Depression and HIV

I recently have a talk to one pozzie who said that he has depression from taking Efavirenz. His doctor almost prescribed him with an anti-depressant however, he said that he doesn’t want to be dependent on it so he declined it.

I told him that the power of the mind is strong especially when we have HIV. We think about a lot of things. But we all have to fight this way of thinking. Instead we should do more productive things and boost up our egos. We should also learn how to relax our minds and think of positive things through meditation like yoga or tai-chi which are the two ways I used to calm my mind when I was first diagnosed.

Talking to others also helps, but the most important thing is really accepting the disease that we have and start to live our lives to the fullest once again.

Because of this I researched about depression accompanying HIV and or HIV medications. I found this in the internet again.

To you my friend, this is for you!

Source: aidsinfonet.org

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a mood disorder. It is more than sadness or grief. Depression is sadness or grief that is more intense and lasts longer than it should. It has various causes:

• events in your daily life
• chemical changes in the brain
• a side effect of medications
• several physical disorders

About 5% to 10% of the general population gets depressed. However, rates of depression in people with HIV are as high as 60%. Women with HIV are twice as likely as men to be depressed.

Being depressed is not a sign of weakness. It doesn’t mean you’re going crazy. You cannot “just get over it.” Don’t expect to be depressed because you are dealing with HIV. And don't think that you have to be depressed because you have HIV.

IS DEPRESSION IMPORTANT?

Depression can lead people to miss doses of their medication. It can increase high-risk behaviors that transmit HIV infection to others. Depression might cause some latent viral infections to become active. Overall, depression can make HIV disease progress faster. It also interferes with your ability to enjoy life.

Depression often gets overlooked. Also, many HIV specialists have not been trained to recognize depression. Depression can also be mistaken for signs of advancing HIV.

  

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION?

Symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Most health care providers suspect depression if patients report feeling blue or having very little interest in daily activities. If these feelings go on for two weeks or longer, and the patient also has some of the following symptoms, they are probably depressed:

• Fatigue or feeling slow and sluggish
• Problems concentrating
• Low sex drive
• Problems sleeping; waking very early or excessive sleeping
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or hopeless
• Decreased appetite or weight loss
• Overeating

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

Some medications used to treat HIV can cause or worsen depression, especially efavirenz (Sustiva). Diseases such as anemia or diabetes can cause symptoms that look like depression. So can drug use, or low levels of testosterone, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12.

People who are infected with both HIV and hepatitis B or C (see fact sheet 506) are more likely to be depressed, especially if they are being treated with interferon.
Other risk factors include:

• Being female
• Having a personal or family history of mental illness, alcohol and substance abuse
• Not having enough social support
• Not telling others you are HIV-positive
• Treatment failure (HIV or other)

   

TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION

Depression can be treated with lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, and/or with medications. Many medications and therapies for depression can interfere with your HIV treatment. Your health care provider can help you select the therapy or combination of therapies most appropriate for you. Do not try to self-medicate with alcohol or recreational drugs, as these can increase depression and create additional problems.

Lifestyle changes can improve depression for some people. These include:

• Regular exercise
• Increased exposure to sunlight
• Stress management
• Counseling
• Improved sleep habits

Alternative therapies

Some people get good results from massage, acupuncture, or exercise. St. John’s Wort is widely used to treat depression. However, it interferes with some HIV medications.

Valerian or Melatonin may help improve your sleep. Supplements of vitamins B6 or B12 can help if you have a shortage.

Antidepressants

Some people with depression respond best to medication. Antidepressants can interact with ARVs. They must be used under the supervision of a health care provider who is familiar with your HIV treatment. Protease inhibitors have many interactions with antidepressants.

The most common antidepressants used are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, called SSRIs. They can cause loss of sexual desire and function, lack of appetite, headache, insomnia, fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhea, and restlessness or anxiety.

The tricyclics have more side effects than the SSRIs. They can also cause sedation, constipation, and erratic heart beat.

Some health care providers also use psychostimulants, the drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder.

A recent study showed that treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can reduce depression in some HIV patients.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Depression is a very common condition for people with HIV. Untreated depression can cause you to miss medication doses and lower your quality of life.

Depression is a “whole body” issue that can interfere with your physical health, thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Credits: 
http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/558                                                             

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