Depression and Avonex

[In Denial]

If you think that Avonex cause[s] depression, how did you experience it? Was it a general lowering of mood, or acute attacks of depression?

I've been feeling down, but in point of fact, I have multiple solid reasons for being depressed so it might not be the Avonex. As for what I mean by an "acute attack," once several years ago I found myself having uncontrollable crying fits whose violence far exceeded my usual depression. I had an almost irresistible desire to throw myself in front of a bus just to end it and I went to see my doctors just to be in a safe place. The cause was never established, but it may have been some birth control pills that I had taken briefly for another medical condition.

In addition, I'm looking at Shot 11 tonight (and the 8th injection with the full dose) and my left thigh feels sore and my left leg has been feeling heavy. (Most of my problems are on my left side.) Is that common? I continue to feel the chest tightness, which I think the Avonex is causing.

With the understanding that reactions vary greatly, when are these side effects likely to subside? I've taken Prednisone before the last two injections and while it does help with the flu reactions, they certainly haven't disappeared.

Thanks for any comments.

[Jakaloke]

When I started on Betaseron the nurse at the MS clinic asked me about my mood every time I spoke to her. Depression is listed as a side-effect of interferon beta (including Avonex), and it's very common in MS in general. I don't know if it's been conclusively determined that MS causes depression biologically or or as an emotional reaction, but there's no doubt it's a problem for many of us.

When you feel compelled to throw yourself in front of a bus, it's time to get some help. Are you taking an antidepressant? They can be a huge benefit, but they aren't perfect. There are side-effects, and some (Paxil and Effexor, at least) can be very difficult to stop, if you decide you don't need them anymore.

I "discovered" that I was depressed not long after my diagnosis. I hadn't considered it until my doctor asked me about it and I realized I'd been getting steadily more cranky and I was becoming more and more unhappy. It kind of snuck up on me because it was so gradual. My doc prescribed Effexor and the improvement was pretty dramatic. I don't remember having any "acute attacks", but I didn't even realize that was possible. It kinda sounds like anxiety, actually, which wouldn't be too surprising either.

Talk to your doc, get some help. Good luck.

Scott

[K969]

This is another one of those things that I cannot really answer, only share my own experiences with Depression/Avonex and Betaferon.

When i was DX with RR back in 99 I was put straight on Betaferon. I remained on that for a few years. I had bouts of depression over those years BUT I had also had Severe Post Partum Physchosis (SP?) years before, in 94. I was actually locked away like a Crazed animal back then. Long story.

I had other health issues prior to DX of MS and depression was just a part of my life.

In 2002 I went through a REALLY bad patch of depression and did in fact try to end it all. Hubby found me Overdosed. I spent some time (about 10 weeks) in a Physc hospital. When i got out my Neuro changed me from Betaferon to Avonex. I never asked why, i just did as I was told. I was living in the City then. Shortly after that my Hubby retired to be a stay at home carer and we moved back down to the south coast here.

I go up to the City to see my Neuro and it was about 2 years ago I went up there with FULL intentions of telling him that i wanted to go back onto Beta. Had a gutful of the Avonex. I didnt have to ask as it turned out, he had already decided on it himself. It was then that I asked him "why did you change me from B to A back in 02?" He told me that when i did what i did, he was getting phone calls from the staff at the Physc hospital and also my Shrink at that time telling him to switch me coz they had heard that beteferon caused depression and because I was pretty messed up they thought it would be for the best. My Neuro didn't agree with them but to keep them off his back he did switch me.

My Neuro always felt that my depression was NOT the usual kind caused from MS, although he does admit that Beta can cause depression.:confused:

After I had my 1st "Explosive Brain Syndrome" my Neuro wanted to add another drug to help me with the Migraines that the Brain thing has left me with BUT before doing that he thought it was best for me to be seen by a Neuro/Physc. I had been seeing a Physc and counsellor's for years anyway and also hospitalized for Depression with Suicidal tendecies, I ended up having 22 ECT treatments for that.:rolleyes:

So i did see this other guy, and I must say, that I have only seen him that once but so much of what he said has stayed with me and always will. he was BRILLIANT. He DX me with a different form of Depression. It has something like 5 names in front .....................Depression. Basically I will have that for life and am treated differently than "normal":confused: depression.

Wow! Didnt mean to make it such a long drawn out reply but I guess what i was trying to say is that YES Betaferon can cause Depression but then Depression can also be from other things as well.

Geez, I hope I made sense.

Love to all
Tracey
Forgot to add that i am no longer on any Interferons as I am now Secondary Progressive.

[In Denial]

When I started on Betaseron the nurse at the MS clinic asked me about my mood every time I spoke to her. Depression is listed as a side-effect of interferon beta (including Avonex), and it's very common in MS in general.

--I know. And as I've been depressed for a long time for other reasons I'm trying to distinguish the basic depression from that caused by MS from that possibly caused by Avonex.

I don't know if it's been conclusively determined that MS causes depression biologically or or as an emotional reaction, but there's no doubt it's a problem for many of us.

When you feel compelled to throw yourself in front of a bus, it's time to get some help.

--I don't feel that way right now; I gave that as an example of the worst acute depression I've ever experienced. Mainly, I just feel overwhelmed and lacking in motivation.


Are you taking an antidepressant?

--Not at the moment. I took them for a number of years before being dx-ed with MS but most of them didn't work and I couldn't tolerate the SEs, particularly Restless Leg Syndrome. One of the few that helped for a while caused weight gain.


They can be a huge benefit, but they aren't perfect. There are side-effects, and some (Paxil and Effexor, at least) can be very difficult to stop, if you decide you don't need them anymore.

--No kidding. :) Several years ago, I tried to go off one them (it might have been Paxil) and reduced the dosage over two weeks. But that wasn't gradual enough. I had horrible sensitivity to lights and sounds. It made me understand how people on illegal drugs could commit crimes in order to pay for a fix.

--I think Effexor may have been the one that caused me to start sweating sheets. :) I thought I was going through premature menopause.


I "discovered" that I was depressed not long after my diagnosis.

--That was no big discovery for me. :) I had plenty of reason to be depressed before. I was terrified from the moment I suspected I might have a neurological condition.

I hadn't considered it until my doctor asked me about it and I realized I'd been getting steadily more cranky and I was becoming more and more unhappy. It kind of snuck up on me because it was so gradual. My doc prescribed Effexor and the improvement was pretty dramatic. I don't remember having any "acute attacks", but I didn't even realize that was possible. It kinda sounds like anxiety, actually, which wouldn't be too surprising either.

Talk to your doc, get some help. Good luck.

Scott

Thanks very much for your comments. In addition to the MS doc, before starting the Avonex I talked to a psychopharmacologist in order to get a baseline reading of my mood.

[In Denial]

This is another one of those things that I cannot really answer, only share my own experiences with Depression/Avonex and Betaferon.

When i was DX with RR back in 99 I was put straight on Betaferon. I remained on that for a few years. I had bouts of depression over those years BUT I had also had Severe Post Partum Physchosis (SP?) years before, in 94. I was actually locked away like a Crazed animal back then. Long story.

--The "acute" attack that I was describing was something like this. Fortunately, it only lasted for a day and I sought medical attention.

I had other health issues prior to DX of MS and depression was just a part of my life.

In 2002 I went through a REALLY bad patch of depression and did in fact try to end it all. Hubby found me Overdosed. I spent some time (about 10 weeks) in a Physc hospital. When i got out my Neuro changed me from Betaferon to Avonex. I never asked why, i just did as I was told. I was living in the City then. Shortly after that my Hubby retired to be a stay at home carer and we moved back down to the south coast here.

I go up to the City to see my Neuro and it was about 2 years ago I went up there with FULL intentions of telling him that i wanted to go back onto Beta. Had a gutful of the Avonex. I didnt have to ask as it turned out, he had already decided on it himself. It was then that I asked him "why did you change me from B to A back in 02?" He told me that when i did what i did, he was getting phone calls from the staff at the Physc hospital and also my Shrink at that time telling him to switch me coz they had heard that beteferon caused depression and because I was pretty messed up they thought it would be for the best. My Neuro didn't agree with them but to keep them off his back he did switch me.

This is very interesting. I tried Copaxone for a few months but the site reactions were so nasty that I basically was skipping it more than taking it. I don't know whether I was prescribed Copaxone first because I have a history of depression or because most people can't hack the IM needle used with Avonex. BTW, I wasn't told to take anything in particular, but after mulling over the options and continuing to delay, the doctor suggested I try Copaxone. After the reactions and my dread of the med, he suggested I switch to Avonex.

My Neuro always felt that my depression was NOT the usual kind caused from MS, although he does admit that Beta can cause depression.:confused:

It is confusing, that's why I was wondering if anyone had noticed a particularly intense reaction with Avonex.

After I had my 1st "Explosive Brain Syndrome"

I'll have to Google that one. It sounds awful, sorry.

my Neuro wanted to add another drug to help me with the Migraines that the Brain thing has left me with BUT before doing that he thought it was best for me to be seen by a Neuro/Physc. I had been seeing a Physc and counsellor's for years anyway and also hospitalized for Depression with Suicidal tendecies, I ended up having 22 ECT treatments for that.:rolleyes:

So i did see this other guy, and I must say, that I have only seen him that once but so much of what he said has stayed with me and always will. he was BRILLIANT. He DX me with a different form of Depression. It has something like 5 names in front .....................Depression. Basically I will have that for life and am treated differently than "normal":confused: depression.

Wow! Didnt mean to make it such a long drawn out reply but I guess what i was trying to say is that YES Betaferon can cause Depression but then Depression can also be from other things as well.

Geez, I hope I made sense.

It sure did. I completely understand the ambiguous nature of these moods.

Love to all
Tracey
Forgot to add that i am no longer on any Interferons as I am now Secondary Progressive.

Thanks very much for your candid discussion and best of luck.

[mbsews]

If you think that Avonex cause[s] depression, how did you experience it? Was it a general lowering of mood, or acute attacks of depression?

I had a recurrent depression problem for years before MS. I used Avonex for 16 months. I did not perceive it as making my depression problems worse.

But within 3 weeks after stopping Avonex and 2 weeks after my Tysabri infusion we weaned my Cymbalta dose from 70 mg to 30 mg because I was so over-stimulated.

It is so hard to know what the contributors to my depression were...
MS activity in my brain (I actually think so!),
Avonex? (maybe),
situational depression about feeling so ill and having my job at risk (definitely!)
seasonal depression (yes!)

I am always so close to the edge of tipping over into a real depression that Avonex probably was a bigger factor than I realized. But it was a sort of chronic, subacute vulnerability more than episodic depressive episodes. Depression is always so complicated.:confused:

[Tweeker]

Hi

Interferons are notorious for bringing on symptoms of clinical depression. I will attest to that fact based on personal experience.

Don’t know if your three months worth of Avonex injections is causing your depression. But it could be time to speak with the prescribing MD regarding your concerns.

I was being treated by a psychiatrist 3X a week for clinical depression. I was having severe ideations of suicide. I had taken Avonex for six years.

The shrink talked to the neuro, who switched me to Copoxone. Two years hence, my recovery from clinical depression was complete.

That’s my anecdotal experience. Hope you remain well.

Tweeker

[In Denial]

I had a recurrent depression problem for years before MS. I used Avonex for 16 months. I did not perceive it as making my depression problems worse.

But within 3 weeks after stopping Avonex and 2 weeks after my Tysabri infusion we weaned my Cymbalta dose from 70 mg to 30 mg because I was so over-stimulated.

It is so hard to know what the contributors to my depression were...
MS activity in my brain (I actually think so!),
Avonex? (maybe),
situational depression about feeling so ill and having my job at risk (definitely!)
seasonal depression (yes!)

I am always so close to the edge of tipping over into a real depression that Avonex probably was a bigger factor than I realized. But it was a sort of chronic, subacute vulnerability more than episodic depressive episodes. Depression is always so complicated.:confused:

Your list of possible factors is similar to mine. :) Thanks for the response.

[In Denial]

Hi

Interferons are notorious for bringing on symptoms of clinical depression. I will attest to that fact based on personal experience.

Don’t know if your three months worth of Avonex injections is causing your depression. But it could be time to speak with the prescribing MD regarding your concerns.

I was being treated by a psychiatrist 3X a week for clinical depression. I was having severe ideations of suicide. I had taken Avonex for six years.

The shrink talked to the neuro, who switched me to Copoxone. Two years hence, my recovery from clinical depression was complete.

That’s my anecdotal experience. Hope you remain well.

Tweeker

I've talked to him once about it. Naturally, he suggested I consider antidepressants. The only problem is that I took them on and off for a number of years and had so many SEs and/or became habituated to the few things that actually worked that I really did do better after going off them. But I may have to reconsider.

With Copaxone I was covered with nasty, painful, black-and-blue site reactions. That condition made me depressed and it was not mere vanity.

Thanks for your comments.