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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cybele on October 3, 2006, at 17:36:04
My dx is dysthymia/bipolar-NOS with no evidence of mania or hypomania other than AD-induced (which happened once about 11 years ago). Up until the beginning of summer, I had double depression, which lasted about a year (!). I've finally found an AD that works and doesn't cause unacceptable side-effects. Wellbutrin and Cymbalta both worked, but messed up my REM cycles so badly I could barely function during the day. I was almost narcoleptic. I tried Paxil and Prozac many years ago, and they made me feel *more* depressed.
I've been on Zoloft (100 mg) now for 4 months and have been doing great on it (yoohoo!), altho lately I feel like I am getting a tiny bit depressed again (spaciness/concentration/memory issues are my primary sympton of depression). My PDOC had suggested I might need a dose increase at some point, but now I have a complicating factor. I had DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) 5 months ago, which is a very early stage of breast cancer. The cancer was removed and I did not need radiation. My surgeon wanted me to think about going on Tamoxifen, and the last time I talked to her she reiterated that I should seriously consider it as my cancer was estrogen-positive and it might really help keep the cancer from coming back.
Reading up on this, I see that Zoloft can interfere with the Tamoxifen:
http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=endo_hor/4619
http://www.bms.jhmi.edu/Sin/English/About/News/SIN_AboutUs_News_MNFYJune04.asp
Does anyone have any experience with this or insight? I can't bear the thought of going back to that black-cloud depression I was in for a year up until I went on Zoloft. I also feel bummed about the idea of the Tamoxifen side-effects (basically, early menopause). I am only 45.
Posted by Phillipa on October 3, 2006, at 21:08:42
In reply to Sertraline/Zoloft and Tamoxifen?, posted by Cybele on October 3, 2006, at 17:36:04
I hope I can reassure you about menopause. First I never had hot flashes. Got hot at night but that's all. I did use bioidenticle hormone cream. But don't know if it worked as I just stopped it cold turkey nothing. And 45 is not that young for menopause as average age is 52. You're in peri-menopause now. Get an FSH it will tell you where you are in reguards to this. But what I want to stress is that you do respond to antidepressants you're lucky as for l0 years I've been trying to find one to stop this horrible anxiety depression. It said you could take effexor. So why not give that a try? After going over the pros and cons of staying on zoloft. personally I'd opt for feeling good now. Love Phillipa there are risks in everything.
Posted by Cybele on October 4, 2006, at 8:21:30
In reply to Re: Sertraline/Zoloft and Tamoxifen? » Cybele, posted by Phillipa on October 3, 2006, at 21:08:42
> But what I want to stress is that you do respond to antidepressants you're lucky as for l0 years I've been trying to find one to stop this horrible anxiety depression. It said you could take effexor. So why not give that a try? After going over the pros and cons of staying on zoloft. personally I'd opt for feeling good now. Love Phillipa there are risks in everything.
Thanks, Philippa :)
I took Effexor three years ago (75mg) (when my mother was dying) and it helpd a little, but I gained 20 pounds in 5 months even though I was exercising and was not taking in more calories than before starting the Effexor. This, of course, made me feel even worse! When I stopped taking it, I stopped gaining.
Posted by Phillipa on October 4, 2006, at 20:01:53
In reply to Re: Sertraline/Zoloft and Tamoxifen? » Phillipa, posted by Cybele on October 4, 2006, at 8:21:30
Personally I'd take my chances and stick with the zoloft then. What does your doc say? I know ca patients take antidepressants. I wanted to congratulate you on you wonderful outlook. Love Phillipa
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