Which antidepressant do you take?

ByFaith · January 2011

For anyone else on hormonal therapy (particularly the AIs) who has found yourself depressed as a result, which antidepressant works best for you? Does Effexor cause a rise in blood pressure? Mine has always been normal, and especially with estrogen depletion I'd hate to add in high blood pressure. 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 15-year history of depression and perhaps that's why mine is so bad now with Femara. Femara definitely threw me for a loop.

I'm currently on a starting dose of Prozac 20 mg, chosen because it's best agreed with me in the past. I'm sensitive to meds, so had to titrate up to even 20 mg! Been at 20 mg 3 days and still in the pits of utter despair. Do you think I should ask about another AD or give Prozac a chance to work? Each day I'm in the pits of despair and I need something to work fast! I'm so bad I seem almost "frozen" to do the very things that would also help, like exercise, going out, etc.

Would love to hear from others.

carcharm · January 2011

The problem is that everyone is different. What works for you may not work for me. Effexor XR 75mg worked really well for me until my insurance said I had to take the generic which does not work as well. If you aren't working with a psychiatrist I would suggest getting one rather than a PCP. They know better which ones work.

Bren-2007 · January 2011

Dawn .. it takes time for Prozac to build up in your system. I'd give it another week or two. And if you're still feeling sad, you may need to go to a higher dosage.

Stay in touch with us so we know how you're doing.

Sending best wishes that you begin to feel better soon.

Bren

karen1956 · January 2011

welbutrin....tried effexor, celexa and a couple others....higher doses, lower doses, adding meds, stopping meds...its all trial and error....the Wellbutrin as been best for me....

ebann · January 2011

I think you need to give your Prozac some time to get in the body. It may work for you and you just do not know it yet. The waiting for anything is always hard. Prozac worked for me till I got immuned to it. I have been on several anti depressants. Which have all worked for awhile. Right now I am on Cymbalta and it has been the longest one I have been on and it is an amazing drug. I finally feel whatever normal is suppose to feel like. Are you doing phycotherapy as well. That is very helpful. You need to do more than just take the drug.

ByFaith · January 2011

Thanks, everyone. Logically I know Prozac needs time to work, but I'm in such despair I can barely make it through the day. Right now I'm on a Femara break because of the severe depression and I'm waiting day by day for the Prozac to begin showing signs of improvement. I have a long history of taking Prozac on and off (have taken many other ADs as well, the ones you all mentioned), but always seem to come back to Prozac, as I tolerate it a bit better. I've never really found an AD to make me feel "normal", but if I can get out of this rut I'll be happy.

It was suggested to me by a friend (healthcare professional) to give Prozac more time to work as well (which I know), but she also said that Prozac takes a bit longer to work? When I heard that, I put a call in to my PCP to make sure it's truly the AD they want me on given my slow progress and any recommendations regarding dosing at this point. I just wanting to be heading somewhere and doing exactly what they want.

I would go to a psych, but our insurance plan mental health services are not not co-pay but covered at a certain percentage. I just can't afford psych care at this moment in time, and truly, my PCP knows me extremely well, and if need be, can consult with psychs and/or oncs on staff. My PCP is part of my BC team.

Thanks and big hugs to all of you.

edot · January 2011

I have been taking zoloft for several years. It took me a while to get up to a decent dose. What's nice about it is that it comes in a wide range of doses, from 25 mg to 100 mg tablets. I take between 100 and 150 mg each day depending on how I feel.

You need to give yourself time for enough to build up in your system, whatever you take.

Generics are a big problem in the us right now, because of inconsistent efficacy. Some docs tell patients to experiment with their dose... If it was effective in the past and isn't now, try a small increase. Butvtalk to your doctor first.

I hate the way that insurance companies dictate care in the US, especially mental health issues. Bah. So many people could feel so much better.

thegoodfight · January 2011

karen1956,

I am also on wellbutrin (a generic) and my name is also Caren Wink . I have a question. I have been on it for a little over six months and I do think it is working. I was not aware of being depressed, but I am much more even in mood now. BUT, I have one tough side effect. I dream every night, all night long. Not necessarily bad dreams, just dreaming the whole time I should be trying to get some rest. Some nights it wakes me up all night long. I asked if a lower dose would help and I was told, not with that side effect because the med actually changes the neurons in our brains and would still do that at a lower dose. Just wondering if you or anyone else have this problem.....................Caren

leaf · January 2011

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is also used for smoking cessation. It sounds like you are not alone

In this study of smoking cessation looking at bupropion and nicotine, The main reasons for not completing the full course were adverse side effects, such as abnormal dreams and sleep disturbance.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20528429

However, we are all individual.

This is what one paper thought. When bupropion SR was compared with a nicotine transdermal patch in a clinical trial, insomnia predominated in the bupropion SR group, while dream abnormalities were more common in smokers using the nicotine patch.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12109935

In this ONE patient, There was a recurrence of depressive symptoms four months after discontinuing fluoxetine, and the patient was treated with bupropion, a dopaminergic/noradrenergic antidepressant without any reported tendency to induce or aggravate RBD.³ Bupropion therapy did not result in recurrence of RBD <REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)>symptoms. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2762722/?tool=pubmed

packjen · January 2011

Dawn,

I am on an AD called Remeron (actually the generic Mirtazipine). It was one of the few that doesn't interfere with Tamoxifen. I was at a point a few months ago where I was crying at least 3-4 times per day. It also doesn't help that I have been on pain meds for 10 months since my DMX w/ tissue expanders. I am just so tired of the pain.

Anyway, the remeron has been working well for me. After about 2 weeks on it I asked if I could up my dose because I was feeling so cranky and angry by the end of the day. So I upped my dose (from 15mg to 30mg) and it seemed better. The only problem with this AD is that it is also used as an appetite stimulant -- which I definitely don't need! I have just started to work out at the gym to try to get rid of some of the weight I have gained in the past year. I have also cut back my dosage of AD because I can't stand being hungry all the time.

I may go back to my doctor and see if there is an alternative. Or I may just ride it out until after my exchange surgery.

A few years ago I tried Prozac and the first day I was on it was GREAT. I felt so good. But after that I was on it for about 6 weeks and never felt good again. I switched to Welbutrin and that worked OK, but when I was going off it I had some pretty severe vertigo. I had to step the dosage back up and then take longer to come off it.

Sometimes I think that if you go back to doing or experiencing something you used to love it helps. For me that is babies. I used to be a lactation consultant (ironic that I got BC, huh?) and just holding an infant sends endorphins running through me. I feel all warm and fuzzy. Maybe you can remember something that made you feel that way and get reconnected to it.

I hope this helps.

Jen

ByFaith · January 2011

Thanks, my sisters. All of these replies have helped me so much. The last couple days I've begun to feel a slight lift in mood. I don't know if it's because my husband is home for the weekend (and I'm not alone during the day), but I have the definite feeling the Prozac is beginning to work. It's only my 5th day now at the 20 mg dose, so I'm definitely not expecting miracles. I just so desperately wanted to get out of the pits of despair, and if all holds tomorrow when he leaves for work, the Prozac may be working.

If the Prozac is indeed going to lift my mood, I have to consider I'm still on a doctor-recommended short Femara holiday. I'm curious what will happen when Femara is re-introduced, but I'll follow that closely with my onc and physicians.

I so appreciate all your replies and suggestions. (( hugs ))

Spoonchek · February 2011

It took forever for my dr and I to find something that worked for me. I am on 20 mg Prozac and Wellbutrin which took months to work. Each of them work on different areas of the brain which is apparently what o needed. Before that I literally cried every day

Ellie1959 · February 2011

I take 30 mg. of Cymbalta and it works well for me. I have chronic pain issues along with anxiety and depression and so far this is the best. I've heard it is difficult to get off - but honestly I plan on staying with it. If it ain't broke..........,

alex56 · February 2011

I just got my first Rx for Effexor a few days ago. The first couple of days really knocked me down, but I think I'm starting to even out. Not sure if I really like it yet, but we'll give it a few weeks. The hot flashes have started to diminish, so that's a really good thing. I'm just getting tired of all meds......

grneyd5600 · February 2011

I take Pristiq. It doesn't take days/weeks to get to level in your body and I have had limited to no SE's. I have been on it now for over a year and function well with it.

karen1956 · February 2011

Pristiq is long acting effexor according to my psychiatrist.....I saw adds for it and called her about trying it and she told me it was the long acting effexor....since I had trouble on effexor, decided to not try it.....I've tried so many anti-depressants and combinations...right now I'm on wellbutrin and it is okay....I function, but I am flat emotionally....trying to work on that with a new therapist..

mash · April 2011

It sounds like we are in the same boat. I have never blogged before, but I can't find anyone to relate to in my cancer group that is in my situation. I too have taken prozac off and on for 15 years. I just finished chemo and radiation. The low dose is not working, as tears drip on to the computer keys. I made it through the whole cancer treatment part with flying colors, but have now hit a bump in the road with some low spots. I think the estrogen blocker messes with the anti depressent and am going to increase it in hopes of some mood elevation. Glad I'm not the only one suffering through this. I have also found relief on the treadmill trying to out run it, but I think a tuneup is best. Thanks for listening.

mrsnjband · April 2011

I started on Zoloft but it made me worse so I switched to Lexapro. It seems work reall well for me. Everyone is different. NJ

mash · April 2011

Thanks for the info. I agree that everybody has a different reaction to medications. Just have to make adjustments.

Which antidepressant do you take?

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