Which Antidepressant to take

many

anyone else on hormonal therapy (particularly Femera) who has found yourself depressed as a result, which antidepressant works best for you? Does Celexa or Lexapro interact with Femera ? I'd love to hear what AD you're on and if it works well, how long it took, how bad your depression was. I have a 3 year history of depression and perhaps that's why mine is so bad now with Femara. Femara definitely threw me for a loop. DOES CELEXA OR LEXAPRODECREASE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEMERA

ScienceGirl

Good Question Many - I'm interested too.

Rosevalley

I would like to hear the answer too because I just signed up for trying celexa as of today. So I have a vested interest in seeing if it works. I am on faslodex. Femara stopped working. Many thanks for posting. I can't wait to see what folks share. Being down sucks.

exbrnxgrl

I have not been dx'ed with depression, but took Celexa for several years before bc to relieve menopausal hot flashes. I stopped taking it some time before my dx. After dx, I was feeling a bit down and was prescribed Effexor while on Arimidex. I switched to Femara almost two years ago while continuing the Effexor. My mo and the prescribing psych did not see any problem with this and it's been very effective. Take care.

Cafelovr

I take 40mg of Celexa as well as Xanax, but I don't take Femara. Hopefully someone will chip in soon. Have you asked the Pharmacist for any interactions?

LindaE54

I'm on Femara for almost 2 years now and have been on Zoloft for the past 7 years. tried weaning off a couple of times, but it doesn't work for me. I haven't noticed depression with Femara. I know Zoloft cancels the effect of Tamoxifen. I was switched to Tamox for about 5 months and pharmacist advised my MO of the interaction and took Effexor during that period. I'm not aware of any interaction with Celexa but am curious of other's experiences.

Rosevalley

Cafelovr - did you think the celexa worked? What about side effects? Any that were bothersome?

Lovelife49

I don't think either of those interact with Femara, but I know there are several antidepressants that reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen. I'm on Effexor, which was started for hot flashes and depression. It helps a little bit for both, though not entirely. I would say it took about 2-3 weeks to notice improvement and then another period of time while we increased the dose for optimal effect. As it is, I've been in a little of a depressed rut lately, despite the Effexor. I sure wish there was a magic pill to negate the feelings dredged up by our situation.

Most antidepressants take at least two weeks to notice any change in mood and then a few more weeks for maximum effect. It can take a while to find the right dosage and the right drug for each individual. I hope you can find the right drug for you and that it helps you feel better soon. Hugs!

exbrnxgrl

Sueris,

Thank you for bringing that up. I had completely forgotten that when I was about to go back on an antidepressant, my psych, who specializes in cancer patients, put me on Effexor rather than Celexa (which I had taken prior to dx). I took the Effexor with Arimidex originally and now I take it with Femara

many

Femera increase the effect of Lexapro or CELEXA but what I am Intrested is to know If CELEXA or Lexapro negates or lessens the effect of Femera. Plz repl

Cafelovr

Yes, I think the Celexa works. I've been taking it for 6 years, and if I don't take it, I feel weepy, like how a child feels when they miss their mommy. I don't know, I can't explain it, but it does help!! I don't think I have any side effects! I had severe panic attacks after I was dx with cancer. Not about dying, but about doing everyday things, especially driving. That's why I take the Xanax. It just balances me out.

Aoibheann

Slightly off topic, but when I was on taxol I was px cymbalta and had bad SEs. Six months later I as px lexapro and again had bad SEs. I think it was a reaction to my pain meds (fentanyl and oxycodone) - possibly a variant of seratonin syndrome (ss). Anyway my onc. decided I wasn't as depressed as I thought I was and has warned me to stay away from anti-dep. The psych. who px hadn't heard of anyone reacting like I did. First week I was very sleepy, second week I woke one morning with a blinding headache, severe vomiting and nausea, retained urine. I was kept in hosp for a week after each episode, undergoing tests for brain mets etc. I take xanax for anxiety but would dearly love to find an antidepressant that suited me. However I'm terrified of being hospitalised again

JFL

Aoibheann, wow, that sounds scary! Definitely sounds like serotonin syndrome. The pain meds and anxiety meds can contribute to serotonin syndrome when mixed with SSRIs and SNRIs like Cymbalta and Lexapro. Different people react differently - you must be sensitive to the serotonin effect of those meds. You need to be careful, girl! I am glad you are okay. Maybe Wellbutrin or something in a different class with no serotonin effect?

Many, Lexapro is commonly prescribed at my Comprehensive Cancer Center and it does not decrease effectiveness of Femara or the other hormone therapies. Good luck finding something that works for you!

Kjones13

I have no experience with femera. I have been on anti-depressants since my divorce in 2006. I loved lexapro. Dropped it after a year or so...moving on with my life. Every person in my immediate family started being diagnosed with serious health issues. This time I tried celexa. 20mg. Worked well for me until I got dx. Increased to 40mg. Worked for a while. Zombie like state was ok with me at the time. Switches to lexapro again. After a year and a half seemed to stop working. I tried several combos which sucked. My Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Ritalin, and pain meds keep me pretty even keel. I can cry again so that's nice. If there are any interactions the psychiatric would know as well as the pharmacist!