Anti Depressants

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Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Anti Depressants

Postby Rikimaroo » Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:11 am

Hello,

Has anyone caregiver or patient take anti depressants? Are they helpful and what do they really do? My wife asked me today to set up an appointment to get depression pills for both of us, because she hears me crying and doesn't know what to do and it makes her depressed. I try to close the door so she doesn't hear, but this is tough on us.

Can I get some advice.

Riki
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

saltygirl
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 4:46 pm
Facebook Username: Salty.girl

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby saltygirl » Sat Jun 18, 2022 12:32 pm

So sorry. I am in your age group. Since I was diagnosed I have tried different antidepressants. None have worked for me. They made me feel worse. I couldn’t sleep and was feeling “high and hyper” or too relaxed. I don’t take anything but work out 6x per week. Also walk my dogs daily. Hope you can find some medication that will help. I came across people who are happy with marijuana.
Good luck from another stage 4 patient.
Stage 4, distant lymph nodes May 2020, braf/kras mutations
11 folfoxiri
Intense radiation 1 week on distant lymph nodes
Surgery, hysterectomy, colon resection, distant lymph nodes resection
Complete pathological response to chemo.
NED 2021
NED 2022
NED 2023

MadMed
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun May 02, 2021 5:52 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby MadMed » Sat Jun 18, 2022 1:45 pm

I’m on Lexapro, was put on it for anxiety and dread. As much as I don’t like being on pills daily, it evens things out for me. It basically takes the edge off feelings. I’m not completely numbs, but I don’t experience the highs and lows the way I was before.
If I upped the dosage I would probably be completely numb, but I’m comfortable at 10mg.
Another upside is being on it helps me with work. I’m much more mellow than I used to be.
I should also mention that I have started therapy, it’s really unlike me, or the old me to discuss feelings etc..but if I’m being honest, therapy has be incredibly useful.
I went from being very in control of my life, to completely not in control due to my diagnosis. I felt trapped, angry, scared. You know the feelings. We’ll, it started with a couples therapist. That’s because my wife started having panic attacks. She’s also my caregiver. The couples therapist was incredible. My marriage is in a better place now with her help. I also have a separate therapist just for me, and that really helps clarify what my feelings are and how to deal with them.

I hope this helps you, nothing we go through is easy, it’s ok to get help.
52M DX: RC lower rectum, guessing now 2cm from AV 4/27/2021
T3N0M0 adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features
Tumor size 30mm
Tumor grade: G3
Baseline CEA 1.0
MSI status: MSS pMMR
Started Folfox 5/12/2021
Switched to FOLFIRINOX from session 2. 8 rounds total.
CT+MRI tumor contained shrunk 80%, no spread to other organs.
CRT started xeloda + 28 days Radiation 9/27-11/04
NED as of 4/06 CT/MRI/sigmoidoscopy
On W&W 04/06/2022

User avatar
Peregrine
Posts: 255
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:18 am

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby Peregrine » Sat Jun 18, 2022 1:48 pm

1. You can do a search for ZOLOFT on this forum to see comments pro/con from members.
2. You can do a search for PROZAC on this forum to see comments pro/con from members.

Remember, most anti-depressants take 3 to 4 weeks before they "kick in" and start working. They don't give you immediate relief. Relief comes only after your body eventually becomes adjusted to them, and that may take a while.

On the other hand, they do have the advantage that if you find a brand that works well for you, you can usually keep taking it for months or years without worrying about whether it will cause addiction or other problems.

Please note also that anti-depressants are different from anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax, Ativan, etc. Anti-anxiety drugs are usually habit-forming and have other bad consequences if they taken for more than just a month or so continuously.

saltygirl
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 4:46 pm
Facebook Username: Salty.girl

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby saltygirl » Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:37 pm

Good to know if I need it in the future. I wasn’t aware how this works.
Stage 4, distant lymph nodes May 2020, braf/kras mutations
11 folfoxiri
Intense radiation 1 week on distant lymph nodes
Surgery, hysterectomy, colon resection, distant lymph nodes resection
Complete pathological response to chemo.
NED 2021
NED 2022
NED 2023

MadMed
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun May 02, 2021 5:52 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby MadMed » Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:46 pm

Great point peregrine!
Lexapro took a couple of weeks to actually feel like it was doing anything. It's not what I would call habit-forming, not in the sense of pain killers.
I am not addicted to it, in fact most days I forget to take it. BUT you can't stop taking it on a whim, it takes time to wean-off of it. Otherwise you'll have bad side effects:
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/lexapro-addiction/withdrawal-detox/#:~:text=It%20is%20unwise%20to%20stop,and%20poor%20memory%20and%20concentration.
52M DX: RC lower rectum, guessing now 2cm from AV 4/27/2021
T3N0M0 adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features
Tumor size 30mm
Tumor grade: G3
Baseline CEA 1.0
MSI status: MSS pMMR
Started Folfox 5/12/2021
Switched to FOLFIRINOX from session 2. 8 rounds total.
CT+MRI tumor contained shrunk 80%, no spread to other organs.
CRT started xeloda + 28 days Radiation 9/27-11/04
NED as of 4/06 CT/MRI/sigmoidoscopy
On W&W 04/06/2022

User avatar
beach sunrise
Posts: 1033
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:14 pm

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby beach sunrise » Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:49 pm

Lexapro also helps with keeping an appetite.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
CEA
7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
9/20 8.8, 9, 8.6
10/20 8.1
11/20 8s
12/20 8s-9s
ADAPT++++ chrono
CEA
10/23/22 26.x
12/23/22 22.x
2023
1/5 17.1
1/20 15.9
3/30 14.9
6/12 13.3
8/1 2.1
Nodule RML SUV 1.3 5mm
Rolles 3 of 4 lung nodules cancer
KRAS
Chem-sens test failed Not enough ca cells to test

Bpaint
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:54 pm

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby Bpaint » Sun Jun 19, 2022 7:47 am

I’ve taken Lexapro for several years for depression, since before my husband’s diagnosis. I take 15mg daily and it helps even things out for me, but definitely does not take all the sadness away.

My husband started taking Lexapro after his diagnosis and takes 20mg a day now. He thinks it helps a lot but doesn’t take away all the sadness either. His oncologist also gave him trazadone to help with anxiety and sleeping, but he only takes that occasionally at night because it does Make him feel a bit hung over the next day. For my husband, he says the exercise helps the most. But that can definitely be hard if treatment is making him feel terrible.

You can get a prescription for either from your primary care or oncologist. I hope you find something that helps. My husband has also talked to a therapist associated with the cancer center here that specializes in talking to cancer patients and their families.
husband (age 41 at dx):
8/20 CRC Stage 4. Mets to lungs, liver, distant lymph nodes
MSS, KRAS wild
CEA 713 at dx
Folfox (12 rounds)
Liver, colon and node resection 4/21
New lung mets, Vectibix monotherapy started 6/21
Stop Vectibix lungs stable about 6 months; all other areas stable
Start Folfiri + avastin 1/22
Stop Folfiri (lungs stable 6 mos); start Vectibix 7/22
Stop Vectibix 12/22 (lungs stable 5 mos this time)
SBRT on lung Mets scheduled for 1/22, will restart Folfiri

saltygirl
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 4:46 pm
Facebook Username: Salty.girl

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby saltygirl » Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:32 pm

I would as well. But I can’t because I have kids. I know they would want me to fight all the way. My daughter is planning on med school. She got got A from an organic chemistry class at very academic college. So I need at least 2 more years before she will graduate college. And my son will be in college as well. Funny how we push for these milestones. But this summer we are heading to Spain, Croatia, Italy… My son will be studying in Spain a whole month.
Stage 4, distant lymph nodes May 2020, braf/kras mutations
11 folfoxiri
Intense radiation 1 week on distant lymph nodes
Surgery, hysterectomy, colon resection, distant lymph nodes resection
Complete pathological response to chemo.
NED 2021
NED 2022
NED 2023

jsbsf
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 6:01 am
Location: San Francisco

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby jsbsf » Tue Jun 28, 2022 5:02 pm

I’m really sorry to hear about the depression. I’m a caretaker and had a hard time holding it together.

We had more anxiety than depression. But depression was there as well. DH was prescribed Ativan, and I took some too. It worked very well and quickly. We were able to sleep like babies. We only took one when things got bad, though. We didn’t want to risk addiction.
DH 61
2019 4A t3 n2 m1a
8/23 C-scopy, 5+cm mass. CEA:4.1
9/16 MSS. MRI: 2 lvr mets: 2.7 & 7mm
9/30 Start FOLFOX 1-6
10/4 Lg lvr met ~3.7cm, pri tmr stable.
CEA: 10/13,12.5;10/27-12/8 btw 4.7 & 3.1
11/5 both lvr mets ~ 2/3 smaller.
12/17 PET: significant improv.
2020
MWA 2/5, Lap resection 2/11
CEA: 3/1-5/31 btw 2.1&2.9
3/2 start FOLFOX 7-12
7/23-29 EBRT
10/2/2020 NED/W&W
4/2022 EUS-FNA,MRI: recur.;
5/2022:CT scan no mets. APR.
7-12/2023 Xeloda
4/2023 CT/MRI NED

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby Rikimaroo » Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:11 pm

Thanks for all the posts. We decided not to move forward with them. I am going to tough this out as much as I can.

It is just so hard to see my loved ones watch me go through this, my Dad is a mess and its hurts my heart so much to think he can't do nothing for his son. My Mom/Wife/Kids same boat, but Dad is really stressed.

Riki
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

saltygirl
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 4:46 pm
Facebook Username: Salty.girl

Re: Anti Depressants

Postby saltygirl » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:06 am

It seems to work if you find the right combination. Also I have never taken marijuana in my life. But many cancer patients seem to be happy. I will investigate in the future if needed.
Stage 4, distant lymph nodes May 2020, braf/kras mutations
11 folfoxiri
Intense radiation 1 week on distant lymph nodes
Surgery, hysterectomy, colon resection, distant lymph nodes resection
Complete pathological response to chemo.
NED 2021
NED 2022
NED 2023


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