Copaxone and Anxiety?
 

I know some of you have mentioned experience with anxiety and copaxone. (Dej?) What has been your experience? Did it start when you first started injections? Or did it "accumulate", so to speak? And are you pretty certain it was caused by the copaxone?

I had anxiety long before copaxone, but I am convinced that since starting it, i have had a harder time keeping a handle on it. My MD says that is baloney, but Im convinced.

In the past, I was able to put away my xanax and live life pill free. Today I cant get far without the xanax, and am always doing something to calm myself.

Anxiety is a listed side effect. I hate this disease.

Always been kind of uptight, worried, so I don't know if C is a culprit...

I started having panic attacks and anxiety shortly after starting C, but I thought it was from the MS itself, as I started the C shortly after being Dx.

But it was nothing compared to the emotional nutcase I became with Avonex. That was a combination of anxiety, panic attacks and severe depression all rolled into one combined with the flu like symptoms, night sweats, menopausal effects, and evenually the hives. I remember DH2B coming home early from work (he's in the Army!) because my panic attack had hit day three and I could not control my emotions. I cried uncontrollably for 3 days straight, he come home and HE called my neuro and told her she needed to see me that day and she needed to get me on an antidepressant.

It was scary. I wasn't suicidal, or homicidal. Just reached a point where it all collapsed and I couldn't stop it from coming out.

So YES I think the DMDs do cause anxiety. :hug:

I had anxiety for the shot because of my suceptibility for the IPIRs, but I did notice my fatigue was better on it. Had to do the shot in the morn since it gave me insomnia if I did it at night. So I would not be surprised at all if it caused anxiety. :hug::hug:

Like Jenn, it made me anxious because I was experiencing IPIR's. I usually did my injection in mid afternoon. I actually think I was anxious the whole time I was on it (I thought it was due to IPIR's), but it could cause increased anxiety.

All makes interesting reading since I'm weighing up the options of changing to C next month.

What does IPIR stand for?

IPIR = immediate post injection reaction

its a RARE reaction that can happen within just a few minutes of taking the injection. it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, panic...it normally comes on within moments of taking the shot, and lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to 15 minutes.

I have had it happen twice, and both times it was when I smacked into a vein. They dont know what causes it, and assume its when the copaxone gets into the vascular system.

Mine lasted less than 5 mins,and since I knew what it was, I knew how to prep for it.

I haven't had an IPIR yet...soon to be four years?

But here's why I'm asking:

I've had a dickens of a time with anxiety lately, chest discomfort, that feeling that your heart is shuddering, sleep issues, just generally feeling freaked all the time.

I asked my PCP if he could prescribe another 1 mg of lorazepam that I could take during the day if needed (I take one at bedtime). He did, and almost every day I take the whole 1 mg, and am still anxious, almost short of breath by time for the night-night pill. :(

Well, between the anxiety and other issues, and the "you rescheduled your appointment" warning letter from the neuro, I just got kind of into a "who cares" attitude and haven't taken the Copaxone for a few days. You know, like "I'll show me, I'll take a break."

Guess what? The overwhelming anxiety went bye-bye. Coincidence? Maybe. Probably. I'm going to give it a few more days and see what happens. But you gotta wonder.

The only thing I am positive about, is that MS can and does cause General Anxiety Disorders (GAD). I'm not talking about normal, situatinal anxiety, which can be cured by relaxing and thinking happy thoughts.;)

I did take Copaxone for almost a year and I do remember my anxiety worsened, during that time????

EDIT...I took Valium for awhile, B2U, but you would be much better off with Buspar or Paxil, which areADs, especially geared toward anxiety. Valium and such diasapams are very addicting and just temporary fixes.

I tried some of those critters, Sal, and some had some pretty strange effects on me. Buspar most recently.

I used to take xanax...a quarter of a pill, and I was asleep with my face in my spaghetti, and had a "whatever" attitude toward life.

You take something to keep you alert, then something to help you sleep, then something........

....one pill makes you larger, and the other makes you small....

aaaaarggghhhh

I've been on Copaxone for 5 years and so far, knock wood, no anxiety.

I had horrible nightmares and wet the bed while on my 8 month or so go on Copaxone.

Those were the worst of the side effects, other than having to veto the arms due to muscle spasms.

It wasn't fun at all.

Either I'm highly suggestible, or there is/was definitely something with the Copaxone...I haven't taken a shot for about a week or so, and haven't had a single episode of the chest tightness, shortness of breath, "heart shuddering", palps, etc. Just some mild run-of-the-mill anxiety.

Now I've got to figure out what to do. And probably call my neuro. *sigh*

Good luck, B2Y. It's a shame when the solution is worse than the problem. :hug:

I petitioned my MD to remove me from Copaxone due to the anxiety, the lipotripsy, the weird side effects, and was told I couldnt quit taking meds. I could change to Avonex or Tysabri, but they didnt want me to lay down my needles. They gave an impassioned speech about how much of a risk it was...blah blah blah...In the end it freaked out my husband, and we went back to using the stuff daily.

I had reached a point of doing it every other day and sometimes would skip that. Then...along came this current flare, that doesnt seem to want to let go. i am hearing alot of I told you so from others around me. btw, that doesnt help anyone feel better.

I hope you have better luck with your MD. Do you go to Dartmouth? If so beware, they dont like to let folks quit taking the stuff.

Nope, not Dartmouth, that's quite a drive for me these days. I stay local, which means a non-specialist neuro. He isn't going to like my taking time off without his knowledge/permission, and I know I should be calling him. I just want to wait a few more days and see if it's a coincidence. But now I'm scared to start it up again...I do not like feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack all the time, or jump off the roof.

I am also very leary of the other DMD's. Nothing is without side effects, and it's all a crap shoot anyway, n'est-ce pas?

I hear you Blessings and I'm sorry. What does yorr Doc think of LDN? What do you think. Some Peeps can take the DMDs and some just can't.

Good luck with your Doc.:hug:

Good question. Right now I'm thinking I'm going to bury my head in the sand for a few days. Weeks.

Sometimes a break is good for you. Just give your body a rest.

When I stopped the Beta my Neuro tried to give me the "you're gonna be sorry" speech but I wasn't having it. I told him I was sicker on the DMD's than I was off of them. I also told him he wasn't the one having to live with the side effects. I wasn't rude about it....just let him know that it's my body, my life, my decision.

i'm coming off the Beta as of yesterday. That's it.

I'm throwing in the towel. It's been a hard ride and now on top of side effects, I'm starting to get severe skin reactions that are burning. So, it's been a year and I've given it a good shot. Himself asked me how would I feel about taking it for another year- I said no way. So it makes sense to quit on a low note and start something new.

So Copaxone, here I come. Specialist is posting my script after a phone call today. He's not convinced my side effects are of concern but (bless his heart), he doesnt think any of my symptoms, feelings or concerns are MS related!! What are they related to then ???? Stupid man. I'm dumping HIM too as soon as I get another referral.

So wouldn't it be funny (or absolutely hilarious actually) if all of my pain, confusion, lethargy, fatigue and weakness clear up when I come off Beta and it was all the side effects!!!

I'm prepared for a relapse, coming off one, onto another. But I can handle it. In fact, I think I'm more ready to handle a relapse than I am to continue with the Beta.