There are 4 antidepressants available that don't interfere w/tamoxifen.

Eil4186
Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Concerning the issue of tamoxifen and antidepressants. I recently saw my pcp about starting on an antidepressant due to anxiety and depression. She checked the list of ones that supposedly are ok w/tamoxifen and prescribed wellbutrin, but suggested I check w/ my oncologist just to be safe.

I called him and learned that wellbutrin is one that does interfere w/tamox. He informed me that there are just 4 that are ok to take with tamoxifen and they are: zoloft, paxil, lexapro and celexa.

I am considering celexa because I previously(years ago) tried the other 3 and they all interfered with my sleep. I would suggest that anyone considering an antidepressant who is also taking tamoxifen, of course discuss the options with your oncologist. Eil

Comments

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #2
    The article I read said that
    The article I read said that there were 6 that did interfere with tamox and should not be taken as they will double your chance of a recurrence.

    They are:
    Prozac
    Paxil
    Celexa
    Lexapro
    Zoloft
    Luvox
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #3
    uh oh.....
    I have to agree with Kylez on this one. These are the ones that I was told is an absolute no no. Maybe he misunderstood what you were asking and thought you needed to know the ones you shouldn't take. I would check with him again. I would hate to see you take something that could harm you due to a misunderstanding!! Hugs :(-) Pammy
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #4
    Eil
    The four you mentioned are four of the worst ones! You are NOT suppose to take those if you are on tamoxifen. They are the ones that double your chance of a recurrence. Maybe, you need to talk to your oncologist again.

    Kristin
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    #5
    I googled the information
    I googled the information and I also saw that Wellbutrin wasn't on the list. Wellbutrin isn't an SSRI. Wellbutrin works on dopamine in the brain not seritonin.
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #6
    lanie940 said:

    I googled the information
    I googled the information and I also saw that Wellbutrin wasn't on the list. Wellbutrin isn't an SSRI. Wellbutrin works on dopamine in the brain not seritonin.

    Confused
    Yikes ... I'm glad y'all wrote about this because I'm due to start tamoxifen in September and I take zoloft and wellbutrin ... and have for several years. I see my oncologist Sept. 4th and I'm almost afraid to ask if we'll have to play "musical anti-depressents." If what I'm on now will be no-no's with tamoxifen I don't want to think about trying to figure out why I'll be going totally nuts with new drugs in me. Which drugs are causing what ... ????

    CRAP!

    hugs.
    teena
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #7
    tgf said:

    Confused
    Yikes ... I'm glad y'all wrote about this because I'm due to start tamoxifen in September and I take zoloft and wellbutrin ... and have for several years. I see my oncologist Sept. 4th and I'm almost afraid to ask if we'll have to play "musical anti-depressents." If what I'm on now will be no-no's with tamoxifen I don't want to think about trying to figure out why I'll be going totally nuts with new drugs in me. Which drugs are causing what ... ????

    CRAP!

    hugs.
    teena

    I think the confusion arises
    I think the confusion arises with the weak or "other" inhibitors assumed as OK. Here is a link to new information from the Flockhart chart. PatientPhysicianGuide This chart was put together at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, University of Indiana. It shows Celexa, Citalopram and Zoloft as either weak or "other" inhibitors which, according to them........... A Strong inhibitor is one that causes a > 5-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or more than 80% decrease in clearance.
    A Moderate inhibitor is one that causes a > 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 50-80% decrease in clearance.
    A Weak inhibitor is one that causes a > 1.25-fold but < 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 20-50% decrease in clearance.
    All other inhibitors.

    Personally, if I'm already compromised I don't think I would want anything making it worse but you'd have to be tested in order to know what your status is. Apparently some insurance companies will pay for the testing. I hope this info hasn't caused more confusion (and that the links work :)

    jan
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #8
    phoenixrising said:

    I think the confusion arises
    I think the confusion arises with the weak or "other" inhibitors assumed as OK. Here is a link to new information from the Flockhart chart. PatientPhysicianGuide This chart was put together at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, University of Indiana. It shows Celexa, Citalopram and Zoloft as either weak or "other" inhibitors which, according to them........... A Strong inhibitor is one that causes a > 5-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or more than 80% decrease in clearance.
    A Moderate inhibitor is one that causes a > 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 50-80% decrease in clearance.
    A Weak inhibitor is one that causes a > 1.25-fold but < 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 20-50% decrease in clearance.
    All other inhibitors.

    Personally, if I'm already compromised I don't think I would want anything making it worse but you'd have to be tested in order to know what your status is. Apparently some insurance companies will pay for the testing. I hope this info hasn't caused more confusion (and that the links work :)

    jan

    The 6 were the ones my
    The 6 were the ones my oncologist said were NOT to be taken with tamox. And, I think he even mentioned Wellbutrin. I think everyone needs to check this out if they are taking tamox and an antidepressant.
  • california_artist
    california_artist Member Posts: 816 Member
    #9
    Kristin N said:

    Eil
    The four you mentioned are four of the worst ones! You are NOT suppose to take those if you are on tamoxifen. They are the ones that double your chance of a recurrence. Maybe, you need to talk to your oncologist again.

    Kristin

    Your thumb tapping cat
    how on earth did you do that, is there anyway you could tell me how to make or get something like that.

    Thanks,

    Claudia

    madisonraygallery@yahoo.com
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #10
    phoenixrising said:

    I think the confusion arises
    I think the confusion arises with the weak or "other" inhibitors assumed as OK. Here is a link to new information from the Flockhart chart. PatientPhysicianGuide This chart was put together at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, University of Indiana. It shows Celexa, Citalopram and Zoloft as either weak or "other" inhibitors which, according to them........... A Strong inhibitor is one that causes a > 5-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or more than 80% decrease in clearance.
    A Moderate inhibitor is one that causes a > 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 50-80% decrease in clearance.
    A Weak inhibitor is one that causes a > 1.25-fold but < 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 20-50% decrease in clearance.
    All other inhibitors.

    Personally, if I'm already compromised I don't think I would want anything making it worse but you'd have to be tested in order to know what your status is. Apparently some insurance companies will pay for the testing. I hope this info hasn't caused more confusion (and that the links work :)

    jan

    The Bad 6
    Those antidepressants are the ones that all of the articles and what my oncologist said that he would not prescribe if his bc patient was on tamoxifen. Noone wants a recurrence and I don't think anyone wants to risk it because of an antidepressant, or, I would hope not. Good luck to anyone that is on both! Talk to your oncologist and change to another one, if need be.

    Hugs, Noel
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #11
    tgf said:

    Confused
    Yikes ... I'm glad y'all wrote about this because I'm due to start tamoxifen in September and I take zoloft and wellbutrin ... and have for several years. I see my oncologist Sept. 4th and I'm almost afraid to ask if we'll have to play "musical anti-depressents." If what I'm on now will be no-no's with tamoxifen I don't want to think about trying to figure out why I'll be going totally nuts with new drugs in me. Which drugs are causing what ... ????

    CRAP!

    hugs.
    teena

    I hope your oncologist can
    I hope your oncologist can help you out Teena. There are other antidepressants, like Effexor, that are ok, I think. Good luck!

    Leeza
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #12
    jnl said:

    I hope your oncologist can
    I hope your oncologist can help you out Teena. There are other antidepressants, like Effexor, that are ok, I think. Good luck!

    Leeza

    Eil, those are the bad ones
    Eil, those are the bad ones to not take with tamox.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #13
    tgf said:

    Confused
    Yikes ... I'm glad y'all wrote about this because I'm due to start tamoxifen in September and I take zoloft and wellbutrin ... and have for several years. I see my oncologist Sept. 4th and I'm almost afraid to ask if we'll have to play "musical anti-depressents." If what I'm on now will be no-no's with tamoxifen I don't want to think about trying to figure out why I'll be going totally nuts with new drugs in me. Which drugs are causing what ... ????

    CRAP!

    hugs.
    teena

    Glad you know now though
    Glad you know now though Teena, to ask your oncologist about the antidepressants. I am sure he can figure out an antidepressant you can take with tamox.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #14
    survivorbc09 said:

    Glad you know now though
    Glad you know now though Teena, to ask your oncologist about the antidepressants. I am sure he can figure out an antidepressant you can take with tamox.

    You must have misunderstood
    You must have misunderstood your oncologist Eil. Those are the ones that you shouldn't take with tamox.

    Lex
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #15
    Kylez said:

    The article I read said that
    The article I read said that there were 6 that did interfere with tamox and should not be taken as they will double your chance of a recurrence.

    They are:
    Prozac
    Paxil
    Celexa
    Lexapro
    Zoloft
    Luvox

    Thats weird, my oncologists
    Thats weird, my oncologists office told me celexa does NOT interfere with tamocifen. Could you tell me the particular article you read? Thanks.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #16
    Kylez said:

    The article I read said that
    The article I read said that there were 6 that did interfere with tamox and should not be taken as they will double your chance of a recurrence.

    They are:
    Prozac
    Paxil
    Celexa
    Lexapro
    Zoloft
    Luvox

    Thats weird, my oncologists
    Thats weird, my oncologists office told me celexa does NOT interfere with tamocifen. Could you tell me the particular article you read? Thanks.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #17
    Kylez said:

    The article I read said that
    The article I read said that there were 6 that did interfere with tamox and should not be taken as they will double your chance of a recurrence.

    They are:
    Prozac
    Paxil
    Celexa
    Lexapro
    Zoloft
    Luvox

    And he said lexapro was ok
    And he said lexapro was ok and wellbutrin was bad. That conflicts w/your article.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #18
    Eil4186 said:

    Thats weird, my oncologists
    Thats weird, my oncologists office told me celexa does NOT interfere with tamocifen. Could you tell me the particular article you read? Thanks.

    My oncologist told me all of
    My oncologist told me all of the ones you mentioned were a nono Eil. And, that list is also the same that he told me.

    Lex
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #19
    california_artist said:

    Your thumb tapping cat
    how on earth did you do that, is there anyway you could tell me how to make or get something like that.

    Thanks,

    Claudia

    madisonraygallery@yahoo.com

    Avitar
    Claudia, just want to say I love your pic for your avitar from an artist standpoint! :(-) Pammy
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #20
    phoenixrising said:

    I think the confusion arises
    I think the confusion arises with the weak or "other" inhibitors assumed as OK. Here is a link to new information from the Flockhart chart. PatientPhysicianGuide This chart was put together at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, University of Indiana. It shows Celexa, Citalopram and Zoloft as either weak or "other" inhibitors which, according to them........... A Strong inhibitor is one that causes a > 5-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or more than 80% decrease in clearance.
    A Moderate inhibitor is one that causes a > 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 50-80% decrease in clearance.
    A Weak inhibitor is one that causes a > 1.25-fold but < 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 20-50% decrease in clearance.
    All other inhibitors.

    Personally, if I'm already compromised I don't think I would want anything making it worse but you'd have to be tested in order to know what your status is. Apparently some insurance companies will pay for the testing. I hope this info hasn't caused more confusion (and that the links work :)

    jan

    Thanks for this info Jan!

    Thanks for this info Jan!
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #21
    Alexis F said:

    You must have misunderstood
    You must have misunderstood your oncologist Eil. Those are the ones that you shouldn't take with tamox.

    Lex

    Wellbutrin is on the list of
    Wellbutrin is on the list of not to take too.

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