Tamoxifen and depression

ccd
ccd Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I started on Tamoxifen a week ago...so far I haven't had any hot flashes but I am really "down". I truely don't know why...my mastectomy was in mid Dec. and overall I am healing well. I didn't have reconstruction ...don't know if the "lopsidedness" of my body has to do with it or whether the tamoxifen could be a factor. Has anyone else had this? BTW I on a mild anti-depressant already..have been for @14 years since I went through a divorce. I am now happily remarried!! So what do I have to be so sad about??

Comments

  • Zhentup
    Zhentup Member Posts: 43
    #2
    Depression
    I am on Zoloft and Lithium-the magic combination for my depression. I read a lot about the various drugs they give after the chemo and radiation. I learned Tamoxifen (sp) was one that would counteract with the Zoloft so I brought it up to my Onc. because I told him it took me better than 30 years to finally find the combination that works and I wasn't interested in messing with it. I don't know if this helps you or not but I thought I should let you know.

    Take care,
    Leanne
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #3
    I started on Tamoxifen about
    I started on Tamoxifen about 3 weeks ago and I have found myself wanting to cry a lot. I also am on anti depressant. I was told that this will go away, when my body gets use to the drug. I really understand what your feeling. I posted pretty much the same post here as you a few weeks ago.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #4
    Kat11 said:

    I started on Tamoxifen about
    I started on Tamoxifen about 3 weeks ago and I have found myself wanting to cry a lot. I also am on anti depressant. I was told that this will go away, when my body gets use to the drug. I really understand what your feeling. I posted pretty much the same post here as you a few weeks ago.

    you probably need to change antidepressant
    please contact your doctor for advice or see a psychiatrist. Two antidepressants which are compatible with Tamoxifen are Effexor and Lexapro. Lack of estrogen could contribute to your depression.
    New Flower
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    #5
    Me Too!!
    My feeling is kind of like severe PMS...woke up pissed off at the world! Then found myself wanting to bust into tears! The other day I almost took out the dog for walking across the house w/muddy paws! I'm determined to just take it day by day and see how things are going. I praying, fervently, that this passes and nothing else comes of it. I had a bad period of depression several years ago...took zoloft and saw a counselor for a year...that was such a dark place in my life, I just don't want to go there. That was one of my biggest concerns and I've already discussed it w/my onc.

    Generally, though, i've heard that these symptoms happen early on and then they get better with time.

    Would love to hear how each of you is doing as time passes.
    Julie
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #6
    jbug said:

    Me Too!!
    My feeling is kind of like severe PMS...woke up pissed off at the world! Then found myself wanting to bust into tears! The other day I almost took out the dog for walking across the house w/muddy paws! I'm determined to just take it day by day and see how things are going. I praying, fervently, that this passes and nothing else comes of it. I had a bad period of depression several years ago...took zoloft and saw a counselor for a year...that was such a dark place in my life, I just don't want to go there. That was one of my biggest concerns and I've already discussed it w/my onc.

    Generally, though, i've heard that these symptoms happen early on and then they get better with time.

    Would love to hear how each of you is doing as time passes.
    Julie

    tamoxifen
    i started tamoxifen the first of dec i noticed depression and i would cry a lot, my onco told me it would take my body time to get use to it im starting to feel a lot better now.


    best of luck.

    teresa
  • phillis313
    phillis313 Member Posts: 16
    #7
    teresa41 said:

    tamoxifen
    i started tamoxifen the first of dec i noticed depression and i would cry a lot, my onco told me it would take my body time to get use to it im starting to feel a lot better now.


    best of luck.

    teresa

    Tamoxifen and depression
    I've been on Tamoxifen for a little over a year now. It's so hard for me personally at this age and stage of my life to pin point what is normal and what could possibly be a side effect. I like to blame it all on the little pill. :) I hate negativity of any kind, and I have noticed feeling more depressed at times...it kind of cycles a bit for me. I wonder if if it hits us harder if we are prone to that any way?
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    #8
    phillis313 said:

    Tamoxifen and depression
    I've been on Tamoxifen for a little over a year now. It's so hard for me personally at this age and stage of my life to pin point what is normal and what could possibly be a side effect. I like to blame it all on the little pill. :) I hate negativity of any kind, and I have noticed feeling more depressed at times...it kind of cycles a bit for me. I wonder if if it hits us harder if we are prone to that any way?

    That was a question I asked
    That was a question I asked my onc. She didn't seem to indicate that if I'd had depression in the past, i would definitely get it again. She was very encouraging and told me that most women really have few side effects. They have to tell you about the major ones and certainly the serious ones like blood clots.

    Right now, I haven't been on it very long and so I'm going w/the idea that I'm still coping w/bc, just finished rads and am trying to find my new normal. I look forward to being 1 year out and healthy as a horse!

    Blessings....
    Julie
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #9
    Hey Ladies, split your
    Hey Ladies, split your tamoxifen in half and take half in the am and half at night. Doing that made a huge difference in my mood when I was on Tamoxifen. I saw improvements within a few days. Wish I could say the same with the aromasin I'm on.

    hugs
    jan
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #10
    phoenixrising said:

    Hey Ladies, split your
    Hey Ladies, split your tamoxifen in half and take half in the am and half at night. Doing that made a huge difference in my mood when I was on Tamoxifen. I saw improvements within a few days. Wish I could say the same with the aromasin I'm on.

    hugs
    jan

    JAN!!!
    How ARE you, dear friend?!?

    You've been sorely missed here... Sooo good to find this post from you!

    Hugs & heartfelt hopes your way, and always with,

    Kindest regards, Susan xo
  • genevieve m
    genevieve m Member Posts: 4
    #11
    phoenixrising said:

    Hey Ladies, split your
    Hey Ladies, split your tamoxifen in half and take half in the am and half at night. Doing that made a huge difference in my mood when I was on Tamoxifen. I saw improvements within a few days. Wish I could say the same with the aromasin I'm on.

    hugs
    jan

    my recent experience
    Hi,

    I just wanted to share my experience with tamoxifen and depression....
    '
    Was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma stage 1a E+/P+/Her2- in August. Node negative. I have been on lexapro for 8 years and it has worked great. After completion of radiation in November, has to switch from lexapro to effexor, so that I could take the tamoxifen.

    Started on a low dose of effexor. Around the holidays, I was a little blue, then in February, started having bizarre thoughts about losing my job, my home, all my money and living out of my car. Even thoughts of suicide. It was very frightening to me, since my depression was managed so well for so many years.

    Left 2 calls with my onc about this, and finally, stopped taking the tamoxifen. I went to see the onc, and he asked me about the symptoms. When I mentioned passing thoughts of suicide, it was all over. They had a guard take me to the ER, confiscated my clothes, and committed me via a section(title) 12 or pink slip to the psych ward. I was stunned. I thought I could talk my way out of the situation.

    Was in-patient psych for 6 days. They upped my effexor. That was almost a month ago. I am still trying to recover from the depression. I need to go back to the onc, but the question I have is - was it the low dose of effexor, or was it the tamoxifen? As you can imagine, I am petrified of the tamoxifen after that experience. Any ideas on what you would do in a similar situation? Thanks.
  • uojackg
    uojackg Member Posts: 1
    #12
    Zhentup said:

    Depression
    I am on Zoloft and Lithium-the magic combination for my depression. I read a lot about the various drugs they give after the chemo and radiation. I learned Tamoxifen (sp) was one that would counteract with the Zoloft so I brought it up to my Onc. because I told him it took me better than 30 years to finally find the combination that works and I wasn't interested in messing with it. I don't know if this helps you or not but I thought I should let you know.

    Take care,
    Leanne

    take care

    take care
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    #13
    genevieve m said:

    my recent experience
    Hi,

    I just wanted to share my experience with tamoxifen and depression....
    '
    Was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma stage 1a E+/P+/Her2- in August. Node negative. I have been on lexapro for 8 years and it has worked great. After completion of radiation in November, has to switch from lexapro to effexor, so that I could take the tamoxifen.

    Started on a low dose of effexor. Around the holidays, I was a little blue, then in February, started having bizarre thoughts about losing my job, my home, all my money and living out of my car. Even thoughts of suicide. It was very frightening to me, since my depression was managed so well for so many years.

    Left 2 calls with my onc about this, and finally, stopped taking the tamoxifen. I went to see the onc, and he asked me about the symptoms. When I mentioned passing thoughts of suicide, it was all over. They had a guard take me to the ER, confiscated my clothes, and committed me via a section(title) 12 or pink slip to the psych ward. I was stunned. I thought I could talk my way out of the situation.

    Was in-patient psych for 6 days. They upped my effexor. That was almost a month ago. I am still trying to recover from the depression. I need to go back to the onc, but the question I have is - was it the low dose of effexor, or was it the tamoxifen? As you can imagine, I am petrified of the tamoxifen after that experience. Any ideas on what you would do in a similar situation? Thanks.

    Genevieve
    Wow! That sounds like a truly frightening and daunting experience. I have to say I would hope that should any evidence of depression occurs, the goal would be to catch before you (I) would require inpatient care. Depression is a know side effect of Tamoxifen and as I had an episode of depression in the past (took meds for 3 years, but not currently), I talked to my onc and my husband about it and am very much on the lookout for these symptoms. I think it's possible that the change in your meds coupled w/the tamoxifen, might have impacted you as well.

    Like i said, at home, i have my husband to give me a bit of reality check and the onc when I see her. I think decisions about continuing meds are very individual. I discussed in depth w/onc and she relayed that if I had problems w/depression, she felt i could come off the tamoxifen and not impact long-term recurrence prevention too much. Obviously, we take it because there is a gain for the long term...but if the side effects are more dangerous, it's time to come off the meds. So, for my situation, i would stop the tamoxifen...thank God I haven't had any problems except hot flashes.

    Good luck w/your decision...and i hope your emotional state is getting better! Blessings...
    Julie
  • genevieve m
    genevieve m Member Posts: 4
    #14
    jbug said:

    Genevieve
    Wow! That sounds like a truly frightening and daunting experience. I have to say I would hope that should any evidence of depression occurs, the goal would be to catch before you (I) would require inpatient care. Depression is a know side effect of Tamoxifen and as I had an episode of depression in the past (took meds for 3 years, but not currently), I talked to my onc and my husband about it and am very much on the lookout for these symptoms. I think it's possible that the change in your meds coupled w/the tamoxifen, might have impacted you as well.

    Like i said, at home, i have my husband to give me a bit of reality check and the onc when I see her. I think decisions about continuing meds are very individual. I discussed in depth w/onc and she relayed that if I had problems w/depression, she felt i could come off the tamoxifen and not impact long-term recurrence prevention too much. Obviously, we take it because there is a gain for the long term...but if the side effects are more dangerous, it's time to come off the meds. So, for my situation, i would stop the tamoxifen...thank God I haven't had any problems except hot flashes.

    Good luck w/your decision...and i hope your emotional state is getting better! Blessings...
    Julie

    Dearest Jbug,
    So if I read
    Dearest Jbug,

    So if I read this correctly, you are not currently taking tamoxifen, correct? I made the decision this weekend. The depression came on so gradually - first, around the holidays, I was a little blue,and then brushed it off. Then, one day in February, I just couldn't get out of bed. Have never experienced anything like that in my life. I was not rational at all. And it will take months to get me back to where I should be.

    Thanks for validating my thoughts, and good health to you.

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