Arimidex , The depression of it all!

Options
jetstream1951
jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Arimidex , The depression of it all!
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2007

    Hello all BC survivors!

    I had breast cancer 2and a half yrs ago. I had stage 1 cancer. Had a lumpectomy & radiation. Then started the arimidex. My family noticed that after my surgery & a few months of starting arimidex, that my mood was changing. Very depressed at times. Of course I couldn't see it until the last few months. I had alot of family problems along the way, but my deprssion is almost unbearable. I was just wondering if anyone else is expericing the samething? With alot of education on my part, as I hope all of us do, I know that I am at peace with the cancer. So could this be all of the med???

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited December 2007

    My onc put me on citalopram for the side effects of arimidex and it has worked for me.  Talk to your dr. soon as you can.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited December 2007

    Any of these drugs, plus menoapuse, plus just being a survivor, can disrupt the brain chemistry.

    I got on Effexor early on with Arimidex, mostly for hot flashes, but with a side benefit of improving mood. Now I'm on Zoloft.

    You could ask your doctor about changing to Femara or Aromasin. Drugs in the same class often don't have the same side effects. I had to change from Tamoxifen to Arimidex (and then Femara) because of horrible depression on Tamoxifen.

    There's hope. You've taken the first step by saying there's a problem. I'm sure the solution is close.

    Good luck!


    Anne

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heddamay
    heddamay Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2007

    When I look back at the way I acted until I finally became adjusted to Arimidex, I have to laugh because I really was impossible to put up with - And Oh - my poor mother!  What I put her through.  As an example.  I was able to drive myself to and from my radiation.  One day, instead of going straight home for lunch, I went shopping at Macy's.  But I was very hungry.  I called my mother on my cell phone to tell her I was starving so she told me to come home  - that lunch was ready  I started arguing with her and yelling that I was very  hungry, but couldn't come home because I was too busy shopping.  The time did come when we could laugh about this - but I can empathize with you - and I wish  you well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sb007
    sb007 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2007

    Hi jetstream.  I live in Australia and I had early breast cancer and the lump removed in 2003 with radiation.  The in 2007 in September I was diagnosed with secondary breat cancer in the lungs.  Just a small dot in each.  With me just a new person on arimidex I guess I am lucky at the moment as I am on alprazalam, zoloft and viskin for anxiety depression and now arimidex.  The affects of arimidex on my body at present are  an ache in my body at times and I get the hot flush but I am still determining whether the hot flush is due to anxiety as I tend to worry a lot. I also find that because I worry (which is really not good) I don't sleep well. Snother thing is that I have not blamed god for this disease as I feel he created two perfect people in the beginning and it was up to them to create the perfect world of which we all know it is not.  Technology is changing every day and there is a lot of untapped talent out there. I do not have a network of people that I can really confide in and I know that there are a lot out there who have similar symptoms.  I usually take arimidex at night so that whilst I am asleep (if they work that way at all) all the aches and pains can be in my sleep.  Yes I still get a little anxious and depressed but again I guess we would not be normal if we did not feel some effects of the world around us.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2007

    I wish to thank all of your comments on my problem which I now know to probably be the arimidex. Will be seeing the onc next week! It will feel good to maybe feel human again, (I hope).

    Also, sb007, I don't take the arimidex at nite because of the hot flashes. I take it in the afternoon. Not long after, is when the hot flashes kick in then seem to settle down at night when time to go to bed. It also depends on the time of the year it is. Summer, as it is in Austraila now, they are more intense. Now, I look really forward to the winter months!! Not so bad now.

    Again, I wish to thank all of you for your imfomative information on this matter. May all of you live a happy & fulfilling life! I hope to be able to also be there for someone who also might be facing some questions in the battle against breast cancer.

                                       Jet  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imbell
    imbell Member Posts: 659
    edited January 2008

    Has anyone experienced cold chills on Arimidex?  I've been told it is a side effect but I only see women complaining of hot flashes.  I am literally freezing and the fact that this doesn't seem to be normal is making me crazy.  I should add I have become severely depressed since after Christmas.  Was fine up to the 27th and haven't been right since.  Any thoughts would be great.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fire
    fire Member Posts: 153
    edited January 2008

    Hello to all. I had  allot of  hot flashes when i started Arimidex in March 2007

    Now it is not so often, but I cold almost all the time.

    Especially in the middle of the back.

    Sometimes I'm hot one minute and cold second.

    But it is not so bad.

    I have joint pain, I'm week and have no interest at all.

    Everything is boring to me. I became very lazy.

    I understand that I have to ask for medications, but I don't want to.

    I'm talking to myself explaining that everything is OK.

    May be it will.

    Good luck to all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • debic
    debic Member Posts: 216
    edited January 2008

    Fire, I understand how you feel, I'm not really depressed, but I am not happy either. I keep telling myself I will be fine and I don't need meds---maybe I do.  I just start arimidex in Dec.

    Jet I think I will try taking my arimidex in the afternoon maybe I will get better sleep now I take around 9Pm and am up at 2am with hotlfashes.

    Debi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2008

    Deb, I still get a hotflash once in awhile at nite, just not as bad as during the day. It ususally occures just before sleep. It doesn't last as long though.

    Fire, good luck in not taking any meds for depression. I have been on Arimidex for 2 1/2 yrs. My depression just getting worse. I am the one who does Christmas every year, but found I just couldn't cope with it this year. Funny, I had surgery in June of 05 & was fine having Christmas that yr! But unfortunatley, my brothers & sister inlaws are not concerned enough to take on the task! So, my husband & I celerbrated a very quite one by ourselves. I guess you find out through this travel of recovery, who is there for you & who is not! Thankfully, my husband for the most part has been my rock! Beleive you me, he has caught most of my wrath!! So, with that said, I am looking forward to my appointment on Monday with my oc. Boy is he going to get an ear full!! LOL

                                                                 

                                                      Peace, BC survivors!! Jet

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2008

    Hi all !

    Just wanted to touch base & let all know that I saw my oc 2wks ago. He decided that I needed a holiday from arimidex. If it was the med, he said that he would probably put me on tomax for the rest of my therepy. When I was in my  mid 20's I had precancerous uterin cells. They never showed bk up. He said that since I only had 2 & half yrs left, that it probably wouldn't cause any damage. Still scared though. But, since being off the arimidex now for 2 wks, the depression has lessened form which I & my family are grateful!!! I will see oc in about 6wks to decide about the tomox.

    I do have a question though for the ones who might be done with therepy or for the ones who are also on holiday. Since I have been off for 2 wks, I have developed some nausea. This has been going on for about 3 days now. Has any of you experinced this before. It seems kinda silly, but is there withdrawl from this??

                                Thank you, it is great that I know I can come here & get answers!!!!     Jet

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • josieamover
    josieamover Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2008

    It is a year since the last post here but I have just started arimidex (3 weeks ago) and tonight the depression is deep.  It is stressful in my life right now anyway so I find myself asking if it is really the drug or is the depression related to other stuff.  Any new thoughts, info on depression and arimidex (other than what is on the web)?  Thanks for any help, Josie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2008

    LaughingHey josiea!

    Deperssion is a big problem with arimidex!  I too have had a great deal of stress in my life this past year.  I know that with using arimidex it has intensevide greatly.  I went off on it last yr for a few months at my doctor's recommendation.  This was due to the depression I was having. What a difference! Almost all of the other systoms that I had were almost gone. It was a wonderful holiday!  But of course I am bk on it as perscribed & all the systoms reacurred.  This year I am having more stress then last year with the sucide death of my daughter-inlaw & it

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jetstream1951
    jetstream1951 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2008
    Sorry Josiea! Computer probs!!!  Anyways, the remifacations of her sucide has been tremdous as you can imagine!  I know that if i wasn't on the arimadex I could handle things better.  1 yr & a 1/2 to go & I will be done!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories