DEPRESSION & AVONEX

[Guest guest]

Susie,

In this MS trial of Avonex,, one side effect to reach statistical

significance was depression, which was reported in 20% of the

interferon-treated group and in 13% of the placebo-treated group.

The Controlled High Risk Avonex® Multiple Sclerosis Trial

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/Jan2002/FullTextAvonexCHAMPSStudy.html

It could be the Avonex itself that caused the depressive episode.

It could also be the combination of prednisone and Avonex. I hope you

mention this to your doctor. Depression of that severity is scary. I'm

glad you're looking into the cause.

As far as belonging to a MS group and ours, I think it's great! I'm sure

many of us here belong to more than one group. Each group has different

personalities and you get to meet more people and learn more from them.

Your weather sounds wonderful compared to NJ. It's below 20 and tomorrow

night we're expecting a snowstorm that is coming up the coast. For you it

will probably be rain. According to the Farmer's Almanac, we're in for a

brutal winter. I hope it's wrong, but I doubt it. We've been lucky the

last few years and have had mild winters.

a

> I forgot to tell you all last week how the " depression after injection

> of Avonex " went. I took advice of someone on this list, and first

> dropped the Pred., as I was only on 5 mg. so reduced the dose, and was

> off it before I had that shot last Monday around the 30th Nov.

> Well...I never did get the severe overwhelming " depression " again, after

> I did that.

> I had another shot of the AVONEX yesterday, on the 2nd Dec. Still off

> the Pred. and so far, so good...no signs of that " type " of Depression as

> yet.

>

> Don't get me wrong, I still get " low " or " down " ... but with what I

> consider a " normal reaction " to days that I am having difficulities with

> the MS symptoms & RA, and coping with what the disease is doing to me.

> But I feel that this is a " normal process " for us all, as it passes

> according to what I am " mad about " or is " upsetting me " that I can't do,

> or am having trouble with.

>

> I just wanted to really write ya'll and stress The type of DEPRESSION I

> was speaking of a couple weeks ago. I can't stress enough...it was not

> NORMAL Depression. This was a really severe crazy reaction type

> depression that set in so severely and swiftly, it literally brought me

> to my knees from " happy " or normal day, and brought on fits of crying

> and despaire, and hopelessness, and it always caused almost suicidal

> feelings.

> ( " Almost " is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!)

> I KNEW something was wrong with that! This was so totally unlike me!

> That was why I fought it so, and just KNEW it HAD to be SOMETHING

> CAUSING IT... and so wrote all ya'll.

> I am on an MS list like this one. But I still feel that RA was my

> " first " (hahaha!) and that you all are my FAMILY. So I wrote ya'll for

> comfort & advice. I probably always will. Even tho I do have the MS

> also. I hope ya'll don't mind. I think I been on here on this RA list

> now for about 3 years... or close to that.

>

> I felt that I do need to take a med like AVONEX to slow the MS, and I

> also need the PRED. to help me with the RA. But the #1 priority was the

> MS at this point...slowing it down. Because the Neuro said it " appears "

> to be getting progressive. (still haven't figured out exactly what she

> means by this one. She seems to have me straddling a fence with that

> comment!) That was why I decided to take advice here and try stopping

> the Pred. first.

> Was a good choice, as I do now feel the Pred. was the culprit.

> I am assuming that it was just a " reaction type thing " , maybe or maybe

> not interacting with the Interferon....or just doing it on its own...

> The Pred. had never done this to me before. I do wonder why all of

> sudden it did make me do this. Can you take something like PRED. in

> small amount daily and then all of sudden it CAUSE depression or

> problems like that???

>

> But one problem now, since I stopped the Pred..... hahaha!

> I can't MOVE MY KNEES, ANKLES, HIPS, BACK, and fingers slowly following

> suit!!!!!!

> Auggggggghhhhhh! I guess this is the old expression, " you dam if you do

> and dam if you don't! "

> Ok.... so ANY suggestions??? Is there any CHANCE that I can REstart the

> PREDNISONE with hopes of this not happening again? Anyone have the Pred.

> do this to them before, then REstart it and have no problems with it

> again??????

>

> The sufur type drugs and nasids are out of question, as they all cause

> severe stomach problems!

> My right knee so big today it is not funny, and left one catching up

> fast!

>

> Hope everyone doing well in spite of all the weather changes!

> It is cold here in Coastal GA!!!!!!! Only 50's today. Highs are to only

> be in 40's tomorrow! Usually we stay in low 70's - high 60's until

> after Christmas up until about mid Feb. I guess it is going to be a cold

> winter here this year. We are " due " , as it has been extremely mild for

> about 7 winters now. The Barred Owl's who live on our property in woods

> are hunting close to the house now... (in my Garden-pond to be more

> specific!) they have never done this before. They are reducing the

> fish/FROG population slowly! But that is fine... that is natural. But is

> a treat to watch them at dawn before they go to their nest for the day.

> They have been here as a pair since we moved here 7 years ago. Amazing

> nature. Huge beautiful birds.

> http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/birds/strigiformes/svaria.html

> Susie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I forgot to tell you all last week how the " depression after injection

of Avonex " went. I took advice of someone on this list, and first

dropped the Pred., as I was only on 5 mg. so reduced the dose, and was

off it before I had that shot last Monday around the 30th Nov.

Well...I never did get the severe overwhelming " depression " again, after

I did that.

I had another shot of the AVONEX yesterday, on the 2nd Dec. Still off

the Pred. and so far, so good...no signs of that " type " of Depression as

yet.

Don't get me wrong, I still get " low " or " down " ... but with what I

consider a " normal reaction " to days that I am having difficulities with

the MS symptoms & RA, and coping with what the disease is doing to me.

But I feel that this is a " normal process " for us all, as it passes

according to what I am " mad about " or is " upsetting me " that I can't do,

or am having trouble with.

I just wanted to really write ya'll and stress The type of DEPRESSION I

was speaking of a couple weeks ago. I can't stress enough...it was not

NORMAL Depression. This was a really severe crazy reaction type

depression that set in so severely and swiftly, it literally brought me

to my knees from " happy " or normal day, and brought on fits of crying

and despaire, and hopelessness, and it always caused almost suicidal

feelings.

( " Almost " is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!)

I KNEW something was wrong with that! This was so totally unlike me!

That was why I fought it so, and just KNEW it HAD to be SOMETHING

CAUSING IT... and so wrote all ya'll.

I am on an MS list like this one. But I still feel that RA was my

" first " (hahaha!) and that you all are my FAMILY. So I wrote ya'll for

comfort & advice. I probably always will. Even tho I do have the MS

also. I hope ya'll don't mind. I think I been on here on this RA list

now for about 3 years... or close to that.

I felt that I do need to take a med like AVONEX to slow the MS, and I

also need the PRED. to help me with the RA. But the #1 priority was the

MS at this point...slowing it down. Because the Neuro said it " appears "

to be getting progressive. (still haven't figured out exactly what she

means by this one. She seems to have me straddling a fence with that

comment!) That was why I decided to take advice here and try stopping

the Pred. first.

Was a good choice, as I do now feel the Pred. was the culprit.

I am assuming that it was just a " reaction type thing " , maybe or maybe

not interacting with the Interferon....or just doing it on its own...

The Pred. had never done this to me before. I do wonder why all of

sudden it did make me do this. Can you take something like PRED. in

small amount daily and then all of sudden it CAUSE depression or

problems like that???

But one problem now, since I stopped the Pred..... hahaha!

I can't MOVE MY KNEES, ANKLES, HIPS, BACK, and fingers slowly following

suit!!!!!!

Auggggggghhhhhh! I guess this is the old expression, " you dam if you do

and dam if you don't! "

Ok.... so ANY suggestions??? Is there any CHANCE that I can REstart the

PREDNISONE with hopes of this not happening again? Anyone have the Pred.

do this to them before, then REstart it and have no problems with it

again??????

The sufur type drugs and nasids are out of question, as they all cause

severe stomach problems!

My right knee so big today it is not funny, and left one catching up

fast!

Hope everyone doing well in spite of all the weather changes!

It is cold here in Coastal GA!!!!!!! Only 50's today. Highs are to only

be in 40's tomorrow! Usually we stay in low 70's - high 60's until

after Christmas up until about mid Feb. I guess it is going to be a cold

winter here this year. We are " due " , as it has been extremely mild for

about 7 winters now. The Barred Owl's who live on our property in woods

are hunting close to the house now... (in my Garden-pond to be more

specific!) they have never done this before. They are reducing the

fish/FROG population slowly! But that is fine... that is natural. But is

a treat to watch them at dawn before they go to their nest for the day.

They have been here as a pair since we moved here 7 years ago. Amazing

nature. Huge beautiful birds.

http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/birds/strigiformes/svaria.html

Susie