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cowgirl13
Joined:
Oct 2009
Posts:
1,881
Latest activity:
Mar 21, 2023
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Dec 20, 2020 08:43PM
cowgirl13
wrote:
Many women on this forum take effexor for depression and it has really helped them. It won't make you feel drunk or spaced out unless you are not taking the correct dose or you should be taking something else. When I first started taking antidepressants it was like I 'got my life back again'. Can't say enough for how they have helped me.
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the Devil says: 'Oh crap! She's up!
Dx
5/28/2009, IDC, Left, 2cm, Stage IIA, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2+
Surgery
6/17/2009
Chemotherapy
8/3/2009 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel)
Radiation Therapy
12/21/2009
Hormonal Therapy
2/23/2010 Arimidex (anastrozole)
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salamandra
Joined:
Oct 2018
Posts:
1,469
Latest activity:
Mar 23, 2023
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Dec 21, 2020 08:20AM
salamandra
wrote:
There's often an adjustment period to antidepressants. Depending on the drug, for me that's involved things like diarrhea to body aches. The doctor should give you an idea of how long you should give it. Sometimes some people feel flat on certain antidepressants. There's really no way to know for you except to try, and if the first one has intolerable side effects that don't go away, there are many more to be tried. Kind of like the birth control pill.
Dx at 39. 1.8cm. Oncotype 9.
Dx
9/19/2018, IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
10/18/2018 Lumpectomy; Lymph node removal
Hormonal Therapy
11/1/2018 Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
Radiation Therapy
12/3/2018 Whole breast: Breast
Hormonal Therapy
12/19/2019 Fareston (toremifene)
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alissat
Joined:
Oct 2019
Posts:
25
Latest activity:
Oct 4, 2022
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Dec 21, 2020 08:49AM
alissat
wrote:
I was on Effexor before I was diagnosed for anxiety. It definitely got me thru being diagnosed & treatment. Without I would have been a total basket case. I’m not currently taking it, however I can tell you it definitely helped with my anxiety, mood swings, hot flashes & night sweats. Some downsides for me were weight gain, constantly feeling hungry (craved carbs/sweets) & feeling flat. You just have to weigh pros & cons & decide what’s best for you. Best of luck
Dx
5/22/2019, IDC, Left, 1cm, Stage IIA, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
6/28/2019 Lymph node removal; Lymph node removal (Left): Sentinel; Lymph node removal (Right): Sentinel; Mastectomy; Mastectomy (Left); Mastectomy (Right)
Chemotherapy
8/19/2019 Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel)
Radiation Therapy
1/6/2020 Whole breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall
Hormonal Therapy
2/14/2020 Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
Surgery
8/1/2020 Reconstruction (Left): DIEP flap; Reconstruction (Right): DIEP flap
Surgery
8/3/2020 Reconstruction (Left): DIEP flap; Reconstruction (Right): DIEP flap
Surgery
11/1/2020 Reconstruction (Left): Fat grafting; Reconstruction (Right): Fat grafting
Surgery
11/9/2020 Reconstruction (Left): Fat grafting; Reconstruction (Right): Fat grafting
Surgery
Lymph node removal (Left): Sentinel; Lymph node removal (Right): Sentinel; Mastectomy (Left): Nipple Sparing, Skin Sparing; Mastectomy (Right): Nipple Sparing, Skin Sparing; Reconstruction (Left): Tissue Expander; Reconstruction (Right): Tissue Expander
L
laughinggull
Joined:
Jan 2018
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570
Latest activity:
Mar 17, 2023
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Dec 21, 2020 01:58PM
laughinggull
wrote:
I was also on Effexor during diagnosis and treatment, and it definitely helped me with moods and terrors. I didn't feel emotionally flat at all, and definitely didn't gain weight. I took it for about 10 months, and then weaned off it. It was initially prescribed to me by my oncologist. However, after like 6 months, I had a consultation with a psychiatric oncologist. My take was that, same as you would prefer to talk chemo with the oncologist, and surgery with the surgeon, it made sense to discuss psychiatric medication with a psychiatrist. This was very, very useful. He gave me advice about how and when wean off it, what to expect, etc.
The questions you have are relevant and natural for someone who has never been on antidepressants -that was my case, too. I recommend that you consult with a psychiatrist.
Best,
LaughingGull
ACx4, THPx4, HP (to complete 1y); Nerlynx (1y); AI (expected 10y), Surgery: BMX + ALND, Reconstruction, Oophorectomy. Radiation.
Dx
10/26/2017, IDC, Right, 3cm, Stage IIB, Grade 3, 2/6 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
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nopink2019
Joined:
Aug 2019
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406
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Mar 23, 2023
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Dec 21, 2020 06:09PM
nopink2019
wrote:
I tried a couple of older medications for depression several years ago, 1 made me hyper and another crashed my BP. Just gave up on antidepressants (was seeing my GP, not psychiatrist like I should have). After exhibiting depression at an ONC appt, she suggested I try Lexapro. 3rd time's a charm! So try Effexor and keep in contact w/ONC about side effects. Different dose or drug may be warranted, but when you find one that works, it is great. Good Luck.
2008: Stage 1 ER+/ PR-/ HER2- (lumpectomy, ACT, rads +7 yrs AI)
2019: Stage 4 (lungs & liver). Treatment, then progression - Kisqali & fluvestrant (18 mos), Aromasin & Afinitor (6 mos), Xeloda (6 mos). Eribulin (6 mos).
Start Enhertu 01/2023.
Since 2020 Lexapro for depression & Ritalin for fatigue
