Which anti depressants suit you being on tamoxifen?

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I wanted to know if ther were certain types of anti depressants that work well with tamoxifen?

Is anyone on them and got on well with them?

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Bump

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I was on prozac when diagnosed with bc. When put on tamoxifen I had read on here that prozac prevents tamoxifen working properly and saw advise to change to effexor. So GP put me on effexor 75mg daily. Now decreased to 37.5mg daily. Suppose to help with the hot flushes too which is hard to tell as not been off the effexor so cant compare.

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I’m not taking tamoxifen for my cancer, but did participate in the IBIS 1 trial from 2000 - 05, and I discovered on diagnosis, having been advised to have my IBIS code broken, that I was on tamoxifen. Must admit I had no idea - no side effects whatsoever despite being pre menopausal at the time!!

Throughout my IBIS trial I took prozac / fluoxtetine at varying doses from 20mg pd to 60 mg. IBIS knew about this as I declared it, but never queried the parallel use - presumably had there likely been any effect they’d have not wanted me on the trial as I might skew results. But its occurred to me since starting to type - this may be newer research so I’ve probably not helped much!!

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Dear Emily

I go along with gocat on this one. My cancer was over 3 years misdiagnosed so you could say I was rock bottom when it was discovered I had breast cancer and had watched it grow throughout that time. I’ve had a fair amount of anti depressants because of this. At first I had diazipam, then prozac. However, when I told my oncologist what I was taking he suggested I went on Efexor Venlafaxine - he said it would also be helpful with my hot flushes. I then moved house to an new area and my GP suggested Cipralex which I took for about six months. I then read that Cipralex belongs to a group of anti depressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and could interfere with tamoxifen. I came off them. I know that Efexor Venlafaxine is also a SSRI but my understanding is that if you have to take one, this would be the best one to take. I still have post traumatic stress treatment and my therapist suggested MorEPA (basically fish oil) and I really do think it helps. I hope I haven’t confused you and you find my posting helpful.

Let me know how you get on.

Jeannie

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Hi, I’m also on venlafaxine, only started it a couple of weeks ago as wasn’t coping well, still early days and on a low dose (37.5mg). Am seeing my gp for a review next week so dont know if she’ll change the dose, hasnt made much differnce to the hot flushes as yet unfortunately…hope it will in time. Started tamoxifen about a month ago,
Good luck xx

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Venlafaxine is not an SSRI in my understanding but a SNRI, which has an effect on the neo adrenaline as well. I take another SNRI now, duloxetine, which works reasonably well for me, having ‘beaten’ prozac - even on max dose I was still curling up howling in bed under the quilt with ear plugs in, just shutting myself away from the outside world. SNRIs seem to be less used than SSRI’s and often seem to be teh preserve of psychiatrists to prescribe initially rather than GPs.

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i was on sertraline which worked fine with tamoxifen… stopped it about 2 months ago and had some naff SEs cos i stopped it too quick but otherwise it was fine.

Lx

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Hi
I was on seroxat when I went on to tamox, but had to change to citalopram, which is apparently fine, and works well for me.
good luck
monica x

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Thanks for all your comments. Its really helped. Seeing my GP on Wed.

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Another citalopram user here which is working extremely well for me with tamoxifen. Good luck and best wishes to you all.

Judy x

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Dear Broomsticklady

I’ve just checked the details within my Venlafaxine packet. You are correct in your understanding, Venlafaxine is a SNRI. I’m left wondering if it would be better to take a SNRI drug in light of the uncertainty as to whether SSRI drugs affect the work of tamoxifen.

Would be good to have your thoughts.

Keep well.

Jeannie

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How about St Johns Wort…not sure about the spelling ladies. I took that for a while and it is herbal. You cannot take it with all meds so check with your doctor.

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I’ve certainly found for my depression and anxiety that duloxetine works for me - tho as I say I’m on Arimidex not tamoxifen now. I’ve had no really bad side effects from it, and am taking 90mg which is 50% more than the recommended max dose, so think I’d be suffering big time with side effects.

The ‘problem’ with them I suspect is the psychiatrists who prescribe them - a new one for me wanted to put me back onto something else - can’t remember what but it pre dated SSRIs and SNRIs, and I wasn’t prepared to play ball with him and change - when questioned, he’d never used SNRIs before so was dubious abou them. The psychiatrist who put me on it was fairly young and forward looking - she also got me onto cognitive Analytical therapy, which has helped me a lot, whereas the old CBT just washed over me - it didn’t tell me why I am as I am, which the CAT has.

Good luck!

Nina

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Cant take st johns wort with tamoxifen apparently. Shame as would rather take herbal.

Im confused wuth the 2 groups of anti depressants.

I did try citalopram last year. I took one n I hated it I didnt bother carrying on. It was like taking a bad ectasty pill and i really didnt want to feel like that so it put me off n ive been scared to take any ever since!

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Hi my Oncologist a Professor at the Marsden in Sutton was not happy with me taking any antidepressants and advised me to take St Johns Wort,he said there had been studies done and it was perfectly safe.

Bet wishes Mel xx

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I thought I would have a quick look on internet and see if I could find these studies but the only information I could find say’s it’s NOT safe to take St John Wort whilst on tamoxifen.So is my Oncologist wrong, is it just his opinion,should I not take it.We put our lives in there hands don’t we.

Mel xx

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Dear Melly2

I wish I could remember who told me not to take St Johns Wort. I have a feeling it was Bristol Cancer Care (now Penny Brohn Centre) but cannot say for sure. Perhaps if your cancer is not ER+ and PR+ then you can take it. Mine is 100% ER+ and 100% PR+ so I would not be inclined to go down that road. If in doubt, I would leave out.

Wishing you well.

Jeannie

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Hi Melly2

I will pass this on to the nurses here regarding St. John’s Wort and see if they have any comment to make regarding this.

Take care,
Jo, Facilitator

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Hi
I took St Johns when i was on tamoxifen but was told i should not take it when i change to aromasin. It would be good to get more information so people can make the choice. I am lucky that i do not need to be on anything at the moment but would hate the thought that i had not choice.Have any test/tresaerch been done on this ?