Depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric side effects

Depression and anxiety are commonly reported side effects of interferon.

In rare cares, people have reported that they have felt like taking their own lives, and a few people have committed suicide during their HCV treatment.

If you have a history of depression you may be at greater risk for developing these side effects during HCV treatment, although depression and anxiety are also common in people who have not experienced them before. Interferon can also cause irritability, difficulty sleeping, mood swings and psychosis.

It’s important to have access to mental health care before and during (and sometimes after) HCV treatment, so that psychiatric side effects can be treated promptly and appropriately.

Some experts think that starting an anti-depressant before going on HCV treatment can help to prevent depression from the interferon. However, as antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs have their own side effects, other experts think it is better to provide these drugs only if and when people need them.

Being prepared to consider using an antidepressant if you get these side effects is important, as depression is one of the main reasons that people abandon treatment before finishing the full course. Your own history and how you feel about this are important. If you have never suffered depression or mental illness you may not identify the symptoms.

It is important to correctly diagnose and properly treat psychiatric symptoms of HCV treatment.

I stayed at work during the whole of the treatment, and while this was difficult mentally and physically, I think it was the best thing. Too much time on your hands is a bad thing when you are taking a treatment that fucks with your head. I was able to have quite a few sick days and an easier work schedule by telling the occupational health doctor at work what I was going through. Fortunately, he was not obliged to go into the details of my illness with my line manager, so my confidentiality was maintained.