Anti-depressants anyone?

RogerRN43
RogerRN43 Member Posts: 185
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
After discussion with my H&N Nurse Practitioner today, we come to the conclusion that I am exhibiting signs of depression.
The chemo MD gives me a script for Effexor. I have an appointment with a social worker and eventually a psychosocial nurse.

Anyone took anti-depressants through treatment? Taking them now? Do you recommend it, or not?

I'm on the fence about starting the med. I know I have to make my own decisions, I was just wondering about others' experiences.

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Roger

    I was on a very light anti-depression med for a little while, can’t remember the name of it. Just sometimes the weight of things gets to you and the radiation and chemo drugs don’t help. If you feel you need them I would start on the lowers amount and see if that help, if they recommend 3 a day I would do half of that, that is just the way I am.

    Wishing you well my friend
    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi Roger

    I was on a very light anti-depression med for a little while, can’t remember the name of it. Just sometimes the weight of things gets to you and the radiation and chemo drugs don’t help. If you feel you need them I would start on the lowers amount and see if that help, if they recommend 3 a day I would do half of that, that is just the way I am.

    Wishing you well my friend
    Hondo

    Absolutely
    I was on antidepressants through radiation and my entire first year post treatment. Additionally I availed myself of two very good psychologists. The human mind averages 38 random thoughts per minute. The question of your own mortality just became the most paramount random thought in your head. Cancer weighs heavily on the human Psyche and as you will discover is a chronic disease. Anti depressants really do work and make day to day functioning possible. You have to treat the entire body and the mind has to come first. Control the mind, spirit, and only then can you will to put one foot in front of the other.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
    Anti-depressants
    Yes, I have been on lexapro. I struggled with severe anxiety and clinical depression for most of my life. Finally getting on lexapro on 2006 saved my life, and for the first time, I new what it was like to feel normal, finally. I have been off for about a year now. I just had a conversation with someone about depression yesterday. There are still people that tell you to 'just snap out of it.' Or they believe you can control your depression and or anxiety. Drives me nuts. Sometimes meds are needed.

    If your doctor decides you need meds, I think people should take them. It saddens me that there can still be a stigma about this stuff.
  • gibkoch
    gibkoch Member Posts: 19
    #5
    My experience ...
    In my normal life, I'm a cup half full person. During treatment however it got to a point where I dreaded the stairs up to the Oncologist for daily hydration and amiphostine shot and a couple others I thankfully have forgotten. Many times I wanted to simply turn around and not go up. (In fact, a couple times I *did* skip.) I was in an emotional spot I've never been before.

    Now as an aside, during my treatment I vowed to listen, *really* listen, to my wife as I felt I wasn't in total control due to all that was associated with treatment. So when both she and the Dr recommended anti-depressants, I simply nodded my head and went with it. I can't tell you that it made a huge difference but I will tell you that I didn't get any lower emotionally than that point. Soon after treatment I was able to wean myself of these.

    I am truly with you in thought and prayer as you continue on your journey. God Bless You.
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #6
    Yes
    I take Citalopram it is not real strong. One day out of the blue my oncologist gave me a prescription for it and my wife thanked him. I never thought i needed it.
  • ac
    ac Member Posts: 88 Member
    #7
    Clinical depression
    Hi Roger,

    I think one of the problems for deciding whether to get on anti-depression meds is to know whether or not one is clinically depressed in the first place, bearing in mind that men and women, and even different people may exhibit different symptoms.

    When I first knew about my cancer diagnosis, I did feel very alone and rather depressed. I didn't take any meds but visited my parish priest and submitted prayer petitions at a nunnery/monastery. I did feel better once I knew what my treatment plan was though. Did you try any alternative avenues to seek comfort before thinking about the meds?

    I see that you have yet to talk to a social worker and psychosocial nurse. Given that they would be the experts in this field, I would wait and see what they say about your depression before taking the meds (like getting a second opinion) if you are going to see them soon. If you feel like you need the meds before seeing them, then by all means take them to feel better. I think it's fine to feel down once in a while given what we are going through but the greatest concern is if it (the down part) happens for an extended period.

    All the best and good luck, my friend.
  • neilswife
    neilswife Member Posts: 27
    #8
    ac said:

    Clinical depression
    Hi Roger,

    I think one of the problems for deciding whether to get on anti-depression meds is to know whether or not one is clinically depressed in the first place, bearing in mind that men and women, and even different people may exhibit different symptoms.

    When I first knew about my cancer diagnosis, I did feel very alone and rather depressed. I didn't take any meds but visited my parish priest and submitted prayer petitions at a nunnery/monastery. I did feel better once I knew what my treatment plan was though. Did you try any alternative avenues to seek comfort before thinking about the meds?

    I see that you have yet to talk to a social worker and psychosocial nurse. Given that they would be the experts in this field, I would wait and see what they say about your depression before taking the meds (like getting a second opinion) if you are going to see them soon. If you feel like you need the meds before seeing them, then by all means take them to feel better. I think it's fine to feel down once in a while given what we are going through but the greatest concern is if it (the down part) happens for an extended period.

    All the best and good luck, my friend.

    do it
    i completely agree with ratface. (that's a sentence i thought i'd never say.) :)

    do whatever you have to do to care of yourself during this time. depression is the last thing you need right now & can be alleviated for the most part.

    good luck! btw, yes, my husband is on celexa.
    tammy
  • Tanager75
    Tanager75 Member Posts: 89 Member
    #9
    Medication
    I would talk to the Social Worker and get their read on the situation. Cancer seems to create a sense of demoralization for some people but they are still able to experience enjoyment. Depression seems to take enjoyment, energy and leave a person in a bad place. And as write this it may not be the cancer so much as the treatment that seems to cause the chemical imbalance in the brain. The meds do have side effects. Some of the meds increase energy and concentration for people. It seems to be hit and miss until the right mediation is found. Meds have helped me.

    Peace,

    mark
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #10
    Non-cancer experience (caregiver)
    We all know how much I love drugs, but I resist taking them, myself. . .

    My doctor strongly suggested I try Zoloft about 6 weeks ago, as I was experiencing severe anxiety attacks in recent months. I'd been chalking it up to PTSD and then to menopause, but it was not going away with non-medicinal approaches (exercise, better diet, yoga, meditation, etc.).

    Side effects can be tough, but most fade. Withdrawal is tough, when/if you stop, but it typically last a few weeks and is over. Effexor has a shorter half-life than the other SSRI/SNRI drugs, so it is very important to take it at the same time every day and not skip a dose, or you'll start experiencing withdrawal.

    My experience (I fought taking the drug, but had to admit that the chemical imbalance in my brain was not going to fix itself - I ranged between being mildly anxious at best to "get me out of this freaking nightmare") was pretty good. I responded to the smallest dose withing a few days, and my doctor decided to keep it there. We've agreed that I'll try going off it in about 9 months (summer time) and see - sometimes you just need to get over the hump.

    Topics of discussion for your doctor - what happens if you can't take the pills (can't swallow or are barfing to much) and what plans should you make for changing the dosage if you lose a lot of weight?

    Good luck!
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #11
    Antidepressants
    There is nothing wrong with taking an antidepressant. If this medication will help you through this difficult time, go for it. I had severe depression after having my son and went on an antidepressant. It made all the difference. I was able to start enjoying life and my son again. Karen
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #12
    ac said:

    Clinical depression
    Hi Roger,

    I think one of the problems for deciding whether to get on anti-depression meds is to know whether or not one is clinically depressed in the first place, bearing in mind that men and women, and even different people may exhibit different symptoms.

    When I first knew about my cancer diagnosis, I did feel very alone and rather depressed. I didn't take any meds but visited my parish priest and submitted prayer petitions at a nunnery/monastery. I did feel better once I knew what my treatment plan was though. Did you try any alternative avenues to seek comfort before thinking about the meds?

    I see that you have yet to talk to a social worker and psychosocial nurse. Given that they would be the experts in this field, I would wait and see what they say about your depression before taking the meds (like getting a second opinion) if you are going to see them soon. If you feel like you need the meds before seeing them, then by all means take them to feel better. I think it's fine to feel down once in a while given what we are going through but the greatest concern is if it (the down part) happens for an extended period.

    All the best and good luck, my friend.

    Some excellent advice
    ...some not so excellent, in my opinion. What ac says is right on point...there IS a difference between clinical depression and 'simply' being bummed out about cancer. And what another respondent says about sometimes just needing 'to get over the hump' can also be true.

    I think most important, if you trust the people giving you this professional advice, you should take their advice. If they subscribe a certain dosage, do not take it upon yourself to alter the dosage. Going one way with it may cause an overdose; going the other way may make it ineffective. Let your doctors help with deciding the right drugs and doses for you. To paraphrase, a man who has himself for a doctor has a fool for a patient.

    Also consider therapy in conjunction with the medications, as it is often very helpful to simply have someone to talk to who is not sitting in judgement.

    Good luck, and know, from these responses and from thousands of others who can attest the same, the diagnosis alone can trigger depression, to say nothing of the treatment.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #13
    soccerfreaks said:

    Some excellent advice
    ...some not so excellent, in my opinion. What ac says is right on point...there IS a difference between clinical depression and 'simply' being bummed out about cancer. And what another respondent says about sometimes just needing 'to get over the hump' can also be true.

    I think most important, if you trust the people giving you this professional advice, you should take their advice. If they subscribe a certain dosage, do not take it upon yourself to alter the dosage. Going one way with it may cause an overdose; going the other way may make it ineffective. Let your doctors help with deciding the right drugs and doses for you. To paraphrase, a man who has himself for a doctor has a fool for a patient.

    Also consider therapy in conjunction with the medications, as it is often very helpful to simply have someone to talk to who is not sitting in judgement.

    Good luck, and know, from these responses and from thousands of others who can attest the same, the diagnosis alone can trigger depression, to say nothing of the treatment.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Exactly.
    That is why I am always careful to note that I have suffered from clinical depression and diagnosed with anxiety disorder too. The term "depressed" can be overused and misused.

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