Antidepressants cause breast cancer?

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amoccia53160
amoccia53160 Member Posts: 57
edited May 2017 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

New research is indicating that antidepressants, especially the SSRI's are putting women at increased risk for breast cancer.  I have been taking these meds since 1991!  I am scared now and don't know if I can do without them.  I don't want my bc to return either.  Anybody hear about this?  I will be researching this extensively today.  How many of you have taken antidepressants before your diagnosis?  I take these studies with  a grain of salt....one day it does cause cancer next week it doesn't.  This would be my only risk factor and could explain alot. Input?

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited April 2011

    I took anti-depressants a few years before my first cancer diagnosis in 1982. I heard later that they depress the immune system so maybe they increase the cancer risk. Anything that depresses the immune system can't be good----

     Two years before my cancer diagnosis I began running. I asked a doctor friend if I should continue the anti-depressants.  He said not to worry about it so I kept taking them. A few months later I realized I didn't need to take them as often as I was feeling so good due to the endorphins!  I then went off them and have never gone back. When I told the doc he laughed and said that he knew that was going to happen and that was why he didn't tell me to get off them. Reverse psychology!! And it worked.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited April 2011

    amoccia, can you post a link to the research?  Thanks.

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  • catlover6
    catlover6 Member Posts: 24
    edited April 2011

    Hi Dlb823 - I was interested in what the info was too ... this is what I found on the web:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-06/breast-cancer-link-to-paxil-drug-category-found-in-antidepressant-research.html

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  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited April 2011

    I have been taking some kind of antidepressants since 1994 or so. I'll check out these links.

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  • amoccia53160
    amoccia53160 Member Posts: 57
    edited April 2011

    Thanks Cat!  I need my kids to post the links and they haven't been around.  I just got a cat and love her!   She ia a rescue and about a year old.  Was hiding for a week or two but warming up to us now. What a joy to come home to her.  I love to cuddle on the couch with her after work.  I call it my pet therapy ! xxoo Annette  

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  • lauralu
    lauralu Member Posts: 100
    edited April 2011

    I was on Paxil before I was diagnosed with BC. there seems to be some evidence that could be related

    I no longer take them. I do not know is that is true or not..

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  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 1,464
    edited April 2011

    I never took an antidepressant or more than an occasional aspirin, have no family history or other risk factors.....still got BC at 55.  It's hard to know what is the cause.  I do wonder if supressing immune function may play a role though.  Please post links when you can.  I have lots of friends who have been on antidepressants forever.

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  • lauralu
    lauralu Member Posts: 100
    edited April 2011
    The individual studies had mixed results. One published in 2000 by Dr. Michelle Cotterchio of the University of Toronto and colleagues showed that compared with no antidepressant use, the breast-cancer risk for women who took tricyclic drugs (an older class of treatments that predates SSRIs) for more than two years doubled. Women taking paroxetine (branded as Paxil) faced a sevenfold increase.
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  • D4Hope
    D4Hope Member Posts: 352
    edited April 2011

    Well if that is the case I am screwed. I have been on and off of them since I was 20. All I know is that if I don't take them I am a mess. WTH do I do?

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  • lauralu
    lauralu Member Posts: 100
    edited April 2011

     Many people require them to keep life manageable.

    I do take some drugs that I have no idea what they could or may cause. All medications put everyone at risk for side effects of one kind or another I take Seroquel and even the drug co. admits it puts you at a larger risk of becoming diabetic. The risk of weight gain is also a side effect At this point I cannot sleep with out them. I hope some day that will change..

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  • neesie
    neesie Member Posts: 1,924
    edited April 2011

    Count me in on the screwed!  I've been on Paxil for 14 years, since my Son died, and can't foresee going off of them.    So atleast I now know what 'gave' me BC!!!!

    Going to read the link one of you posted, but will say.......I have heard that Paxil might interfere with Tamoxifen ........... Of course I heard this AFTER I had already done 2 years on Tamoxifen!!  Then on to Femara for remainder.   

    What is irritating to me is if indeed the two don't go together..........you would think that atleast ONE of the Docs or Pharmacies would have mentioned it to me..........they all have my med list! Not once has it ever been mentioned.........................Oh the Glory of Research!!

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  • neesie
    neesie Member Posts: 1,924
    edited April 2011

    Lauralo...........No Crap.......just went and reread your post to get link.............sevenfold for Paxil users????????????????????

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  • lauralu
    lauralu Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2011

    I have been on and off of many different medications since my son died in 1995.

    Paxil is just one of them.

    Sorry to hear about your son. There is truly no drug that will ever make us better just maybe numb the pain.

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  • edot
    edot Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2011

    This is a tough call. So many things might be related to the development of breast cancer. I looked at the study briefly, it suggests an increased risk, but so do lots of things. I've been on SSRI's too, but I don't know that I'm ready to toss them. 

    The problem is that if you have anxiety and depression and need these meds, what do you do? For some people, these medications are life-saving, and for others, they help you get through something more temporary. And still others really don't need them. 

    I've taken Zoloft for nearly 10 years and it's really changed my life. In my case, I feel that the meds helped me be more receptive to therapy and behavior changes, and also adjusted my thinking.But that's just me.

    I don't know for how long I will continue with Zoloft.  I  know that when I am less depressed and less anxious, I do better in treatment - make better decisions, are more compliant, but also more critical when needed, perhaps even get screened in the first place.

    If you don't want to take SSRI's or other meds, then it might be helpful to investigate other options - some people do well on doses of Omega-3 fish oils, exercise, etc. And it is true that lots of people can't take some of the SSRI's. I think that Paxil and Prozac are especially difficult because the meds were really designed for primary care docs to give a simple dose - one size fits all sort of thing  - in the early days of Prozac, lots of people were on way too much. I took it for about 8 months in 1995 and stopped because of side effects. 

    When I started with zoloft, I was very anxious and I started on a tiny dose, increasing very slowly to prevent side effects. My psychiatrist at the time told me that he choose zoloft because I was so anxious and because it was easier to monitor my dose response. But that's just what worked for me. I also take ritalin because I have attention issues, and that helps a lot with my anxiety. But again, that's just me and I know it's contraversial. 

    Another problem with meds in the US is that the influx of generics results in drugs that are not equally efficacious. Generics are not adequately tested. Your 20 mg of paxil from distributor A may not be the same as that from distributor B.  I don't know what to do about that either... it's a big problem with drugs in general. And the structure of insurance and reimbursement in the US supports drugs and procedures (like surgeries), but not longer term therapies that might help some people more. 

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  • Faithroad
    Faithroad Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2011

    I've I taken an antidepressant and an antianxiety for 13 yrs.  I can't go without them.  Come what may, I'm staying on them.  I'm just trusting my future, all of it, to God.  He's been with me through all of this, And with through all my past. He will get me through anythng else.  I may be over simplifing, but that's my bottom line.

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited May 2011

    I never took them and got BC...

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  • alexanjb
    alexanjb Member Posts: 304
    edited May 2011
    I have been on Zoloft and then Effexor for years.  I have no family history of BC.  I am overweight.  I have never smoked.  I don't drink except for very occasionally.  I often wonder which came first?  I mean, I doubt any of us developed cancer overnight.  Did I start gaining weight because I had BC?  Or did I get BC b/c of my weight.  I guess it won't help us much to know what the cause was but it could help others.  If we can figure out how to stay NEC that would be wonderful, wouldn't it?
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  • Alpal
    Alpal Member Posts: 1,785
    edited May 2011

    Well - that's depressing.

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  • Faithroad
    Faithroad Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2011
    Lol Alpal!  I can suggest a good anti-depressant for you!!!!!  Laughing
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011
    Scarrrrry, trying to keep my head above the water while on Tamox, thought I would try for the first time in my life a "pill", don't know anymore...Frown  one of Tamox SE could be cancer, now this, plus interactions, plus BC.  Too much !!!!
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  • Faithroad
    Faithroad Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2011

    Luan, 
    it can be overwhelming.  If it helps remember, we are all in this together here.  Anytime you want to vent, feel free.  I'm on Tamoxifen too, even though I'm post menapausal from a cancer preventative hysterectomy. At first I was afraid to take it or any of the AIs.  when you read the SEs it's scarry.  I try not to dwell on any side effects that are not currrently effecting me.  It does make me feel different at times.  I don't understand the wierd body sensations that I will feel. The Perscription lists every possible thing that can happen, but not everyone experiences all those things. I hope you don't have any unpleasant SEs.  I hope you have smooth sailing through the rest of this BC journey. May the peace of God rest on you.
    Hugs to you,
    Faithroad

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    Thank you God for Faithroad's kind soul and may you protect her for the angel she is

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  • Faithroad
    Faithroad Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2011

    Luan,
    Some people here have been like angels to me too.  I've cried, vented, whined, and complained on many posts...and then someone here would give me encouraging words of kindness. Then  I wouldn't feel so alone.  I appreciate the angels that have helped me too.  Smile

    Faithroad

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  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Member Posts: 384
    edited May 2011

    I'd like to chime in for a second just to say that...I find the support here, and on this thread, very, very heartwarming and encouraging.  You ladies are awesome. 

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2011
    Paxil is one ssri , zoloft also................ there are many choices--------don't nrgate all because some have ultimate bad reports.................................... All drugs have consequences!!!!
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  • AnneWisc
    AnneWisc Member Posts: 476
    edited June 2011

    You have to be careful of what study you read.  In general, if you're not a specialist in the field, a thoughtful review article, or a large study by a respected medical center, is your best bet.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2720762/?tool=pmcentrez is a study that found no link between breast cancer and antidepressant use.

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  • soccermom
    soccermom Member Posts: 136
    edited June 2011

    What about Lexapro? I have been on it since 2004 when my second husband dumped me during cancer treatment- it's been a god-send- although expensive- every time I try to get off it something happens- finally my friend said NEVER go off your anti- depressant- for me it's more for anti-anxiety but that's certainly linked in with depression-

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Never read of an SSRi-BC link...  my money is still on birth control pills. 

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  • Willow52
    Willow52 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2017

    I have been taking Zoloft (sertraline) 25 mg for years for panic disorder and was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I just found out today (online) of the possible link between sertraline and breast cancer. NO ONE ever mentioned this was a possible side effect. To say I am not happy about this is an understatement!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2017

    I took Zoloft for a couple of months decades ago. Neither my mother or sister have taken an antidepressant, nor have three friends, but we all got BC.

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