Hello. I'm Dr. Christensen.
I'm sorry your boyfriend is having problems. You may already know that Avonex and other interferon preparations frequently cause psychiatric side effects, including depression, suicidal ideation, irritability and paranoia. Unfortunately, it's sometimes difficult to distinguish the Avonex-caused issues from psychiatric disorders that were already present. The fact that your boyfriend gets worse shortly after his Avonex injection raises suspicions about the medication, though.

Although you can point out to your boyfriend that his medications could be contributing to his unhappiness, it sounds like there might be other issues to sort through here. If your boyfriend is willing to see one, I'd suggest a couples' counselor, a clinical psychologist or even a psychiatrist. Your boyfriend's doctor (the one who prescribes the Avonex) should also be made aware of what's going on, because it's also possible that your boyfriend's underlying medical disorder (I presume he has MS) is contributing to his symptoms. This, too, needs to be explored.

I hope that answers your question. I'll be available if you have additional concerns, but your boyfriend's unhappiness could signal an impending crisis. The sooner he sees his own doctor(s), the better.
Good luck!

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Not taking the Lexapro every day could contribute to your boyfriend's depression. While Lexapro has a fairly long half life -- meaning it takes a while for his body to eliminate it -- skipping a dose could cause his blood levels to drop, which could, in turn, make him more susceptible to the depression triggered by the Avonex. He should make every effort to take his medication on schedule. Perhaps a pill reminder would help. He should put it in a place where he's sure to see it every day (say, right next to his shaving cream, toothpaste, or coffee pot).

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Certainly. Anyone who is depressed, angry, excited or in any other exaggerated mood can say things that aren't true -- and in many cases believe them. It's also common to blow things out of proportion when we're emotional. Again, these are issues that would best be addressed by someone who can see you and your boyfriend face-to-face.

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