depressed after cancer.....prozac????

[Jeff]

Hello, Im Jeff, I had TC a little over a year ago. 100% embryonal, RPLND, 3 rounds BEP. I have had anxiety through the roof since the end of chemo. I'm 24 and when I was diagnosed I was just out of college now I'm looking for a job. I am filled with anxiety and decided to talk to my doctor and am trying prozac, I'm desperate for something at this point, I will try anything to feel better. Anyone tried prozac?

[dadmo]

Jeff:
It's not that surprising to have some depression after what you have gone through. Have you had your testosterone levels checked? I would certainly advise you to have that done.

[RealDeal]

Hello, Im Jeff, I had TC a little over a year ago. 100% embryonal, RPLND, 3 rounds BEP. I have had anxiety through the roof since the end of chemo. I'm 24 and when I was diagnosed I was just out of college now I'm looking for a job. I am filled with anxiety and decided to talk to my doctor and am trying prozac, I'm desperate for something at this point, I will try anything to feel better. Anyone tried prozac?

I had 2 rounds of BEP stage 1 non-seminoma almost 6 years ago.I also believe my anxiety levels was increased but not due to Testosterone levels.I was always thinking negative like something else was going to happen.I wasted 6 years of thinking about the TC and asking myself could I get it again and when.I have been prescribed many different medicines after that.Actually I did take Prozac before my TC in 2000 and it did work but it had sexual side affects so i didn't take it for long.It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the full affect of Prozac to be felt.Since then I have tried Zoloft which is similar to Paxil and lexapro.I would tell anyone not to take those medicines because once you stop them you feel anxiety like you never imagined!Prozac is alot different and stays in the body longer which is why its alot easier to stop taking it if you want or need to stop taking it.I had anxiety before the TC actually and had been also been prescribed a mild tranquilizer like klonopin or valium.Now I am taking Xanax which helps alot but can be addictive so I would not advise that first.I would definately think Prozac is the safer choice.The one thing you have to remember is that when you take medicine's like Prozac you will feel more anxiety in the first 2 or 3 weeks when taking it and you will not feel all that good.The Doctor can prescribe a mild tranquilizer for a short period of time until the prozac starts kicking in.I just stopped Zoloft about 5 weeks ago and I will never take that ever again.Prozac would be the only SSRI med that I would chose to take again because of the lack of withdraw after stopping it.Medicine can help but your mind and the way you live your life is the best way to overcome any kind of cancer.Live strong and forget what is in the past because living with depression can destroy your social life and there is no reason why that should happen to us guys that have had TC.

[ballsup]

G'day Jeff

Mate it sounds to me you are having panic attacks!!!
I'm not sure whether my panic disorder and agoraphobia was caused by my TC but it did start shortly after.
I have found Effexor quite good in helping my situation but it's all trial and error,what helps some doesn't work for others.
Whatever you do stick with the antidepressants and try different types...
As Dadmo suggested also get your testosterone level checked.
One word of warning do not let your doc put you on Xanax...Highly addictive and nearly impossible to wean off.
Feel free to e-mail me if you would like to discuss your situation...
Please keep us informed on how you are coping.
Cheers Paul

[Jeff]

ballsup, you are correct, I have panic attacks. I guess I wouldn't say I'm depressed. The anxiety though is really interfering with my life. I started prozac 3 days ago, so far so good. I went to my urologist and had blood tests done, testotserone is normal. This stuff makes me somwhat tired, but feel good otherwise.

[ballsup]

Hey Jeff

Good to hear your testosterone level is fine...i can't give you any advice on Prozac as i have never tried it.
The latest antidepressants have been found to work well with panic and anxiety...As RealDeal stated they all take some weeks before you feel the benefits but as I said it's trial and error mate.
I hope the Prozac works well for you and settles your anxiety
I know how you feel and I know how panic can shatter your life....Hang in there it does get better.
Stay up to date here and let us know how you are going.
Cheers Paul

[jane998]

Hi

Have you considered counselling? I got depressed after my other half had cancer, and was always worrying about what might happen. I had counselling for about a year, and it really helped me to turn things around and move forward. I would definitely recommend it. It's not the quick fix you might get with drugs, but the effects last much longer!

Jane

[wannalive]

depressed

I got depression due to anxiety before TC and used Remer(g)on for a year
I recommend looking for help either medication and/or counseling

I had medication and it supported me well to feel better but more important thing was to change my life style and thinking with the support of medication
Even now after having TC I'm not dropping back to that hole again, so it works!

make that change in your thinking in a year may be and then you will not need the pills otherwise it may turn back or you will stick to pills forever and become a person I don't want to describe

of course I assume your condition is not physical due to neurologic problems but more like mentally due to wrong programming of your brain during childhood or some shocks.

I wish you all the best

[IowaBrian]

I was in your boat too waited about 2 months after surgery went to fam doctor he put me on Lexapro tried it for 2 1/2 month now going off of it since it didn't really help just makes you really numb to everything the good and bad. Tried the valium didn't work at all like taking MM's so they tried Xanax the lowest dose .25 twice a day(if I want to take it) and it really does the trick(they started with .50 but it was too much had to cut them in half and they are hard to cut so they went to the lowest they make which is fine by me. Now I believe my issue is the low T level but they won't do replacement yet. Good luck
Brian

[Daniel2ND]

I agree with Jane about behavioral therapy and counsellings. Don't turn to drugs just like that as your reaction could be "normal" to what you've been through.

Prozac is a SSRI drug used for regulating depressed when the levels of seretonin in the brain are too low. It is said that the drug is not addictive but upon stopping you could experience symptoms like headaches, moodiness, irritability, insomnia, resumption of depression, and even confused thinking.

Side effects are also common when starting the drug so be careful about it and don't let yourself become defendant on the feeling it may give you. Realizing and fighting your fears would be best...at least from my point of view.