Many Younger Women Don't Take Tamoxifen as Prescribed

I quit tamoxifen after taking it for a year. I experienced weight gain and depression. I was then prescribed effexor and that really messed with me mentally. So I quit it and the tamoxifen. But I was always up front with my oncologist - even though he point blank told me I was making a stupid decision. Even if he and I didn't always agree, I respect him and I feel like if I am not honest with him, I'm making it that much harder for him to use his knowledge to help me.

I'm actually seeing him at the end of the month to talk to him about restarting the tamoxifen. I've had two kids since all that and having my precious boys makes me more motivated to stay alive, even if it means potential weight gain and depression. Hopefully this time around I'll have fewer side effects.

Salamandra -- We meet again. I am also going through the anti-depressant switch. From Cymbalta to Pristiq (form of Effexor). Not something I wanted to do at all but got the ball rolling when found out it would be a must if I was to take Tamox.

I've read, and my MO confirmed, that lack of or an abundance of SEs from the Tamox plays no part at all in whether or not the drug is doing it's job. Everyone is just different chemically and genetically.

Wishing you luck with the switch over from your current AD to Effexor. Hopefully you will have a better time than I have. Sending you good vibes your way.

I was doing so wonderful on my Cymbalta, had been on it for years. Going on week 3 of Pristiq change and I'm out of nowhere having not "good" thoughts", aggression, depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc....all of this flipped like a switch since making the "switch". Ugggh. My pysch doubled the Pristiq dose today, from 50 mg to 100mg.

Told her I'd give it another 2 weeks but if this doesn't even out by then, I won't do this and put my life, my animals, and those I love in harms way. Never before (and I've been on a "few" anti-depressants & made switches) have things gone so poorly and scarily. I am not myself. I don't like how I feel or think on this Pristiq.

Also told my MO that I hadn't started the Tamox yet, since needing to stabalize this first. It was hard to tell them I'd delayed yet again, but like you said Christina, if we're not honest with them, even if we aren't doing what they think we need to, they can't help us fully. Kudos to you for being so honest with your own doc. Hope things go well with your next visit.

Sending hugs and healing to everyone in need....