Hey there I have been taking paxtine for for anxiety for some time now..i have been on 1 tablet for 2 weeks now after taking 2. This interacts with Tamoxifen so I have to come off it. Does anyone take antidepressants and know what ones dont interact? I am in discussion of other meds with my Dr, but wondered from personal experience xxxTrikki2 .

I've tried many antidepressants, I've found they generally don't agree with me--the SSRI drugs make my throat swell and the others, while useful when Im likely to top myself, bring those own brands of misery so I don't stay with them.I wish my doctor would let me have 2 valium a night @PatsyN ,that would be awesome. Unfortunately, she's a bit parsimonious with those sorts of drugs, so I have to make a bottle of 20 last three months. There are three drugs I take every day, and another two I take intermittently. Whenever anything new gets added to the mix I get the senior pharmacist at one of the local chemists to review the soup. While I usually trust my GP, it doesn't hurt to have an expert eye have a look at these things. It's surprising what gets picked up, or overlooked,I have never been told that there are critical contraindications when I've been taking antidepressants, but the key word is 'critical' . It appears there is nearly always some sort of issue with pretty much everything. My pain meds can elevate my blood pressure because they muddle with the Candesartan. On and on it goes. Sometimes you just have to figure out what is the thing that most needs fixing, and go with that.

I take Effexor, 75mg per day. No side effects and managed the psychosis I got on Tamoxifen really well.

It is Very Important as @Zoffiel says - about getting an audit on your medications, in case some actually contraindicate/have adverse affects to your BC meds! My niece is a Pharmacist - and whilst most that she audits are the elderly who change Drs when moving from home to an Aged Care facility & change of Drs .... our day to day drugs (including over the counter stuff) MAY seriously affect our health whilst going thru BC treatment. So far, I've been lucky & I haven't needed tabs - and I hope that continues. Sadly, my uke friend with Met BC does now takes valium - as a result of her grandson's tragic death a few weeks ago. If you have ANY anxiety/sleep issues or become deeply unhappy - PLEASE get professional advice - and don't just take what is in your cupboard. xx

@primek - I take 2 valium every night and have since I was on chemo. I find it relaxes my muscles and I never need to take more than 2. I have never slept better since I started taking valium and expect to be taking it for the rest of my life. (or that is my plan) I'm not at all depressed, but suffer from stress and anxiety at inconvenient times.

With Pristiq? I read half a dozen links and they all said it was OK. Best check with your oncologist! K xox

Antidepressants | BCNA Online Network

Michele_B
Member
7 years ago
Hi all, have just been prescribed Lexapro by my oncologist after battling anxiety and some really low moods. I've been on Tamoxifen for 3.5 years and apart from awful fatigue have coped ok. How has everyone else coped with lexapro? Thanks x
kmcin28
Member
7 years ago
Hi all, just a question. Today I have been prescribed Fluoxetine and valium for depression after a melt down a couple of weeks ago, I am still having Hercepton every 3 weeks and also Femara AI. Dr and Pharmacist okayed it but these days I'm paranoid about everything. Has anyone else taken this combination and if so how did you go?
PatsyN
Member
7 years ago

@Zoffiel said:

I wish my doctor would let me have 2 valium a night @PatsyN ,that would be awesome. Unfortunately, she's a bit parsimonious with those sorts of drugs, so I have to make a bottle of 20 last three months.

@PatsyN says back:-
You tell your doctor valium is the least damaging to the liver and kidneys. In the past it was a much over-prescribed drug for depression which it is not suited for and therefore was abused in the wrong hands.
I have always used it as a muscle relaxant intermittently and never during the day cause it makes me feel sleepy.
My acupuncturist thinks it's way better than the other prescriptive alternatives. Luckily, my GP feels the same way.

With depression there is no feeling of wanting to get treatment. It's the hardest of all mental illnesses to deal with because they've stopped caring about everything. It seems to me that there is too much passion on this site for too many depressed people.

Anxiety and stress due to waiting times for test results is the worst and it doesn't have to take that long. Most tests can be delivered in a quarter of the time they currently are but the system of delivery is too slow!

(I know this looks a bit wrong but hey, it's gettin late and I've taken the valium, nah nah ne nah nah)
Trikki2
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @lrb_03. Will check it out xx
Tennille
Member
7 years ago
I take Effexor, 75mg per day. No side effects and managed the psychosis I got on Tamoxifen really well.
lrb_03
Member
7 years ago
Have you checked this site?
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search

This comes highly recommended as a go to for complementary medicine, herbs etc with cancer treatment
Trikki2
Member
7 years ago
Yes lots of contradictions..its really tricky.
Stork
Member
7 years ago
I am taking Tamoxifen I asked a chemist if St John s Wort can be taken at the same time the answer was yes, I asked my GP and was told no, I did my own research on several reputable sites they all advised no. It makes it hard when medical professionals contradict each other’s advise. Therefore who do you trust?
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Pristiq is the next generation of Effexor. My GP described it as a more 'refined' version.

This is the first time I've ever taken an anti-depressant. Initially my GP wanted to put me on Lexapro but the onc at that stage was thinking of giving me Tamoxifen. Lexapro and Tamoxifen don't mix so Pristiq was chosen. As it turns out, Letrozole was the one I went on and there's no contra-indications there either.
Brenda5
Member
7 years ago
Effexor is pretty much the safest on Tamoxifen.