anti depressants

kennyt
kennyt Member Posts: 110
in Colorectal Cancer #1

anybody use antidepressents to help take the edge off the st.4 dx if so whats best? I may need a little help

Comments

  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #2
    hi

    yes i used to take ativan back in 2008 when i thought i was cured in 2010 i weaned myself off of them then when i was dx stage 4 in 2011 with liver and lung mets i went to a different onc and i now am on xanax could not make it without the help of drugs.they really take the edge off for me and help me sleep at night.good luck...Godbless...johnnybegood

  • kennyt
    kennyt Member Posts: 110
    #3
    johnnybegood said:

    hi

    yes i used to take ativan back in 2008 when i thought i was cured in 2010 i weaned myself off of them then when i was dx stage 4 in 2011 with liver and lung mets i went to a different onc and i now am on xanax could not make it without the help of drugs.they really take the edge off for me and help me sleep at night.good luck...Godbless...johnnybegood

    xanax

    I have been taking some xanax .5mg do you mind me asking what dosage you take? thanks

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #4
    Antidepressants.

    You have to distinguish between depression and anxiety.

    If you have no motivation to do your every day tasks, hard to get out of bed, every little thing feels like a huge burden, you are emotional and feel like crying sometimes. You have depression and you need anti-depression medication.

    If you can do all your daily tasks, but constantly tense, nervous, worried, antsy, you have chronic anxiety and you need long term everyday anti-anxiety medication like Buspar.

    If your anxiety just hits you hard once in a while, you have acute anxiety or panic and you need medication only when you have the episode. Xanax, Ativan is good. Of course you have to discuss this with your doctor or better a psychiatrist. 

    I hope this makes sense and helps,

    Laz

  • kennyt
    kennyt Member Posts: 110
    #5
    lp1964 said:

    Antidepressants.

    You have to distinguish between depression and anxiety.

    If you have no motivation to do your every day tasks, hard to get out of bed, every little thing feels like a huge burden, you are emotional and feel like crying sometimes. You have depression and you need anti-depression medication.

    If you can do all your daily tasks, but constantly tense, nervous, worried, antsy, you have chronic anxiety and you need long term everyday anti-anxiety medication like Buspar.

    If your anxiety just hits you hard once in a while, you have acute anxiety or panic and you need medication only when you have the episode. Xanax, Ativan is good. Of course you have to discuss this with your doctor or better a psychiatrist. 

    I hope this makes sense and helps,

    Laz

    anxiety

    is what I would usually say but with this st 4 dx and the whole dying early thing has maybe got me a little depressed. I actually went out rock climbing with my friends and felt pretty good I feel physically good but this cancer thing is a mindf#%$

  • kennyt
    kennyt Member Posts: 110
    #6
    lp1964 said:

    Antidepressants.

    You have to distinguish between depression and anxiety.

    If you have no motivation to do your every day tasks, hard to get out of bed, every little thing feels like a huge burden, you are emotional and feel like crying sometimes. You have depression and you need anti-depression medication.

    If you can do all your daily tasks, but constantly tense, nervous, worried, antsy, you have chronic anxiety and you need long term everyday anti-anxiety medication like Buspar.

    If your anxiety just hits you hard once in a while, you have acute anxiety or panic and you need medication only when you have the episode. Xanax, Ativan is good. Of course you have to discuss this with your doctor or better a psychiatrist. 

    I hope this makes sense and helps,

    Laz

    anxiety

    is what I would usually say but with this st 4 dx and the whole dying early thing has maybe got me a little depressed. I actually went out rock climbing with my friends and felt pretty good I feel physically good but this cancer thing is a mindf#%$

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #7
    The beginning is really
    The beginning is really hard...but seriously I'm not sure how anyone with this diagnosis can not be depressed. After my husbands diagnosis last year I cried every single day...probably for 2 months...maybe 3. Slowly we started to live again and having a toddler in the house helped. He keeps us laughing ..and hopping! I keep holding out hope for a cure though I still get that anxious feeling every so often. Actually today at the mall I cant even remember what triggered it but I got really sad and anxious. I worry about raising the little guy alone.

    My husband tried ativan but said it gave him crazy dreams. He is very faithful and copes by keeping that faith close. He also stays very busy..working and volunteering. He just doesn't think about cancer unless he needs to...appts etc.
    Definitely worth talking to someone that can help you sort things out.

    Good luck.
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #8
    kennyt said:

    anxiety

    is what I would usually say but with this st 4 dx and the whole dying early thing has maybe got me a little depressed. I actually went out rock climbing with my friends and felt pretty good I feel physically good but this cancer thing is a mindf#%$

    Drugs

    Hi,

    You could also ask your doctor about Zoloft - it helps BOTH depression and anxiety - a package deal!  ;)

    Note that if you are prescribed Ativan, have someone stay with you for a few hours after taking it just in case you have a reaction. My Rick had severe hallucinations after taking only one pill. 

    Cynthia

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #9
    jen2012 said:

    The beginning is really
    The beginning is really hard...but seriously I'm not sure how anyone with this diagnosis can not be depressed. After my husbands diagnosis last year I cried every single day...probably for 2 months...maybe 3. Slowly we started to live again and having a toddler in the house helped. He keeps us laughing ..and hopping! I keep holding out hope for a cure though I still get that anxious feeling every so often. Actually today at the mall I cant even remember what triggered it but I got really sad and anxious. I worry about raising the little guy alone.

    My husband tried ativan but said it gave him crazy dreams. He is very faithful and copes by keeping that faith close. He also stays very busy..working and volunteering. He just doesn't think about cancer unless he needs to...appts etc.
    Definitely worth talking to someone that can help you sort things out.

    Good luck.

    It's a fine line!

    Getting a news like this is hard and having bad feelings about it is normal. In any other situation like financial, relationship break up, career I would say wait and give it time. But when you have cancer you have to keep going, get to the appointments, consults, make hard decisions and being in the right mindset is essential, because your life depends on it literally. 

    It is a fine line how much you let cancer take over your life, because one way being open and natural about it will give you some comfort, but if you spend too much time dwelling on it you may neglect the rest of your life. And after all that is the part we are fighting to improve and maintain.

    Laz

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    I rely on Ativan...

    primarily for nausea and sleep, but it definitely helps with anxiety as well.  I can't imagine anyone with cancer, really whatever the stage, not feeling pretty dang anxious at times.  I take 2 mg a day, usually .5 in the morning so I can eat without feeling too sick, and then the rest before bed.  I started out at .5, but that was about 3 years ago, so I've had to increase the dose.  One of the perils of these kinds of drugs, of course, but if it makes life more liveable, I'm willing to deal with that aspect.

    The other things that have helped me with anxiety are walking, talking to someone who specializes in cancer therapy (my clinic has a great social worker I can talk to), watching funny TV and  movies, reading a good book, and taking short trips when possible (difficult to do during tx, I know).  And being part of our online family helps too!  

    Hugs and strength~AA

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #11
    Celexa and Xanax

    I started experiencing severe panic/anxiety attacks a few years back.  I was convinced it was due to hormone issues due to peri-menopause.  Doc tried to get me on Celexa (generic: citralopam).  It took me 9 months to be convinced - during which time I was miserable the whole time.  Could barely function at work, felt like I was having a heart attack most days.  I finally gave in and took daily generic Celexa.  Much to my chagrin - it worked.  I also took Xanax (generic alprazolam) for break-out attacks.  Please note, I had nothing to be anxious or panicked about...it was all chemical imbalances.

    Fast forward to April 2013.  Preparing to go into the hospital for removal of colorectal cancer, I started weaning myself off of the Celexa. I never wanted to take it long term.  I think I took it for about 1 Year).  Didn't receive any in the hospital and haven't used it since. (My uterus was also removed during surgery). I also have not had one panic/aniety attack since I stopped taking it.  SO - I'm convinced my attacks were a result of the cancer as well as my female hormones. Now that both my tumor and uterus are gone - I'm panic and anxiety free (even though I have more things to actually be panicked and worried about now with my health...go figure).

    I do take the Xanax for intermittant restlessness - usually on the days following my FOLFOX infusion.  That's because the steroids make me jumpy - even though I only get half the normal dose of steroids as a pre-med.   I had them cut the dosage in half before I even got my 1st round! 

    That said, if you are having issues functioning and are suffering from depression - STOP SUFFERING.  Medication CAN help.  (Trust me - I am always hesitant to take drugs - but am learning that I need to sometimes for my benefit).  Please speak with your doctor and get the relief that you need. 

    Jenni

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #12
    I used Ativan which is an

    I used Ativan which is an anti anxiety as well as an anti nauseua so it was great during chemo.  I'd pop a pill before each treatment and if I had bad anxiety that day which came and went day to day then I'd take one.  Antidrpressants are a whole different category.  That's for when you feel like you can't get out of bed in the morning or can't get through the day, day after day.  You have to take those consistently in order for them to work.  Anti anxieties are not necessarily daily.  They're great when you're just going through a time where you feel like your body is on pins and needles all day from stress.

  • Goldie1
    Goldie1 Member Posts: 264 Member
    #13
    My husband...

    was prescribed Zoloft about 3 months after his diagnosis.  He jokes that he should have started taking it way before finding out he had cancer.  It really has worked wonders for him.  

    Take care,

    Ellen

  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #14
    kennyt said:

    xanax

    I have been taking some xanax .5mg do you mind me asking what dosage you take? thanks

    i also

    take .5mg of xanax i guess thats  the normal dosage....godbless...johnnybegood

  • Ruffy7
    Ruffy7 Member Posts: 126
    #15
    Goldie1 said:

    My husband...

    was prescribed Zoloft about 3 months after his diagnosis.  He jokes that he should have started taking it way before finding out he had cancer.  It really has worked wonders for him.  

    Take care,

    Ellen

    I tried a few different kinds

    I tried a few different kinds before settling on Celexa - mine also is anxiety that started after my dx and subsequent menopause 2 years ago.  I'm on 40mg a day and, even though I still can feel anxious, it is much better than it was - I don't "fixate" on things as much.  Kind of scared to get off it because I don't want to go back to how it was but I may try it at some point...  I liked zoloft but after 1-2 months started getting abdominal pains and diahrea so was switched to Viibrid (very pricey and had really bizarre dreams on it).  The celexa is the better one for me so far.  BTW, my rheumatologist wants to switch me to Cymbalta (to help with inflammatory arthritis) along with methroterxate (sp?).  Any one know anything on these drugs?  I understand the methr. is a cancer drug that also works for some other conditions at a lower dose.  Just asking.  thanks

Discussion Boards