Does Warfirin cause depression

Hi guys

Hope all is well.

I have been very depressed the last 3 weeks and this will be my 5th week after starting the Warfirin.

Did some of you experience depression the first few weeks after starting Warfarin?

Hi there Annemarie

Nice to hear from you again! I personally did not experience depression. I have not heard that Warfarin does cause this but I stand to be corrected. I do wonder though if it is not what you have been through that is causing your depression (and not the Warfarin). One can easily understand this - you have been through quite and ordeal. Added to this is the fact that you cannot ride at the moment and you have had to make a change in lifestyle. You then also had such a terrible reaction to Warfarin a while back. I have gone through a patch where I was very depressed but it was long after I started Warfarin and I feel that it is the whole DVT/PE thing and being worried about ones health. That is my take on it and as I've said I could be wrong. I do think though that it is best to go and see your doctor (or phone him at least) and hear what he says.

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling so down! I can fully understand it though and I really feel for you. I hope that you feel better soon...you are in my thoughts!

Hi Annemarie,

What you are going through is what many of us call the DVT rollercoaster,some days you are having ups and plateau and other days you have downs and crashes. I think that to souly blame warfarin is too easy, it's more a combination of everything that has happened to you since you have been diagnosed.
Gismo hit the nail right on the head, she could not be any righter then that. (is righter proper english?)
So many factors are adding up and creating such a headspace, yes physically you have been through HELL with this clot and then having to deal with not ridding (that one I know very well) and maybe not riding ever... Dealing with the side effects of warfarine, being tired because you don't sleep well at night, worrying about the future(what's next???) all of that does add up and yes, is a great recipe for a deppressive mood.
I was there, went through it and fought it hard, you have to remember, YOU ARE A SURVIVOR, many people have NOT made it as far as you have,
some of them are still in hospitals and others,rest their souls,have not made it through.
Talking to people that have not been through this does not help us, because they DO NOT understand how we are affected.
Do talk with your doctor and I hope that drugs is not the answer, you have a strong will and a will to survive, use it.

Hope this helps...
Denis

I have been fighting depression since the beginning of this wonderful rollercoaster ride. Docs wanted to give me a pill. Like always the doc thinks pill are the answer to everything. Although they do seem to help some times. I decided to go on a daily bike ride instead of taking an antidepression pill. Which has def help my mental state. You sounded like you were very active before this whole thing started. I have notice that my mood is down when I am not as active.

This isn't an easy thing to deal with mentally or physically. Like Denis said...remember you are a survivor and you've made it this far. Your strong and you can get thru this.

I am cheering for you!
Wendy

Hi Annemarie,

I haven't felt that Warfarin caused me depression, in and of itself, but like the others have said, it has definitely been an emotional roller coaster and I think I've been through them all! For me, I did have a pity party for myself a bit in the beginning, because I was alone through it (my husband away), and I felt alone, confused, shocked and scared. Then I went through the "I can't believe what could've happened to me" thinking. Since then, there was a little anxiety feeling a couple of times when I thought I felt chest pain. Like with Wendy, the Dr. also prescribed pills to alleviate that, but I thought no way... forget that... I can get over it by changing my perspective, which I did. (However, I know people who the pills have helped, so everyone don't get me wrong, I'm not poo-pooing them OR condoning them... just offering my humble perspective.) Like Wendy also mentioned, what helps me is to get outside... for me, to have a walk, or do something fun for myself. And of course this site helps me a lot. Sometimes I shake my head because I just spill my beans all over the place, but it helps me, so maybe it helps someone else to read that someone else is going through it.

In any event, it's only natural to feel it. The trick is not to stay in it. (Here's a quote from my manuscript--book coming out later this year: "Visit the valley, but don't set up camp there.") Sometimes we have to go through the entire "stages of grieving". (As titled by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, originally for dealing with grief and tragedy, however coaches and counsellors have longed used it for other purposes... i.e. we use it when teaching employment classes and people have just lost their jobs). Have you heard of those before? As a life coach/ facilitator, we talk about it a lot in various classes. It doesn't seem to matter what type of loss we're experiencing (in this case... use of our bodies as per normal for a time).... but it is amazing how often we go through these steps. Some perhaps very little... others might be quite extensive. The stages are (I've adapted a little):

Denial:
Example - "I feel fine."; "This can't be happening."

Anger:
Example - "Why me? It's not fair!"

Bargaining:
Example - "Just let me do what I used to do. I'll be good in every other area."

Depression:
Example - "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "What's the point?"; "I'm so fed up and miserable."

Acceptance:
Example - "It's going to be OK."; "I can fight this thing."


I find that looking at this helps to see how cycles work, and where we are in the scheme of things. So, as you can see here, and if this concept has any credibility, then you've gone through it all, and next is acceptance and coming out through the other side. !!!! After that, everything gets easier.

Hope this helps. I know words don't always help though when you're in the middle of it. But we can all understand and are here if you want to chat anytime. And, like Dero suggested you may want to talk with your Dr. about it. And maybe he/she can offer ideas also.

Take care. You CAN BEAT THIS!!!!!

Thanx everybody for all your wonderful advice during my pity party and depressed state.

Wendy I have read your story and wow...you are strong, and thanx for the advice. I feel much more positive now and decided to go to the stables every time I feel depression slips in....taking to my horse realy helps me through this and then the walks too...Sorry you and Dero can't talk to your bikes....hope you have pets though...they are wonderfull listeners and there is nothing than a horse farting and get the fright of his life or a playfull doggie that can lift one' s spirit.

Gismo thanx for your sympathetic ear and advice..I am starting to accept the situation now - not being easy but a breakthrough...Now I am only focusing on the positive.

Watching funny videos or jokes also helps for my depression (past) and I am going to start doing Yogha...got the video but still need to figure out the moves....

Brenda thanx for your positive reply...and YES I CAN BEAT THIS and SO CAN ALL OF US!!!

Like Dero said....we are indeed a special breed.

Blessings

Love
Annemarie

Annemarie, I'm so thrilled to hear that you are feeling better!! Yay!! We were all routing for you!

Such true words too - there is nothing more therapeutic than animals. They bring so much joy in our lives and as you say, the best listeners and ever so loyal and forgiving. I have a little Pekinese and a Pug and they are quite the little personalities!

Incidentally, my niece is busy with her Honors year in Psychology and she reckons that it is a proven fact that people with animals tend to be at the doctors less, are more healthy and are generally more uplifted than those who don't. She did a thesis on this, I found it very interesting.

Yoga sounds like a brilliant idea! Brenda and I are going to start the Jorge Cruise exercise plan starting Monday. Was saying to Johan I want to see our dog's faces when I'm sprawled out on the floor doing the exercises

How are you feeling physically? Are you doing okay with the Warfarin, no more allergic reactions?

Do take care of yourself and I'm thrilled to hear that you are feeling better!

Hi Annemarie!

Glad you're focusing on the positive!! WOOHOO!! Keep it going girl!!

And glad you've got your babies to cheer you up...animals are so cathartic/healing!

Yeah, the exercise I think will feel great. I'm still walking, even though some days it's just a few blocks and back. Yep, and Madeline and me are going to exercise (the same ones--same days) long distance together!

How is the rest of you feeling? How's your body been doing lately?

Hope you're having a super day!

Annemarie,
it's great to hear that you are back in command of your emotions,don't let them lead you into the chasm of despair.
We all give up the fights and at that point our emotions take over, that's when we shoull have a device that goes off "RED ALERT, SHIELDS UP"
OK, I'm getting silly, but I think Brenda understands what I'm saying...

What I'm really saying is "glad to have you back Annemarie".

Oh and BTW, I do talk to my bike but IT does not answer back Wendy does your stable answer back?

Yes I have a Beagle and she knows also... She is constantly sniffing that one calf of mine, she's a Beagle ( a nose with legs).

Brenda, those steps make so much sense, but they could become a whole forum to talk, explain, understand them...

hehe... I hear you Denis.

Sorry about the long notes...you're right... a whole forum in itself. Maybe it would be good to note here then, that if anyone wants to chat about this type of stuff in more detail, or has questions, feel free to email me at: brenda@brendablackburn.com .