I had my first lot of chemo on 5 Mar (EC) and have been fortunate enough to have minimal SEs (next lot on 27 Mar). However, my anxiety levels which I’d hoped would decrease once treatment started are still a problem.
I haven’t had a mx yet as shortly after dx in January secondaries were discovered in my lungs and so it was deemed best to start on chemo straight away with an mx possibly later (then rads). I think it’s the fear of what might be going on in my lungs that is causing the majority of the anxiety.
I’ve been prescribed citalopram 20mg for the anxiety and have diazepam 5mg to take as and when if I’m feeling particularly frantic. I’ve also got zopiclone 3.75mg to help with sleeping. So I can’t say I haven’t been given any help! I’ve been taking the citalopram for about 3 weeks. My GP said it should start working within about a fortnight but yesterday the Macmillan nurse said sometimes it can take around 6 weeks to kick in properly? Anyone had any experience?
Also I was really hoping that the zopiclone would knock my socks off. But last night I took two at 11pm and was awake again at 3am. Again anyone else had anything similar or know of something else I could ask for?
I’m seeing the onc tomorrow and will raise all this with him but all advice gratefully received.
i have been on 20mg citalopram for 8 weeks (anxiety) and have only started noticing big improvements in the past week or so. anything from 2-8 weeks is normal for this drug to work. stick with it, all the best x
Hey great that you had minimal SE’s and hope it continues.
While Citalopram usually kicks in in a couple of weeks, 6-8 weeks to reach a good effect is not unknown so I’d be inclined to stick with it. 20mg is enough for some but it may be that you need 40mg - see how it goes.
The way that Zopiclone works is that it gets you off to sleep but doesn’t keep you asleep. You might need some Temazepam to do that, but the downside is it’s more likely to make you feel like you have a hangover in the morning!
You could perhaps talk to your GP about switching the Diazepam to Lorazepam which you could take on a regular basis for a few weeks. The problem with taking Diazepam when you need it, is that it doesn’t always control the level of anxiety that you have already reached when you take it (if that makes sense).
What about some meditation alongside everything you are taking?
Afternoon Delia it is great news that the side effects are ok. Lots of us seem to have the same sleeping problems. I just find I am awake for a couple of nights then sleep really deeply on the third and just regard it as normal. I haven’t had Citalopram but I know people that have had it and found it took a couple of months to really kick in.
it might be the diazepam that is making you feel tired. It isn’t a sleeping tablet but can give a hangover effect.
Hold on in there sometimes it is the opposite that helps sleep ie lots of exercise or a TV programme you really want to watch.
Cackles xx
So pleased that the chem SEs aren’t too bad. I can’t offer much help, except to say that while I didn’t have huge levels of anxiety, I also found that sleep was a problem.
I found the best way of dealing with it was not to worry about it. I would either just lie in bed reading (quite often I then fell asleep with the book still propped up in front of my nose), or if feeling really unsettled, make a cup of tea or cocoa and take that back to bed with a book. The reading stopped my mind from buzzing and I was at least resting. If I needed a nap during the day, so be it.
Yes citalopram will take about 6/8 weeks to really work for you. I take 10mg and at first it did not work. But I persevered with it and I have not had an anxiety attack at all since. It is a gradual thing. xx
Many thanks for all the helpful replies. It does look I might be expecting a bit too much too soon of the citalopram - so I will continue with that and consider asking for the dosage to be upped if still struggling in another few weeks.
Laurie - Thanks for info re zopiclone. I’d just assumed it would keep you asleep as well as send you off. I also hadn’t realised that diazepam wouldn’t necessarily control the levels of anxiety already reached (I’d been ‘saving’ it for really dire moments). I’ll have a word with the GP about the best way to go. I’ve arranged, via the Macmillan nurse, to go to a local complimentary therapy centre next week so hoping they offer meditation - if not there’s bound to be somewhere else around here that offers it.
Cackles/DJ - You are absolutely right about TV programmes you want to watch/reading sending you to sleep! I must bear that in mind rather than lying in bed staring at the ceiling thinking black thoughts.
You have my sympathy. I think that anxiety and its effect on sleeping patterns is a significant issue for quite a lot of cancer patients.
Are you taking medication to control the side effects of chemo? If so, it might be worth asking your oncologist about changing/tweaking these. They certainly messed up my sleeping pattern, big style.
After a while I had a few sessions with a counsellor and she was very helpful in giving me strategies to assist with sleep issues.
I hope that your oncologist is helpful and sympathetic when you see him tomorrow.
Hi. Sorry about your sleep problems, I was the same. I had temazepam some nights when really bad, which broke the cycle. I found reflexology really helpful, and some relaxation apps or cds. There are a lot of relaxation cds on the penny brohn website. Sorry to be brief, am typing this on the phone.
Good luck with finding something that works for you.