Tamoxifen and anti depressants?

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CPB1167
CPB1167 Member Posts: 24
edited January 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have my last chemo today and the plan is to take tamoxifen afterwards. I just started researching tamoxifen and found that one shouldn't take certain antidepressants as they reduce/block the effects of the tamoxifen. I have taken duloxetine and buproprion for years, unfortunately these are 2 that are on the serious interaction list... I am definitely going to talk to MO today about this, but does anyone have any information/experience with this?

Thanks.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited November 2018

    Yup, they reduce the effects. I think most of the time they want you on Effexor, but I've heard of some people being on Lexapro (but sometimes you also see that listed as a no-no).

    You might need your MO to directly speak with whoever prescribes your antidepressants to figure it all out.

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited November 2018

    I was in the same boat with buproprion.

    The medical oncologist offered me to do ovarian suppression+AI if it were important to me to stay on bupropion. She didn't feel there was any therapeutic benefit for me for ovarian suppression+AI, and it can have more side effects.

    So I am trying to come off of the bupropion and replace it with lexapro+samE (in conversation with my regular NPP and a psychiatrist at my cancer treatment center).

    But I know that I have come off of bupropion in the past and the worst thing that happened was that some time passed and I realized I needed to go back on. So I feel pretty safe with this experiment, and also feel good knowing that if I can't get to a working alternative to bupropion, I have the option to go back on and replace the tamoxifen with something that will work just as well against the cancer. Picking my poisons...

    I am taking a bit more time off of work (starting the tamoxifen before radiation) to let all the new drugs and side effects work themselves out (I have a pretty stressful, demanding job).

    I would argue that if your doctor isn't offering you OS+AI at least as a back up option (or explaining why in your particular case she doesn't think it's medically appropriate), she isn't really taking your mental health seriously as part of your health.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited November 2018

    There are three well known antidepressants that are ok with Tamoxifen : lexapro, celexa, and effexor. There is also a new antidepressant, Trintellix, which is also ok, but as it is new and most often not covered by insurance, not many people are on it. Good luck.to you...

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  • CPB1167
    CPB1167 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2018

    UPDATE:

    I should say that I am 51 and my doctors think I am in menopause because of my hormone levels. My MO recommends ovarian suppression with a monthly shot of Zoladex with Letrozole/Femara. With this plan I wouldnt have to change my anti depressants which would be great. Yes of course there are SEs with these meds, my most concern is bone loss but I am hoping I can do things to help reduce that. I wanted the best treatment plan to fight my cancer and this was it.

    Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.

    Salamandra - I appreciate your info on the OS + AI details that helped alot when I talked to my MO. And I am glad she did take into consideration my mental health into all of this!

    Best to all of you.

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2019

    It works both ways. Im on a bunch of psychiatric meds because I'm bipolar with panic disorder. I take Celexa, Seroquel, Klonopin, Trazadone (for sleep), and Lamotrogine (mood stabilizer). Trazadone decreased the effects of most of them and I ended up suicidal and in the hospital. My Tamoxifin seems to be working fine but I have terrible side effects. Cancer Sucks!

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