Post treatment symptoms

[Andiamo1]

Each time I took interferon, it left me with Attention Deficit Disorder that was long lasting.  Each treatment seemed to be additive.  After my  last treatment that ended in 2008, I ended up with full blown ADD that made me impulsive and seriously detracted me to the point that I could not read and process anything that was very detailed.  I spent much of my career managing large software projects, so I was very lucky this didn't happen until after I retired.

I finally got so fed up that I went to see a psychopharmacologist.  He prescribed Adderall and it has made a tremendous difference.  My impulsiveness has disappeared and I can concentrate for long periods of time without getting distracted.  I feel as I did before treating and I am even sleeping better and my memory has improved!

I want to share this experience in case anyone else has experienced ADD following treatment with SOC.

[helen_jo]

I was so glad I came across your post !   I took 'the treatment' in 2000 and it was 3 shots a week and 5 pills a day. Tough, very tough. I felt better for the first couple years after treatment, but the fatigue, brain fog, restless sleep came back. It is worse now than before tx. In fact, it is worse than during tx. I have tried to get Adderall because I was sure it would help. I have had no luck. I do not want to live setting in this chair watching the world go by and not being able to participate in it. That is not living that is just existing. I have had hep C since May 12, 1982 when I received 2 blood transfusions. At this point I do not care if it is not good for my liver I just want to have the capability to play with my grandson and not be to tired to have him spend the night. In fact, I found your post trying to get enough info on the matter to approach my former Dr. and ask him for medication. I do not want to take treatment again. I am 58 Yrs. old I just want to live life while I am alive. Doesn't anyone understand that?

[helen_jo]

I know for a fact post tx is a nightmare you can not seem to wake up from. You are so right and cheesylogic obviously has not either taken the tx or is just someone with an opinion on everything regardless of knowledge. I am so grateful that I found this conversation regarding Adderall and Hep C today I could just scream. I have been trying to get Adderall for years to help me with my fatigue and brain fog. The doctors I have been to don't give me the one pill I choose but instead give me 5 Rx's all bad for your liver. They tell me I am depressed and give me anti depressants. I tell them I am depressed because I am tired, I am NOT tired because I am depressed. I have also had several Dr's give me Percocet for the pain. They are full of Tylenol very bad for any liver. I stopped going because I felt as though they were trying to kill me. And when I go to the doctor I am lucky if I will even be able to explain myself due to brain fog. This really makes a person think of self medicating, it really does.  

[helen_jo]

Thank You !  Thank You !   I am taking this info to another Dr. and I will try again to get some Adderall. I stopped trying about 2006 because I really didn't have it in me to just continue. It has been so bad. I can't watch my grandson and I wouldn't even think of taking him in my car with me. I just want some normalcy back in my life. I was always a person to be counted on and now I won't make a commitment because I never know how I will feel or if I will have the energy and mind to focus on making it.  Thank you for the hope your post has just given me.

[otterwatcher]

I totally understand what you are going through.

[Dee1956]

I don't know if this will help anyone but I wanted to say after I finished treatment I learned about NADH which is supposed to repair RNA DNA, help with the brain. There is a website called nadh which has a wealth of info, yes they sell something but the info is free

I do think it helped me tremendously.  I was so desperate to try to find anything that would help me because I did not feel this way before my first tx.

Thank you all for sharing, it helps so many people
Dee

[Dee1956]

I understand exactly what you are talking about, never knowing how you will feel from day to day so that you can't make plans

The doctors all deny that there is a problem  They know, so do the drug companies.  I had a friend who did the tx that you are talking about back in the late 90's. She was treated 3 times with different forms of interferon.  She suffered from neurological problems, her head would twitch when she was lay down to sleep.

She called Schering Plough, of course they denied any problem.

I do think the NADH helped me.  I tried ritalin but it made me too nervous.  I have heard Adderall is not as bad

Take Care