Tamoxifen and anti-depressants

Hello, I hope someone can help me.

I started a 5 year course of Tamoxifen following sugery May 2012. This year I was prescribed anti-depressants to help with depression; firstly Fluoxetine… which I later was told interacted with the Tamoxifen so it was changed to Citalopram. However I have read that this may inhibit the effect of the Tamoxifen also, so I am at present unsure of if I should continue with this drug. I have asked several support groups including ringing the number on this site and also asking the “nurse”…however they all give very mixed answers; all which seem to contradict each other. Can anyone tell me is this drug to take alongside Tamoxifen, or is ther an alternative?

Jess,
I recall looking at info on this recently - think it may have been on Macmillan’s site. I remember Citalopram was on the list that’s ok to take, and Venlafaxine was as well.

There’s an article here which suggests that Venlafaxine is the safest choice to take with Tamoxifen

health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2010/June/antidepressants-and-tamoxifen

SP and Cybele thanks so much for responding; my meds have now been changed to Venlafaxine; I have been told that these have the least interaction. Thanks again

Hi, just some advice about venlafaxine. You may need to give your body time to get used to it. I took my first tablet and it made me very woozy an disorientated. My Gp then suggested taking 1/4 tablet for 4 days then 1/2 tablet for 4 days then full tablet and so on and this was a much better experience for me. Hope whatever you take helps you to feel better soon
Helen

I’ve been taking mirtazapine which is a SNRI anti depressant on the advice of my psychiatrist. My onc is happy with that and said it isn’t expected to interact. I take the tamoxifen in the morning and the anti depressant at night as it has sedative effects too, so good for the insomnia tamoxifen can trigger/exacerbate.
Hope you are feeling better.

Thanks Lisa. I did think about taking them at night, however they are time release capsules so Ive been told that wouldnt really make a difference to me. I`ve had a couple of better nights sleep so maybe they are working. Thanks for replying.

im on citralapram i was told it was ok to take ive been taking it for most of the time ive been on tam

I was actually prescribed Citalopram by my Oncologist. Never thought to question taking it with the Tamoxifen as he also prescribed that. Been on both for nearly 4 years now.