Anybody go on antidepressants early on?

I think it's good that your MO is switching you to FEC.  I wasn't treated for ILC but had neo adjuvant for IDC.  Please keep fighting - no doctor can predict your future or reoccurrence.  They can only give stats.  My family gives me reason to get out of bed everyday - I have a hard time too but put one foot in front on the other.  Hugs to you!

Warrior, as well as the experiences of other members, the section on Depression at the main Breastcancer.org site offers more information and advice for dealing with sadness, tiredness and depression that can come with BC diagnosis and treatment.

Making a plan to do something is a great start, and we wish you well.

• The Mods

When I was first diagnosed and climbing the walls about how long I'd have to wait for surgery (I didn't have neoadjuvant chemo),.my GP put me on Mirtazepine as I told him I couldn't sleep through anxiety and was exhausted. I just wanted something to get me through that waiting period.

He decided I was depressed, so I took the meds for just a few days. I didn't sleep better, and what sleep I DID get was plagued with really weird, funky dreams. Then I suddenly got a surgery date, and felt 100% better straight away! I never did feel I was depressed, just crazy anxious, but he said it'd help my sleep. I stopped the pills that day!

NOW I am finished all treatments and returning to work, I am having a really anxious time re mets! And, guess what? I can't sleep! So another doc has put me on clonazepam 0.5mg, prn. I've taken them two nights, and had two long sleeps, and I also feel quite a bit calmer. I don't want to take them when I have work next day, nor get too dependent on them, but I sure wish I'd been given them early on, a year ago!!

I'm glad you're taking advantage of medication for your depression.  I read somwhere on one of the forums here at BCO.org that  "Depression is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign you've been strong for too
long."

Oceana

I've been there.  I did 4 rounds of AC and they repeated the mammo to see if it was working and I was told it wasn't.  It was the worst news for me, here I am trying to get through chemo and stay as positive as possible and you tell me this, I wanted to give up and stop putting my body through this.  That was over 3 yrs ago, so I guess it was working!  Chemo most definetly is adding to your emotions, so keep on keeping on, you will get through this.  I was given ativan at dx but didnt like them so I chose not to take them but I probably should have.  After I got through tx I got on paxil and now I'm on effexor.  They do help so don't hesitate using them if you need to, I wish I would have earlier.   

I was already on anti-depressants prior to dx, taking 20 mg of celexa. I was working on getting off of them and when I was dx'd I actually went up to 40 mg. Lately I've noticed that 40 mg just isn't cutting it anymore. If I miss a does normally I will get a sensation of a brain shock, it's weird, but I don't know any other way to describe this. Lately if I only take 1 40 mg pill, I still get that sensation. I've been taking 80...so I need to call my PCP about this. Not sure what this is about...I havent started chemo yet, but I am overwhelmed.

I only had asked onc for something to deal with hot flashes from chemo-induced menopause.  She put me on Effexor then tried one more which I can't remember.  Instead of reducing the hot flashes, it made them worse.  And upon reading further information about how anti-depressents can harm your bones, I decided they really weren't working for me and why would I want to damage my bones?? My cute little 1 yr old grandson is now my anti-depressent medicine.   

Warrior50 - Glad that you are feeling better. It is amazing what a good night of sleep and some family time can do for us.