Depression and Anxiety Meds

CursiveStars

Does your oncologist or your gp prescribe your anti depressent / anxiety medications? For those of you on them. This is the first time I think I've needed them since dx as my quality of life has decreased so much in the last 6 months. I literally cry constantly, I get anxiety over going to the mailbox. It takes me days to talk myself into showering. I kept thinking it would pass but it's not. I miss my old life, I just want to turn back time. I never thought I'd end up disabled at 34. I don't really have much family support and most of my friends, while they try their best, are young working and have families. It's hard and I'm understanding of that. For those of you taking them do you feel they've helped? How long before you noticed a difference? Any advice?

DivineMrsM

Yes yes yes. These medicines help. For me, certain antidepressants increased my anxiety. Through trial and error, my primary doctor finally came upon an antianxiety medicine, Buspar, that was exactly what worked for me. I really don’t have depression so much as anxiety. The Buspar is not addicting or habit forming, it doesn’t change my personality, I still feel my emotions. But it gave me my life back. I wasn’t even able to leave my sofa. The anxiety crippled me. On Buspar, I got up from the sofa, went and washed the kitchen dishes while listening to the birds chirp outside my window.

Please work with either your onc or primary to find something that works for you. We don’t need to soldier through our lives miserably when there is help to be found. If your doctor suggests a psychiatrist, please consider going as they specialize in these type of medicines and can really help you to find something to address your symptoms. You will be so glad you did. And you don’t have to go around telling anyone you are taking the medicine. It can be your own private matter, perhaps shared with a few loved ones. I say that because some people feel an embarrassment about having to “rely” on them. Well what the heck! We are dealing wth a difficult disease. Many of us use anti depression or anti anxiety meds to help us cope. I can still get a wave of anxiety but can get busy and distract myself and it goes away.

My very best to you.

Meow13

I was prescribed paxil's generic drug. I took it while taking anastrozole amd then exemestane. I think it helped with AI drug side effects depression and of all things it helped with hot flashes.

It seems to help with anxiety suddenly one day driving I was merging on I-5 and noticed I wasn't as panicky. It really helped me do things I used to dread. I have been off AI's and paxil for 3 years now. I think I suffer from some anxiety but I didn't want to continue with paxil because of possible weight gain associated with long term use.

Not on any prescription medication right now.

Whoops, I just noticed this is a stage 4 only thread but I thought you might like to hear my insight.