Anti-depressants

mwallace1325
mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
in Breast Cancer #1
I finally gave in and went to my doc about stress etc. He's going to prescribe and SSRI and I remember seeing here that some were better with our hormone drugs than others. I'm taking anastrozole (arimidex) and wondering if anyone has any insight. I'm thinking lexapro was good and he's prescribing wellbutrin as well. My therapist called it the "skinny, sexy, happy pill" combo. Here's hopin it works.

Thanks for any insight you can give me.

marge

Comments

  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #2
    Sorry Marge.....
    No insight for you but I remember reading posts about this very thing. I'm sure someone can help you.

    I just wanted to say I hope the combo works for you and you find some relief.

    Big Hugs,
    Wanda
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #3
    Meds.
    Marge,
    I'm on a very similar cocktail. I take Celexa and Wellbutrin. Lexapro is a a newer version of clexa. It works well for me. My onc said it makes the hot flashes a little less intense. I don't know about what you are taking.

    Janie
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #4
    Hi Marge,
    My cocktail is
    Hi Marge,
    My cocktail is zoloft and wellbutrin (just added the wellbutrin last week), and xanax if the anxiety gets too bad. So far im not seeing too much of a difference, but my dr started me on the lowest dose of wellbutrin & i go back in 3 weeks to follow up.
    *hugs*
    heather
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #5
    I take Zoloft with Abilify.
    I take Zoloft with Abilify. The Abilify isn't an anti depressant but it amplifies the Zoloft's effectiveness. They really work for me.
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #6
    lynn1950 said:

    I take Zoloft with Abilify.
    I take Zoloft with Abilify. The Abilify isn't an anti depressant but it amplifies the Zoloft's effectiveness. They really work for me.

    anti-depressants
    I was on zoloft and wellbutrin ... UNTIL ... I started taking tamoxifen. Those 2 anti-depressants don't "go" with tamoxifen ... so my oncologist switched me to effexor ... and I'm doing fine.

    hugs.
    teena
  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 Member Posts: 242
    #7
    I take arimidex as well.
    I take arimidex as well. I'm on paxil and it works really well. I can really tell the difference if I skip 3 to 4 pills. Been on paxil for sometime now so trying to wean a bit, I'm beginning to take it every other day instead of everyday.

    Sparkle
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #8
    sparkle1 said:

    I take arimidex as well.
    I take arimidex as well. I'm on paxil and it works really well. I can really tell the difference if I skip 3 to 4 pills. Been on paxil for sometime now so trying to wean a bit, I'm beginning to take it every other day instead of everyday.

    Sparkle

    Thank you all
    Thank you all for your help. I started xanax yesterday, the others will follow and thought I was feeling really weird, then realized it's been a really long time since I felt relaxed and I think that's what that was.

    marge.
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #9
    I take an anti-depressant
    I take an anti-depressant and wellbutrin. They have worked for me for many years now, and I hope the same is true for you. If the first combination you get doesn't work, don't give up. There are many anti-depressants out there.
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #10
    poplolly said:

    I take an anti-depressant
    I take an anti-depressant and wellbutrin. They have worked for me for many years now, and I hope the same is true for you. If the first combination you get doesn't work, don't give up. There are many anti-depressants out there.

    I take Paxil
    and have for years. I don;t know how anyone gets through this cancer journey without medication; even with meds I have still trouble at times. I also take Xanax when anxiety becomes too much for me.

    Laura
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #11
    I do take lexapro and I find
    I do take lexapro and I find it really helps me to stay steady--much less reactive and anxious. I am on a really low dose (5 mg) which is not therapeutic or recommended for most, but I am super sensitive to meds and that works for me :-)
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #12
    dbhadra said:

    I take Paxil
    and have for years. I don;t know how anyone gets through this cancer journey without medication; even with meds I have still trouble at times. I also take Xanax when anxiety becomes too much for me.

    Laura

    FYI, Paxil may not be the
    FYI, Paxil may not be the best choice if you are on tamoxifen. See:

    Paxil-Tamoxifen May Be Risky Combo
  • helen e
    helen e Member Posts: 223
    #13
    tgf said:

    anti-depressants
    I was on zoloft and wellbutrin ... UNTIL ... I started taking tamoxifen. Those 2 anti-depressants don't "go" with tamoxifen ... so my oncologist switched me to effexor ... and I'm doing fine.

    hugs.
    teena

    Me too
    I was on wellbutrin and zoloft but my oncologist also said that they doesn't react well with tamoxifen so he switched me to effexor. I have to say that it has helped my hot flashes tremendously.
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #14
    CypressCynthia said:

    I do take lexapro and I find
    I do take lexapro and I find it really helps me to stay steady--much less reactive and anxious. I am on a really low dose (5 mg) which is not therapeutic or recommended for most, but I am super sensitive to meds and that works for me :-)

    I took zoloft
    I took zoloft years ago and went from 148 lbs to 162 in eight weeks. Nothing else had changed but the zoloft. Of course my doc then didn't believe that was the reason for the weight gain.

    Anyway, my current doc gave me xanax which is working if I take 1/2 tablet in the morning, so I think I may skip the SSRI for now.

    Marge
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #15
    mwallace1325 said:

    I took zoloft
    I took zoloft years ago and went from 148 lbs to 162 in eight weeks. Nothing else had changed but the zoloft. Of course my doc then didn't believe that was the reason for the weight gain.

    Anyway, my current doc gave me xanax which is working if I take 1/2 tablet in the morning, so I think I may skip the SSRI for now.

    Marge

    Marge
    I too am on Anastozole (Arimidex). I took Welbutrin for 10+ years and I'm not sure whether it contributed to my weight gain or not. I gained 80 lbs during menopause but I also quit smoking. I tried several antidepressants to help with my hot flashes but they all made me feel worse so I don't take anything now.
    Char
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #16
    cahjah75 said:

    Marge
    I too am on Anastozole (Arimidex). I took Welbutrin for 10+ years and I'm not sure whether it contributed to my weight gain or not. I gained 80 lbs during menopause but I also quit smoking. I tried several antidepressants to help with my hot flashes but they all made me feel worse so I don't take anything now.
    Char

    Char
    I've decided that since I know what all my issues are right now and since the xanax helps, I'm going to avoid the SSRI's for now. I've recently lost 17 pounds and I'm pretty sure gaining it back won't make me feel any better. Thanks for your thoughts.

    marge
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #17
    CypressCynthia said:

    FYI, Paxil may not be the
    FYI, Paxil may not be the best choice if you are on tamoxifen. See:

    Paxil-Tamoxifen May Be Risky Combo

    Thanks for the link
    Thanks for the link Cynthia!

    Lex
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #18
    mwallace1325 said:

    Char
    I've decided that since I know what all my issues are right now and since the xanax helps, I'm going to avoid the SSRI's for now. I've recently lost 17 pounds and I'm pretty sure gaining it back won't make me feel any better. Thanks for your thoughts.

    marge

    Hi Marge-
    Glad to hear that
    Hi Marge-
    Glad to hear that you're finding what works for you. Since adding my wellbutrin to my daily meds ritual, i really started noticing yesterday that - I feel "normal" again! I was cleaning my back yard while the kids played, keeping my patience when the older one was sassy & the younger one was whiny - it was a great realization for me. Just goes to show that there are so many treatment options out there for all of us & it may take time but along with our doctors it's worth looking into and finding what works best for each of us individually.
    *hugs*
    heather

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