Antidepressants and Breast Cancer

Lynn Smith · March 2011

My doctors wanted me to take antidepressants soon after I was diagnosed.My family doctor precribed something but after going on line I was not able to take that with Tamoxifin.So back to the drawing board and got another antidepressant.My problem is I can't bring myself to take it.Not because of the side effects but because of the fact they are habit forming and if you ever want to go off I MUST be weaned.

I know the complications of getting addicted with drinking caffeine pop for many years.I went off it cold turkey.THen started having heart problems.My heart pill I took for many many years was not working and looking back it was when I went off caffeine pop and started on caffeine free pop. I had to see my heart doctor then for tests.I don't ever want to go through that again.In fact I realized months later what caused my raising heart.

Isn't there something that isn't habit forming??? My doctors say nothing else would work.

Lynn Smith

Katmy · March 2011

Lynn,
My doctor has
Lynn,
My doctor has recommended Paxil to me. I did start it 2 days ago. I am very aware of habit forming medicines also. It is always a debate whether I should take something or not. I told my Oncologist and Nurse Prac. that I do not like addictions. They assured me I would be able to wean off when the major stress of Chemo was done. I would love to say that I one of the ones with tolerable side effects, but I am not. Maybe Paxil will even out the lows a bit. It takes a month to work! You hate to become cancer free only to become a drug addict.

I would love some of these experienced ladies' advice about this same subject.

Rague · March 2011

I've never taken any
I've never taken any anti-depressants (nor did any of my Drs suggest any when I was DX'd) but I do have problems with SAD here . I take double doses of Vit D (and use my lightbox daily) and it derinately helps so you might want to ask about your D levles and adding it.

Susan

Lynn Smith · March 2011

Rague said:
I've never taken any
I've never taken any anti-depressants (nor did any of my Drs suggest any when I was DX'd) but I do have problems with SAD here . I take double doses of Vit D (and use my lightbox daily) and it derinately helps so you might want to ask about your D levles and adding it.

Susan

Double check
I forget the one I was prescribed at first and then the next one.I will have to get my generic names and see what they are.I can't pronounce or spell them.Seems like the one I shouldn't take was PAXIL.

I will do some research on what mine are.Both still sitting in my cupboard.

Lynn Smith

Lynn Smith · March 2011

Lynn Smith said:
Double check
I forget the one I was prescribed at first and then the next one.I will have to get my generic names and see what they are.I can't pronounce or spell them.Seems like the one I shouldn't take was PAXIL.

I will do some research on what mine are.Both still sitting in my cupboard.

Lynn Smith

Got'em
Paxil was the first one prescribed. What I thought.I believe when taking tamoxifin I shouldn't take this one.I remember reading on it before taking it and that is what it said.Then went to my oncologist(she agreed)and told me to talk to my family doctor about changing it.

The new one is effexor.Still haven't taken that one and been over a year.Trash now.

Katmy · March 2011

Lynn Smith said:
Got'em
Paxil was the first one prescribed. What I thought.I believe when taking tamoxifin I shouldn't take this one.I remember reading on it before taking it and that is what it said.Then went to my oncologist(she agreed)and told me to talk to my family doctor about changing it.

The new one is effexor.Still haven't taken that one and been over a year.Trash now.

Lynn,
My Oncologist
Lynn,
My Oncologist prescribed me Paxil. Maybe I'd better do some research. Did you ever take the Paxil?

Lynn Smith · March 2011

Katmy said:
Lynn,
My Oncologist
Lynn,
My Oncologist prescribed me Paxil. Maybe I'd better do some research. Did you ever take the Paxil?

Difference
Never took it BUT maybe you are prescribed it since you aren't on Tamoxifin yet.I bet that is why.

You know how so many people are they check things.Well I am the worst one.I have a friend the same way.She had breast cancer 16 years ago

I think your doctor prescribed it since you aren't taking tamoxifin yet.I may have read wrong but pretty sure why I was told I can't take it.

Please read up and let me know.I just got the names of the meds.Didn't check out side effects and what things not to take with PAXIL.

You were Probably told to take it so it takes off the edge of chemo.

Lynn Smith

Katmy · March 2011

Lynn Smith said:
Difference
Never took it BUT maybe you are prescribed it since you aren't on Tamoxifin yet.I bet that is why.

You know how so many people are they check things.Well I am the worst one.I have a friend the same way.She had breast cancer 16 years ago

I think your doctor prescribed it since you aren't taking tamoxifin yet.I may have read wrong but pretty sure why I was told I can't take it.

Please read up and let me know.I just got the names of the meds.Didn't check out side effects and what things not to take with PAXIL.

You were Probably told to take it so it takes off the edge of chemo.

Lynn Smith

That is what my Oncologist
That is what my Oncologist told me. I have never used anti-depreasants before. Hope it works and then I will quit as soon as possible.

Hope you find something that works for you: medicines, meditation, whatever. Life is a puzzle.

Thanks for the info. I will let you know what I find out and what my Oncologist says. I see her Thursday for round 2.

ladyg · March 2011

Lynn
I am taking Citalopram. My primary dr. prescribed it for me about a month after I finished rads. There were other factors besides my cancer causing me to need it. I started with Lexapro but my insurance wouldn't cover it. According to what I was told it is not that difficult to stop taking the Citalopram. My daughter told me not to even try Effexor. She was taking that and had a really hard time getting off of it. She had bad withdrawls as well. I have always been a very high strung person and a real worrier. The medication does help and I feel so much better.

Hugs,
Georgia

tufi000 · March 2011

Here's what I did
Onc prescribed a tiny 25 mg daily dose of zoloft. It was just enough to keep away the black holes and he said I could stop whenever I wanted to since it was such a small dosage. I did stop eventually with only a couple of weeks of very minor side affects like weird dreams and stuff.

Reikigemgirl · March 2011

I take Lexapro.....
and it has helped a lot with my depression. I am on aremidix for the next 5 years and my onc. said I can take Lexapro with it.

Love and Light,
Vicki

CypressCynthia · March 2011

Tamoxifen and Antidepressants
Antidepressants are not addicting in the way that tobacco, heroin, caffeine, etc. are. That is not to say that you can not become addicted to them, but most people do not take them to get high or a buzz. I was treated with effexor for depression when I hit menopause many years ago. When I felt better, I weaned myself off without any problem.

Since I was diagnosed with metastasis in 2009, I decided to take an antidepressant again as I was feeling very overwhelmed. I am currently on lexapro and it has helped me enormously.

There are antidepressants that are considered safe to take with tamoxifen: effexor, pristiq, remeron, celexa and lexapro are some of the safer choices.

See the article from Harvard Health below for more info:
Antidepressants and Tamoxifen

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2010/June/antidepressants-and-tamoxifen

CypressCynthia · March 2011

Katmy said:
Lynn,
My doctor has
Lynn,
My doctor has recommended Paxil to me. I did start it 2 days ago. I am very aware of habit forming medicines also. It is always a debate whether I should take something or not. I told my Oncologist and Nurse Prac. that I do not like addictions. They assured me I would be able to wean off when the major stress of Chemo was done. I would love to say that I one of the ones with tolerable side effects, but I am not. Maybe Paxil will even out the lows a bit. It takes a month to work! You hate to become cancer free only to become a drug addict.

I would love some of these experienced ladies' advice about this same subject.

Katmy, see the link in my
Katmy, see the link in my post below. Paxil is best avoided with tamoxifen, if possible.

Katmy · March 2011

CypressCynthia said:
Tamoxifen and Antidepressants
Antidepressants are not addicting in the way that tobacco, heroin, caffeine, etc. are. That is not to say that you can not become addicted to them, but most people do not take them to get high or a buzz. I was treated with effexor for depression when I hit menopause many years ago. When I felt better, I weaned myself off without any problem.

Since I was diagnosed with metastasis in 2009, I decided to take an antidepressant again as I was feeling very overwhelmed. I am currently on lexapro and it has helped me enormously.

There are antidepressants that are considered safe to take with tamoxifen: effexor, pristiq, remeron, celexa and lexapro are some of the safer choices.

See the article from Harvard Health below for more info:
Antidepressants and Tamoxifen

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2010/June/antidepressants-and-tamoxifen

Thank you, CypressCynthia.

Thank you, CypressCynthia.

carkris · March 2011

Katmy said:
Thank you, CypressCynthia.

Thank you, CypressCynthia.

I take 5 mg of lexapro. it
I take 5 mg of lexapro. it has made such an important difference, that I dont care if I ever come off it. It really helps me to think logically and use my brain to sort out things. Things that I am worried or stressed about. I have heard that if youare less depressed and anxious it helps your immunity, so it was another reason for me to take it.

Lynn Smith · March 2011

carkris said:
I take 5 mg of lexapro. it
I take 5 mg of lexapro. it has made such an important difference, that I dont care if I ever come off it. It really helps me to think logically and use my brain to sort out things. Things that I am worried or stressed about. I have heard that if youare less depressed and anxious it helps your immunity, so it was another reason for me to take it.

Wean key word
My doctor said be sure when I wanted to go off of the effexor let her know.I must be weaned off.Like every other day for so long every 2 days etc.She stressed that. Said that was so important.

I wonder if there is any antidepressant that isn't habit forming where if you want quit takiing it you can.Probably NOT!!!!

I was prescribed ativan years ago.WOW it did take the edge off.My first pill I thought I was in another body.So relaxing.I was never told I must be weaned but some doctors fail to communicate.Just give pills and you go from there.Again I didn't take many and just quit. I think it said not habit forming but not so sure about that.I feel ALL antidepressants are habit forming.

CypressCynthia · March 2011

Lynn Smith said:
Wean key word
My doctor said be sure when I wanted to go off of the effexor let her know.I must be weaned off.Like every other day for so long every 2 days etc.She stressed that. Said that was so important.

I wonder if there is any antidepressant that isn't habit forming where if you want quit takiing it you can.Probably NOT!!!!

I was prescribed ativan years ago.WOW it did take the edge off.My first pill I thought I was in another body.So relaxing.I was never told I must be weaned but some doctors fail to communicate.Just give pills and you go from there.Again I didn't take many and just quit. I think it said not habit forming but not so sure about that.I feel ALL antidepressants are habit forming.

Ativan is not an
Ativan is not an antidepressant; it is a benzodiazepine and an antianxiety medication and can indeed be very addictive. Any substance can be habit forming, but antidepressants are condsidered much less so than other classes of drugs. Remember also, untreated depression can have many consequences to your health. Best to talk this over with a health care provider with whom you really trust and can communicate well.

survivorbc09 · March 2011

ladyg said:
Lynn
I am taking Citalopram. My primary dr. prescribed it for me about a month after I finished rads. There were other factors besides my cancer causing me to need it. I started with Lexapro but my insurance wouldn't cover it. According to what I was told it is not that difficult to stop taking the Citalopram. My daughter told me not to even try Effexor. She was taking that and had a really hard time getting off of it. She had bad withdrawls as well. I have always been a very high strung person and a real worrier. The medication does help and I feel so much better.

Hugs,
Georgia

There are certain
There are certain antidepressants that should not be taken if you are on tamoxifen. But, there are others that are considered safe. I've never been on antidepressants, so, I can't offer any advice inre to them.

I do wish you the best of luck.

Hugs, Jan

csr771 · March 2011

Citalopram to help with Blood Pressure
My PCP prescribed citalopram. For some reason being diagnosed with breast cancer caused my blood pressure to start spiking. The citalopram and lisinopril caused me to level out somewhat. Didn't want to have a stroke on the way to my mastectomy. I had surgery in January and have stopped taking the citaloopram. I even have some tablets left from my last prescription.

tgf · March 2011

csr771 said:
Citalopram to help with Blood Pressure
My PCP prescribed citalopram. For some reason being diagnosed with breast cancer caused my blood pressure to start spiking. The citalopram and lisinopril caused me to level out somewhat. Didn't want to have a stroke on the way to my mastectomy. I had surgery in January and have stopped taking the citaloopram. I even have some tablets left from my last prescription.

Do not be afraid
I have been on anti-depressants for many, many years ... long before I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I'd been taking zoloft and wellbutrin ... but when it was determined I'd need tamoxifen I had to stop both of those and switch to effexor. I know someone said their daughter had a hard time with it ... but we are all different. Effexor works for me.

Do not be afraid of becoming addicted to the drugs ... you just have to be careful ... and keep your doctor informed about various mood changes becausw what works for one person may not be the right one for you. There are several drugs ... and many different dosages... its all very individual.

And ... do NOT try to self-medicate ... change your dosage or quit taking the drugs ... without talking to your doctor.

Good luck ... and don't be afraid ...

hugs.
teena

laughs_a_lot · March 2011

antidepressants
Try to remember that we are fighting a formidable foe. Using an antidepressant to keep us as mentally prepared as possible to fight this disease is nothing to be ashamed of. Even if we did end up with an addiction, that problem could be solved with the help of your doctor.

I have taken an antidepressant for several years prior to my bc diagnosis. It has helped me to continue functioning and caring for my family members. I will always have to take this as it is a feature of my family history of mental health problems. However, I have gained so much benefit from this that I would never want to live my life without an antidepressan. I can remember how my life was prior to taking it. Even though I felt I was a happy person (and I did feel happy on the inside), my outer appearance had sad plastered all over it. Once on the antidepressant I found a lot less negative self talk and an abilty to follow through with so many things that were difficult before. Being able to put things in a more positive light on a daily basis has improved my quality of life and allows that happy feeling I had on the inside to be evident to others. That happy me was fighting to get out and display itself for years.

Antidepressants and Breast Cancer

Comments

Discussion Boards