Antidepressant use is a complex issue as there are various different types and they are used to treat other ailments as well as depression.
Many of our members, women with primary or secondary breast cancer, reported taking antidepressant to tackle low mood, anxiety and the PTSD symptoms which may follow a diagnosis of breast. But they are also often prescribed to help with pain and with the hot flushes associated with hormone treatment and early menopause.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed, and include Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Citalopram among others. Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are also regularly given and include duloxetine and venlafaxine. Other more old-fashioned types are still in use, including Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline, often used to treat nerve pain.
Although much work is being done to lessen the stigma associated with experiencing mental health difficulties and the taking of antidepressants, many of us felt it can still be seen as a weakness to take them, a sign of being unable to cope.
Our experiences of taking anti-depressants are mixed - some of us see them as a life saver, others run a mile from them and give them a wide berth. A few of us shared we had felt so ill and unsettled after a single dose that we didn’t persist; but many of us have taken them continuously for many years with no ill effects. Our discussion highlighted that each person is likely to react uniquely to a particular prescription, and our GPs prescribe them for many different reasons.
Our women told us of many instances where they had successfully taken antidepressants to tackle a condition unrelated to breast cancer, both before and after diagnosis, including post-natal depression, clinical depression, anxiety, bereavement, relationship breakdown. For many, antidepressants have also been helpful in dealing directly with the trauma of a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment, e.g. coping with chemotherapy, and associated depression, panic attacks, fear and anxiety.
Many of our women with a metastatic diagnosis reported that antidepressants have helped them to come to terms with their secondary diagnosis. They can can level mood and help with sleep, and many of us are able to function much better whilst taking them. Many of us have also found a low dose helpful in alleviating hot flushes, whilst others who have tried this have not noticed any improvement.
Combining antidepressants with other remedies has provided excellent results for many of us. Counselling, CBT, exercise, meditation, mindfulness - all have helped us to tackle depression, and for some of us, these methods have proved effective on their own, without the medication.
We touched on some of the problems and controversies associated with antidepressants: we know from previous discussions that there is a lack of understanding about the mechanisms by which these medications 'work'. Naz told us that while we need to cope as effectively as we can, and we need to survive, the longitudinal 'effects' (or lack of) in these drugs are problematic - we expect the brain to take over after a course of antidepressants, but what happens? Many people need to go back on them again. We also don't know how they affect cognitive function.
Many of us shared that we had been able stop our medication and had found a gradual withdrawal manageable. Antidepressants may cause side-effects too, most commonly a numbing effect which over time can became unwanted for some of us. On balance though, our discussion highlight that those who found antidepressants helpful are very happy with the support they provide.
There is a view that antidepressants are prescribed too routinely as a simple option, with not enough focus on alternative approaches to treating depression. However, many of us felt they are part of how we practice our resilience by being aware of our choices and by researching different approaches. For those of us who choose to take antidepressants, they may be a useful short term solution to negotiate the bumpy ride that is a breast cancer diagnosis, or in the longer term, an effective aid to optimum functioning. Others choose alternative routes to wellbeing. Whatever we choose, we decided, it’s 100% ok.
If you are a woman diagnosed with breast cancer living in the UK and you would like to join our private group, please send us a private message via Facebook.
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