Forum Discussion

Jovdp's avatar
Jovdp
Member
4 years ago

Anxiety, hot flushes and gebapentin- help

So I thought chemo was hard.... tamoxifen is kicking my arse!! Went to the menopause after cancer clinic today and they were lovely. She has put me on Gebapentin for the hot flushes, just wonder how others use of this has worked for them? Has it also been successful with anxiety and moods? I am really struggling with feeling anxious all of the time! I don’t know if it’s the post cancer struggles, tamoxifen, menopause, the pressure of a new job or all of them!! I’ve never really had a problem with anxiety before but I can stop feeling sick, crying and just generally feeling rubbish!!!  Any tips appreciated 
coping
hormone-therapy
side-effects
  • kmakm's avatar
    kmakm
    Member
    4 years ago
    Hi @Jovdp. I'm on Gabapentin for hot flushes and have found it to be very helpful. My oncologist added Oxybutynin and that helped again. I tried acupuncture for several months but it didn't work for me. Give it all a go. You can always stop if they don't work for you. Best of luck, K xox
  • Jovdp's avatar
    Jovdp
    Member
    4 years ago
    @HappySoul I like the idea of trying acupuncture, thank you , will definitely give that a go
  • HappySoul's avatar
    HappySoul
    Member
    4 years ago
    Hi @Jovdp, sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time. I am on Tamoxifen and have found I am much more stable mentally if I take it at roughly the same time each morning. Also, my McGrath nurse suggested acupuncture for the hot flushes - there is quite a bit of evidence in support of this. I did try a couple of sessions & although they said it’s best to have up to 6 sessions it really made a difference after the 2nd go. The only reason I haven’t continued with it is due to the cost and now the nights are cooler I find I’m managing the hot flushes better. Maybe it’s worth a try.
  • Halla's avatar
    Halla
    Member
    4 years ago
    @Jovdp for me , Prozac has been life changing for the anxiety I suffered until I was 40 years old.  I have been on it for 12 years - best 12 years of my life, I only regret not trying it earlier. It is supposed to reduce hot flushes a bit too.  

  • Jovdp's avatar
    Jovdp
    Member
    4 years ago
    @FLClover will have a chat with my onc if I don’t get any reprieve.😊😊
  • FLClover's avatar
    FLClover
    Member
    4 years ago
    🙁🙁. Well, time does seem to go past pretty quickly. You could just have the Zoladex til then and switch now? I have the Zoladex needle every month, almost a year now. It doesn’t hurt. Takes 5 mins, zero side effects. Just a suggestion, but if not I do hope T side effects ease up on you til Sept 🤞🤞🍀♥️
  • Jovdp's avatar
    Jovdp
    Member
    4 years ago
    @FLClover will switch to AI after I have ovaries out in September. Might need to just battle my way through til then .😞😞 
  • FLClover's avatar
    FLClover
    Member
    4 years ago
    Sorry @Jovdp, I don’t have any tips as I’m not on Tamoxifen. A friend of mine has been on it since 2017, and she complains of exactly the same things: feeling very emotional and crying, and feeling depressed. Also very anxious. She also has delayed and heavy periods. Have you thought about switching to an AI?