mood has steadily declined. Can this be attributed to this medication?
Yes.

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:01 pm
by musicman
Thanks NHE. I've talked to my neuro and he suggested stopping Betaseron immediately pending further reassessment. Aah, back to the drawing board I guess.

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:40 pm
by LR1234
I got depressed taking steroids for a relapse and I never get depression. I am sure Betaseron could have a similar effect.

depression

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:27 pm
by Alexandra
I am not a depressed person at all and while taking steroids I had a very bad depression. I am on Avonex for 3 weeks now and I can already see a mood change, so for sure at the quantity of interferon you are taking on Betaseron is more then possible.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 8:13 pm
by musicman
Thanks folks. I appreciate the comments. :)

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:56 am
by oreo
Musicman, you left out a piece of important information. While you have implied that you started Betaseron about three months ago, you have not mentioned when you were first diagnosed with MS.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:43 am
by musicman
oreo, I was first diagnosed in 1991. Was on Copaxone for many years, then to Betaseron.