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suzieq's avatar
suzieq
Member
11 years ago

Tamoxifen, Aromatase Inhibitors, low thyroid function

For anyone on Tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitors suffering depression, anxiety, or weight gain it may be worth having your thyroid tested.  Here is link to medical journal I have quickly found.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9587161

I have tried Aromatase Inhibitors and on Tamoxifen up until 2 weeks ago. What I discovered on these drugs is they either interfere with my thyroid or affect thyroid medication resulting in depression (depression is a major side effect of under active thyroid)

For the past 20 years I have been successfully treated for an underactive thyroid living a normal happy life until breast cancer of course. Normal lab test results for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is usually within the paramater of 0.04 to 4.0.  My level (we are all different) where I am happy, well, active and energised is between 0.04 to 3.0.  Otherwise I suffer dreadful depression and anxiety.

I saw my Oncologist today regarding depression.  He wrote me a script for anti-depressants. When I tried to talk to him about the effect of Tamoxifen on my thyroid he was dismissive saying it doesn't happen.  He then went on to say I would be dead in 18 months if I went off them.  He was quite cold and rude. How does he know that? Does he really believe he is God?  I have only started seeing him after moving state! My cancer was only grade 2 stage 2 no lymph involvement needing only breast conserving surgery and radiation. I opted for chemo as I was told it gave me another 4% chance of survival - but I didn't need it.  It seems to me women are fair game if they arrive at an Oncology appointment in tears trying to find answers.  

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  • suzieq's avatar
    suzieq
    Member
    11 years ago

    My libido packed up and left long ago.  There are plenty of treatments for male sexual dysfunction - nothing for women! Seems to be least of my problems currently. After the way my Oncologist spoke to me last week just because I dared asked "God" a question, I am thinking of taking my chances and going natural.  His behaviour was the last straw for me.  My system can't seem to tolerate anything since chemo and rads!   I took just one anti-depressant and was out cold for 24 hours.  My husband said it was like I was hit with an elephant hyperdermic needle so I stopped after one!.  Do I go back and tell him I can't take his antidepressants?  Not me, not game!  And, I am still getting UTIs. Who do I tell? My GP just keeps giving me antibiotics.  I am so frustrated.  Wouldn't it be nice if one medico were able to treat the person on a whole.  

  • Merlins_mum's avatar
    Merlins_mum
    Member
    11 years ago
    Well good luck with the anti depressants. It will be good to hear how you go. It seems that everything we take has some unfortunate side effect. And he shouldn't have got angry with you. It is hard making decisions. It seems we have to weigh risks against benefits and of course the medical profession can do nothing other than follow the line of "proven to lengthen life span" rather than factor in quality of life. It's a tricky business huh. Still no improvement in my libido tho even with stopping the tamoxifen. Damn!
  • suzieq's avatar
    suzieq
    Member
    11 years ago

    Yes, I must admit he rocked my world yesterday.  I was so upset.  It is so hard making decisions about our treatments.  I went to my GP today and as it turns out my thyroid is OK so I can't blame that either.  Maybe that's why he got so angry with me.  I only ask questions because I am trying to figure out what is happening, the cause etc so I can make proper decisions about what is right for me.  In the 2 years since surgery I have barely been on anything.  Every Aromatase Inhibitor I tried gave me serious side effects.  Femara put me in hospital as I was allergic to Letrozole.  I thought I was going to die.  I am about to start the anti-depressants tonight and report back to Oncologist in 5 weeks.  If I have improved I will be put back on Tamoxifen.  Will let everyone know how I go.