Tamoxifen and Antidepressants

DebbyM
DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
edited September 2012 in Breast Cancer #1
There are certain antidepressants that are not supposed to be taken with tamoxifen. Here is a list of what they are if you are interested. Paxil, Prozac and Wellbutrin are the ones to avoid if you are on tamoxifen. Always talk to your doctor if you have questions or are on tamox and any of those 3.

Choosing among antidepressants

Antidepressants vary in their ability to inhibit CYP2D6 (the enzyme that converts tamoxifen into its active form, endoxifen).

Drug


Effect on CYP2D6


Advice

venlafaxine (Effexor)


Minimal


Safest choice if taken with tamoxifen.

desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), mirtazapine (Remeron)


Direct studies with tamoxifen are lacking, but effect on endoxifen levels should be minimal.

citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), nefazodone (Serzone)


Mild


Secondary choices if above are not options.

Only citalopram and sertraline have been studied directly with tamoxifen, so risk of reducing levels of endoxifen should be weighed against benefits of antidepressants.

duloxetine (Cymbalta), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox)


Moderate

paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin)


Strong


Best to avoid if taking tamoxifen.

Comments

  • Pinky68
    Pinky68 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #2
    Viibryd
    This is a new SSRI, or SSNI. I think its spelled "Viibryd". We couldn't find any info with regards to Tamoxifen.Just curious if you know anything about it.
    Thanks for the info! very informative
    Hugs
    Joyce
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #3
    Pinky68 said:

    Viibryd
    This is a new SSRI, or SSNI. I think its spelled "Viibryd". We couldn't find any info with regards to Tamoxifen.Just curious if you know anything about it.
    Thanks for the info! very informative
    Hugs
    Joyce

    No, I don't know anything
    No, I don't know anything about Viibryd Joyce. Where did you hear about that? I also remember from another post about not taking paxil, prozac or wellbutrin with tamox, and if you do, it can increase your chance of a recurrence.
  • peanutcat
    peanutcat Member Posts: 104
    #4
    viibryd
    what is viibryd? Is it an antidepressant? I take Tomoxifen
  • peanutcat
    peanutcat Member Posts: 104
    #5
    viibryd
    what is viibryd? Is it an antidepressant? I take Tomoxifen
  • Pinky68
    Pinky68 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #6
    DebbyM said:

    No, I don't know anything
    No, I don't know anything about Viibryd Joyce. Where did you hear about that? I also remember from another post about not taking paxil, prozac or wellbutrin with tamox, and if you do, it can increase your chance of a recurrence.

    New anti-depressant approved by FDA
    My doctor who prescribes my anti-depressants said she's been having good luck with this new SSRI. She couldn't find any info in regards to taking Tamoxifen with it though. Probably because its so new on the market..My onco didn't think there have been any studies yet on taking it with Tamoxifen

    As it turns out, I'm going to stay on the anti-depressants I'm taking now and have my ovaries removed...I won't have to switch antidepressants since Arimadex can be taken with the meds I'm currently on. I was just curious if anyone had heard anything about Viibryd because I didn't know it existed till a couple weeks ago.
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    peanutcat said:

    viibryd
    what is viibryd? Is it an antidepressant? I take Tomoxifen

    Viibryd is an antidepressant
    Viibryd is an antidepressant and one that is not recommended with tamoxifen according to a pharmacist online: "It blocks the metabolism of tamoxifen to its active metabolite, so it's not to be taken with tamoxifen." http://dailydose.essentiahealth.org/uploads/viibryd.pdf

    According to epocrates, viibryd is listed as a drug that interacts with tamoxifen and may require modifying or monitoring. I would avoid viibryd on tamoxifen unless you are unable to use a safer alternative (effexor, remeron, lexapro, etc).
  • Pinky68
    Pinky68 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #8
    CypressCynthia said:

    Viibryd is an antidepressant
    Viibryd is an antidepressant and one that is not recommended with tamoxifen according to a pharmacist online: "It blocks the metabolism of tamoxifen to its active metabolite, so it's not to be taken with tamoxifen." http://dailydose.essentiahealth.org/uploads/viibryd.pdf

    According to epocrates, viibryd is listed as a drug that interacts with tamoxifen and may require modifying or monitoring. I would avoid viibryd on tamoxifen unless you are unable to use a safer alternative (effexor, remeron, lexapro, etc).

    Good to know
    Thank-you!
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #9
    CypressCynthia said:

    Viibryd is an antidepressant
    Viibryd is an antidepressant and one that is not recommended with tamoxifen according to a pharmacist online: "It blocks the metabolism of tamoxifen to its active metabolite, so it's not to be taken with tamoxifen." http://dailydose.essentiahealth.org/uploads/viibryd.pdf

    According to epocrates, viibryd is listed as a drug that interacts with tamoxifen and may require modifying or monitoring. I would avoid viibryd on tamoxifen unless you are unable to use a safer alternative (effexor, remeron, lexapro, etc).

    Thanks Cynthia for making us
    Thanks Cynthia for making us aware of that!

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