Antidepressants and Tamoxifen

Dovely

Hi everyone!

So I've been on Tamoxifen for a year and have had side effects, the most difficult being sudden mood changes and depression/anxiety. I have had issues with those things in the past, but was managing pretty well without meds before I got diagnosed. I have a very healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise etc and I was doing pretty well over the Summer but with the change of season I've really been down. I'm starting to feel like I'm struggling to feel good and positive most of the time. My onco has offered me Lexapro. She likes it better than Effexor for my age group. I know there are effectiveness risks with SSRIs while on Tamoxifen, but she says the latest research doesn't clinically prove an interaction and she feels very confident in having me go on it.Does anyone have any thoughts or personal experience with this? Thank you!

Nancy2581

Yes my oncologist had no problem with me taking lexapro and tamoxifen. I did for a couple of years. Tamoxifen caused me some problems though so I was taken off. I still take lexapro, but only 5 mg. Probably should go back to 10 mg since I find myself crabby lately.

Togethertolearn

I deal with SAD and was put on Zoloft two weeks ago, I'm on my third month of Tamoxifen. I feel very 'flat'. Sometimes I sit and just stare. Am hopeful after the winter solstice I'll be better gradually like usual. So not sure the correlation between tamoxifen and depression yet. Zoloft seems to have immediately helped with my anxiety though.

Totallytubular

hello,

I was on tamoxifen a long while back before switching to Arimidex. Lexapro and Citalopram don't seem to have a negative

interaction with tamoxifen. everything is personal. if it makes you feel better take it!

Woman1

I was on Bupropion for like a decade before BC DX. My oncologist prescribed Tamoxifen but the pharmacist did not sell me because their database says if taken together, they increase the risk of recurrence! It was October 2019.

So, before start taking Tamoxifen, I had to gradually reduce the Bupropion that caused me depression, then switched to Venlafaxine that made me drowsy and sleepy. They subsided as I get used to the drug. But I feel I’m depressed and venlafaxine is not doing good enough.

Tamoxifen caused me joint pains, too.

I did not expect hormone therapy to be this hard.

Salamandra

When I started tamoxifen, my team switched me from Wellbutrin to Lexapro. It worked all right, no bad SE, but I think Wellbutrin was better for me overall. For example, I think it helped with my ADHD some.

I tried for nearly a year but could but tolerate tamoxifen. I immediately started transitioning back to Wellbutrin. Now I’m trying toremifene, which is not contraindicated for Wellbutrin

Togethertolearn

I'm starting up 20mg CBD oil capsule at night for anxiety and depression . I started with one capsule in the mornings after surgery and increased to one at night too, but that was too much and caused me side effects, so I quit taking any CBD. If CBD can help my mind not race all night so I can sleep, that will be amazing! Worth a try.

Fairydragonfly

I am on Pristiq and Escitalopram for depression/anxiety. Tamoxifen definitely caused a huge and noticeable shift in my mood to the point my psychologist was questioning if I should stay on the Tamoxifen. That drug is a beast.

Togethertolearn

Fairydragonfly thank you for your post. Although I am sorry for your struggle, it is helpful to hear that we're not alone! When I went for my 6th month mammogram on Friday I was shocked the nurse didn't realize I was depressed, it seemed pretty clear.Are you still on Tamoxifen?

DorothyB

Tamoxifen caused me to be depressed and zombie like also. I am now only taking 10 mg / day plus half of a 37.5 mg pill of venlafaxine (effexor). I'm doing pretty well with that combination - some muscle cramps, some hot flashes, etc but I'm able to handle this level OK

Fairydragonfly

Yes. I only started Tamoxifen in October. I am trying to push through the side effects in hopes that they will improve.

Togethertolearn

ok I'm skipping my Tamoxifen tonight. Except for being grade 3, my stats seem good. But mostly, I just want to see if I can not feel like a zombie. I'll let ya know!

Togethertolearn

I've been off tamoxifen and just got back from a weeklong cruise.... and I'm still blah. So maybe it wasn't tamoxifen after all, I've been off of it a week and a half. I wasn't even super excited on the cruise. That's just annoying.

Salamandra

Hey Togethertolearn,

That's too bad Do you have a good psychiatrist supporting you? Getting cancer turned out to be the most effective way for me to find a good psych who actually takes my insurance...

Maybe your body needs more time to clear the tamoxifen? For me, the tamoxifen SE came on almost instantly, and starting letting up pretty fast too after I stopped (though it still took a while for me to feel normal again.

I've been having a tough two weeks or two and honestly right now i have no idea how much of it is from being physically sick, with a cough that messes with my sleep and just won't go away and seems to keep running me down versus how much is just me having sad feelings that will pass, versus me having a response to the toremifene I started in December, which may or may not pass as my body adjusts. Ugh!

Togethertolearn

I had a cold that took 3.5 weeks to get over after I started tamoxifen. I went to the doctor and contacted my navigator cause it wouldn't go away!! Their idea was my body was still not 100%, I guess still healing from radiation etc. so my immune system was down.Just a warning it may take verrrrry long time to get over your sickness.

Fairydragonfly

It took a long time for me to get over a cold in December as well. Plus I find I am more susceptible to fatigue now

Togethertolearn

yesterday and today I have felt glimpses of my old self. Trying not to get too hopeful, but that would be amazing if tamoxifen is leaving my body and I'll be feeling normal in a few more weeks! I think it takes quite a while to fully leave your body from what I've seen online.

kale437

im on aromasin and my onc wanted me to try cymbalta ( an anti depressant i guess) for the horrible joint pain, supposedly it helps, but i have been too acared to take it! lo