Well, the 1960s & 1970s…..
I would have to be dead now to have had more fun then. We drew the line at needles, but that was the only line.
1974- 21, single, riding a black Harley Sportster and co owning the hottest bar in our state’s capital….so I know a little about euphoria and various other mental states.
So, I am looking at my 84th pill. In a moment, it will be off to fight, well, nothing.
I began feeling physically different 10 or 12 days in: more energy mainly. That has continued. I simply feel good most of the time, especially after my normal 6-7 hours of sleep. Speaking of which, along week two, the great night’s sleep started to occur.
No euphoria for me. I know euphoria (see above)
I am type A all the way. It almost drove me crazy knowing my liver was being damaged by a disease for which there was an effective cure. That situation depressed the consumate optimist. If I can see ANY water in the glass, its half full. Now, knowing I am getting better instead of worse has lifted that funk. That and lexapro. So thats my next goal: wean myself off the “I don’t care” pills. Then I can better say how I really feel.
I still feel antsy at times and generally have a chemical taste in my mouth when that happens. Usually early-right after I get out if bed. Probably dehydration, but who knows…
So tomorrow I will begin to see how it feels to be free of HCV and not taking powerful DAAs.
I don’t know how I am supposed to feel really. The regular old me was sick all the time…so this will be an adventure!!
I built a wooden dory and rowed it down the River of No Return made a liar out of its name.
This will be better!!
Mike

Personally, from my own experience ( How I felt) I think the feeling of euphoria is
simply you reacting to starting treatment I don’t think its the drugs per se.

I mean,you’ve waited years you feared you may die, its only natural you’ll release all types of
endorphin’s leaving you slightly elated in my case it all settled down quickly.

No doubt I feel better then when I started.

Note; I know Riba is completely different I know it has some serious side effects,I’m talking about sob/dac/led.

Thanks Sir, I agree with your summary of Sof/Dac.

Regarding Riba, I’ve been trying to post here since dt brought it up but couldn’t find the words previously, so here goes:

This is my second round with Riba and i find it easier than when combined with Peg. But I should caution here that my response to Riba is pretty good without some of the serious sides like extreme rage and anaemia that others experience and this was one of the things that my specialist and I discussed when deciding to incorporate it in my treatment this time round. I mostly get insomnia and tears with a little tiredness from it. But I did start out with Sof/dac for two and a half weeks while waiting for the Riba to arrive so know how much easier things are without it.

My caution to anyone taking Riba is to ensure your bloods are monitored regularly, watch for any rashes or other unusual physical symptoms and most importantly be alert for any strong emotional reactions to anything. If you feel those coming on stop!, disengage!, take time out!, remind yourself you are on Riba! It also helps to have someone understanding to vent to (not at) and many of us here have prior experience of it and I am sure will be happy to help so don’t risk personal relationships or careers by being afraid to talk about how you’re feeling.

PS I’m always available for a private chat if online.

For me Sir, I can’t say that felt euphoria however for the first 2 weeks of treatment at exactly 2 hours past ingesting the meds I would experience a kind of headiness and a dulling of senses and thought processes. more a depressive heaviness rather than a kind of speediness. cheers

Having only started Tx a week ago, the first few days I was very ‘hyper’ and this set in about an hour after taking my Magic Pills (Sof/Dac) and lasted several hours and I crashed hard in the late arvo and by evening I was struggling to get off the lounge. Therefore, I know that it wasn’t just me feeling ‘excited’ about Tx. The past few days I hit a ‘low’ and was experiencing an emotional roller coaster and felt depressed and weepy. i know this had more to do with my psychological reaction to starting Tx. Thinking about how I got this and the years since, losses I’ve had and thinking that feeling like crap was going to be my ‘normal’ state until I passed. I never thought I’d ever get to have a chance to be rid of this virus.
It is a lot to take in.

The day I finished treatment was the day I started the one month exodus from Lexapro. Talk about some mental mischief…..
Come on normal. Been a while.
M