Anti-Estrogen and Mental Health

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dwwilburn
dwwilburn Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

I started on Arimidex in July 2011. I turned into the evil woman from hell. I was switched to Letrazole by my oncologist and my primary care physician prescribed an anti-depressant, effexor. That was around the January 2012 time frame. Howver, I am still moody. Somedays I am okay, but every now and again I am just angry. Have others experienced this. I don't know if this is side effects from Letrazole, post-cancer craziness or what!

Dianne

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  • MTnester
    MTnester Member Posts: 217
    edited April 2012

    I am on Tamoxifen and Effexor, had a complete hysterectomy two months ago. Most days I'm pretty good - the good days are better than the bad. But today is a crabby pants, screw the world day. I'd compare it to my most severe PMS days of the past - anyone and everyone ticks me off. I don't know if it's side effects or craziness either, but I don't like it!

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited April 2013

    0

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    Interesting.  I had severe crippling headaches with Arimidex but no other side effects.  With Aromasin, I am having body aches that I manage with exercise and diet but the depression is really becoming a problem.  I never thought to try Femara.......Onc. wants me to see a psychiatrist, which I found a bit off putting.  She said that the Femara would probably affect me the same as the Arimidex, as far as headaches but I am not sure of that..............

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited August 2012

    I had severe depression on Aromasin. It is one of the side effects I read.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    It's awful.  I don't feel like myself.    Life is in 2-D 80% of the time.  I already had probs. with that due to fibro.  Did you try anything else after your experience with Aromasin?  I believe you are AI free now, yes?

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited August 2012

    Mybee: I am not on anything right now. Joined a very intense exercise class which I love. I go twice a week. I also do a slow jog with my dogs for 1 1/2 hours every morning. Eating healthy, trying to lose the weight I gained with Aromasin.

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited August 2012

    mybee333 have you tried talking to you GP about the moods? My Dr. felt it was from the lack of estrogen in our bodies, which isn't normal at all. He was more than happy to give me a low dose anti depressant. Of course he has been my Dr. for many years, and he knows I'm usually a very happy person.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    Thank you.  I'm trying increasing my exercise and my supplements, esp. B complex, up to therapeutic levels or at least those recommended for depression.  My doc would do it too, I'm just trying to avoid further meds. Mood has been better past two days.  Stuff has been going on - thinking it may be sadness, not depression. dogsandjogs - I do think exercise is really key to mood, at least for some of us!

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited August 2012

    mybee33, I can vouch for exercise. I started swimming daily this summer, and can say knock on wood so far have not needed to take the depression pills, but it is nice knowing they are in the medicine cabinet if needed.

    I also think sometimes changing meds can help. I had to stop Femara 3 months ago, and have been on Aromasin since then, and feel it has been much kinder to my body. From seeing ladies on different threads, I think experimenting till the best medicine for them is quite common.

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  • Pegs
    Pegs Member Posts: 198
    edited August 2012

    i thought it was just me, I have been so nasty to my husband, for no good reason.  its been 2 years since this all started and he was wonderful from day one.  I am on tamoxfen and effexor.  sometimes i say nasty things and it seems like its someone else saying them.  I have no interest in sex at all, and thats not how i was.  i feel terrible the way i've been towards him, i apologize but once the words are said you can't take them back. 

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    I find I am quite irritable with people, and kind of 'tip' over an edge when I get angry, much more easily than I used to.  It is hard to take things back, for sure.

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2012

    I've been on Aromasin for a few months now.  I was taking an antidepressant (prozac) beforehand, but bumped up the dosage anticpating that  I would need help during this 'adjustment' period.   But I still seem to be struggling...and I have a hard time concentrating and 'multi-tasking' at work....Has anyone had this type of symptom....I haven't read anything about ADD types of symptoms with this drug.    I started back running again, which I know will help, but still not at a frequency I need to be.  And I'm EMOTIONAL EATING again.....arrrgggghhhhh.   I have no desire to drink (except occassionally glass of beer orwine), or don't care for the prescription drugs, but give me a bag of cookies and I don't say NO.

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2012

    I also have had the body aches that I've seen some of you post about.  i had a nurse recommend "Elations" joint supplement, which helps out alot, although a bit expensive.   I've even tried the Black Cherry with a shot of vodka and a splash of club soda...not bad for an evening cocktail! Cool

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited August 2012

    Hi Mariannm: I have been on Letrozole for 6 months and apart from losing a lot of hair,

    the most significant SE for me has been all the emotional stuff. I had nausea, NO appetite, anxiety, weight loss , weeping , etc etc etc. Finally had to succumb to meds which include an anti-anxiety med plus an anti-depressant. It's been four days now and I'm a different person. All my symptoms have gone and I'm eating again. These meds we take affect us all in different ways. I just think about the alternatives and keeping popping that little yellow pill. Like you, I do find exercising helps a lot. Hang in there

    Because many of the ladies here will tell you that the SE do seem to lessen over time.

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2012

    Thanks Scottiee1....Sounds Like it's worth a trip to my GP!   Glad I found this board!

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited August 2012

    Has changed my life. It's definately worth the trip. Good luck, keep,us updated even if you just need support or to rant and rave.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    Scottiee1 - What anti-depressant are you taking?  My mood is still quite low..........most days its only my kids that keep me going.

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited August 2012

    I am on Zoloft....I was on this the FIRST time I went through menopause. No side effects.

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited August 2012

    I just hate adding new pills. I finally gave up and got a sample of Vesicare. But that drug can cause blurry vision, constipation and headache. Hoping I will have none of the SEs

    By the way Mybee, did I tell you I got an RX for the boil I had?. The drug was an old-school antibiotic; the pharmacy had to order it. Well, I got sick to my stomach, had diarrhea, bad case of Afibs, dizziness, low blood pressure etc. I called the doc, was told to stop taking it. Then the pharmacist tells me it is hardly ever prescribed due to its SEs.   ----

    Anyway after 2 days of feeling really awful I'm back to normal and the boil is pretty much gone.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    I'm glad you got that boil straightened out.  It's amazing how different Docs prescribe different drugs for the same thing. I hate adding new pills too.  That's why I've held out on the anti-depressant. I've never heard of Vesicare.

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited August 2012

    Mybee: Vesicare is for stress incontinence. I've been battling it for years. It is getting so bad now that if I feel the urge to urinate I have to go immediately (or else) and I leak all the time; mostly at night when I'm not aware of it. I wake up soaking wet sometimes- I have a friend who has the same problem. She's on Detrol, but it isn't helping her at all.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited August 2012

    I am so sorry to hear you have this problem.  If it's not one thing it's another.  Something else to deal with.........

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2012

    Have y'all heard of "chemo brain"?  My nurse was talking to me about this when I explained the symptions.  I'm going to go and do some research on it.  Will let you know if I find anything interesting.  She also suggested getting bloodwork done to look at my vitamin B12, D, and thyroid.    Have you all done anything with that?

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  • GottaloveNED
    GottaloveNED Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2012

    Hi... I'm wondering if any of you have seen side effects appear after a longer period of time. I've been on Arimidex for about 2 years, but in the last 6 months I'm much much more easily frustrated which leads either to crabbiness or weeping. I thought I would take a "vacation" from my AI for a few weeks and see how I feel. I am 94% estrogen positive so a permanent vacation would be risky. But my onc said if I decided to, I could take 2 weeks off and then he would prescribe one of the other AI's. I've also considered anti-depression meds, but I thought I would try this first.

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2012

    GottaLoveNE...sorry I do not have long term experience...but sure not enjoying the short term impacts!!   Anti-depression meds might be worth it if your quality of life improves though.    I'm all for that!

     Here's an interesting article I found on the "Chemo Brain" topic...which may or maynot be attributed to chemo.    I feel alot better knowing that I might not be loosing my mind after all (or at least only loosing my mind for the short term :-) ),  I can look at it almost humoroulsy now......just hope I don't get fired during this slump!!

    www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/chemotherapyeffects/chemo-brain. 

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  • arenee98
    arenee98 Member Posts: 21
    edited September 2012

    I have noticed a huge change in my memory since being on Tamoxifen.  Things that are in sort of medium-term memory (not short-term like what I had for breakfast and not long-term things like how to do my job) can be gone.  Just gone.  This is unsettling as I used to have a fantastic memory.  Now my husband says, "Do you remember when we did such-and-such?" and I honestly can't remember it at all.  I think it's Tamoxifen related because while similar to how I was on chemo, I never had such a noticeable memory loss on chemo.  Tamox or chemo-brain, either way it sucks. 

     

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2012

    Just got back from the Doctor....they are going to try me on an ADD prescription ...will post how that works for me.

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited September 2012

    Just prescribed Lexapro for the depression.  Am AI free right now.  Will start Femara in two weeks.  I took it last night, am having some nausea this morning.  Most likely that will pass with time.

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  • mariannm
    mariannm Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2012

    Hope that works well for you!  I've taken my new for 3 times now...hard to tell for sure what it's doing, but I sure have been getting alot of stuff done at work, so that's  relief.  I don't think my memory is any better off though.b

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  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 1,189
    edited September 2012

    The nausea is going away. I am sleeping well with the Lexapro which is a real treat. Slept 13-14 hrs last nite after a very, very  stressful week.  Sweet dreams friends.

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