Anti-depressent Meds

[andrea042473]

My mother has PBC and recently experiencing a lot of anxiety with it. Just because it keeps you on an emotional rollercoaster. Does anyone take antidepressents that dont effect their liver numbers? Thanks for any info greatly appreciated.

[NotorDJP]

I don't take anti-depressant meds, but when I did try them while my own mother was ill, they made me so ill that I had to go off them. I don't know if that had anything to do with my PBC, that I am sure I had at the time.

[LindaRose]

I take Citalopram and they have have no effect on my levels. Her Doc will advise though.

[Hidden]

There are ones you can take her Gp would know the best treatment for her.

I had severe anxiety from another cause 2years ago at first i was given the beta blocker Propranolol, this was due to the palpatations you can get with anxiety being my worst symptom.

I was then given Sertraline antidepressants as being one that helped anxiety and they had no effect on my liver tests, however I was only on them for about six months but it was my choice to stop taking them.

[jrobertson1]

Have taken Escitalopram for fairly long period with no effect on my LFTs. GP will advise but don't think any SSRI type anti depressants will do any harm.

[Foundry9]

Hi,

I have tried loads of different ad's over the years and have settled on Mirtazapine (30mg) at bed time. They also help me to sleep. Just had recent LFT's and all is well with the liver.

D

[spoul]

I have taken prozac and now on mirtazapine long term will no ill effects

[Mary48]

Have been on Sertraline for a few years. Started to address my itching. It helped with that and my depression/anxiety. Not affected my PBC apart from relieving the itching

[Val02]

Hi I take Trazodone - primarily for restless legs and sleeping problems. Just a small does at night. I think they help to improve my mood as well. Safe to take with PBC.

[Tigger858]

I was prescribed Citralopram for fatigue and with no adverse effects x

[Hidden]

Hello andrea042473.

Yes I can believe anxiety and feeling down as a result of having PBC. I find I get a bit frustrated at times due to doing or not doing something (some of it for me is more dietary, I try to keep a check on fat intake for eg. I did pre-PBC (2010) but I cannot fathom it out now. I itch and sometimes I find it is not so bad, other nights it can be so. I think it is perhaps down to what I have eaten/drank during the day and feel days when the itch isn't bad or even to a point I don't know it is there (odd times I find this) I've somehow had a good balance of what I've partaken of and what bile in my system has been required for digestion).

I think once you've been diagnosed awhile (I've been itching for almost 5yrs now, diagnosed 5 at the end of this year), you can start to feel differently. Partly due to the fact that you know it is with you permanently (unless some cure is found) and also if you have any symptons with it (I just have itching) they're hardly likely to go away. I believe they can be improved on. For me urso has actually helped improve how the itching was from back in 2010 (almost 24hrs a day). I also think I'm helping myself in other ways too.

I resolved with myself a long time ago now that I was stuck with PBC and no matter how I didn't like it as we don't want this PBC I was going to get on with life the best way I could and make those memories. For me otherwise it would have been like giving in to this PBC and I refuse to do that.

There are days when you feel it is all so bad but then others you feel like normal again. I think it is something that your mother will find everyone with PBC goes through.

I know myself I'd not want to take any medications that I deemed unnecessary now (I never took any pre-PBC either). The bloods could decline with other medications. Some are actually known to cause abnormal LFTs in patients who have no history or have a liver condition so it would more than likely be more of a hazard with PBC I reckon.

Discussing meds like anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds with a doctor would probably be best as there might be some that aren't know to alter the LFTs for someone with a known liver condition and I expect anyone on these meds anyway would possibly be monitored that bit closer for any changes.

This probably sounds a bit daft but there is one medication that I think is used for depressing that is actually used after other meds have been tried for the itch. So if one has the itch and in need of any meds for treating depression this might have a dual effect. Not sure what it is and how it affects the LFTs maybe but I am certain a doctor would have the best meds that wouldn't have such an intrinsic effect on the bloods (even though then there is no guarantee).

I know at the end of the day it is far best without any medications even if one hasn't got any health issues but for some it might be the answer at the time by taking one. I do think it all depends on the individual.

[normadawnreid in reply to Hidden]

I like your attitude about having pbc your words have personally helped me. After diagnosis last March, I had a "flat spin" someone on this site described. I went through various emotions, studying my test results etc. getting overwhelmed with info, anxiety etc. ,now I just live my live each day, being positive thinking of Urso as in your words " a supplement". I also have Sjogrens so I have to take Plaquinil and am tempted to stop it at times, I find autoimmune diseases vague and hard to get a handle on, but 2 things make me feel much better and that is exercise and a good diet... I fall from both but mostly I'm quite mindful about them. thanks.

[andrea042473]

Thanks everyone for all of your response. Its so great to be able to ask questions and have the best support ever here.

[stevie1]

I take one 20mg of fluoxtine a day for anxiety. Prior to that i used to take lustral. Both of which were prescribed by my doctor. They are fine to take if you have Pbc. On the rare occasions i have

extreme attacks of anxiety i take a 2mg tablet of diazepam. The doctor is reluctant to prescribed diazapam they can be addictive. Please check with a doctor first.

[witchiegirl]

I see you've not had reply yet. It seems many of us with liver disease use ADs at least for a while. I am taking Sertraline and my liver function is okay at present. Sert is one of the common 'modern' ones, from the SSRI group. A few years ago I was taking(one of the older tricyclic group and my LFTs became very high. The jury is out on whether it was coincidence or not. So, yes, it is possible, withy caution, to take ADs with liver problems.

[witchiegirl]

Ignore me. Not sure why I thought you'd had no replies :-). Machine is playing silly buggers tonight anyway. Maybe that?