Chemotherapy and antidepressants

**pkellyc** · 11-16-2004, 12:11 PM

My husband is on his second round of chemotherapy and has become short tempered and a general Mr. Hyde. His doctor has put him on a antidepressant, but it's knocking him out and he is refusing to take them. My question is this, has anyone had to change their antidepressant because of side effects? It seems to me, maybe he should try something else. My dh is normally a very easy going guy and it's hard to watch him go through this. I tried to call the Doctors office but voice mail, voice mail and more voice mail. Am I all wet? Or is there something to this.

**PrairieRose** · 11-16-2004, 05:38 PM

I don't have any advice, just wanted to send you

I know this must be very hard to cope with. It really describes my ddad after heart surgery as well. It's not easy dealing with a short tempered patient.

**SewCrafty** · 11-16-2004, 06:13 PM

Did he take a anti-depressant prior to chemo? Then yes, I would get in touch with the doctor and tell him all that is going on. Not your husband, you! You can see the changes much better than he can.

If he wasn't on them prior to chemo. Well I have been there, chemo last year, and I think he is just feeling helpless and mad that he isn't in control right now. It is a very difficult thing to deal with. You are the closest to him, so you are his target most of the time.

He is mad at his body for betraying him, he is mad at the doctor for telling him he has cancer, he is mad at you because you are there and an easy target. He doesn't like feeling helpless and everyone taking care of him like a baby. He wants to do for himself, but he just doesn't feel well enough to do things. It's a vicious cycle. Is he in a better mood just before the next treatment? I'll bet he is, because he is feeling better, and then wham! he has to have another treatment and right back to feeling like crap!

Same advice, talk to his doctor and inform him of everything going on. I had to see my chemo doctor before every treatment, as he had to write out the prescription for it. So if he won't return your calls, don't leave his office the next time until he answers all your questions!!!

As you think of questions, write them down on a pad, then take the pad with you so you make sure you don't forget anything. I'm sorry you and your family are going through this.

What type of cancer is your hubby being treated for? If you don't want to answer, that is perfectly fine, just tell me to mind my own business.

Mine was breast cancer.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 11-16-2004, 06:53 PM

Prior to my DD starting her 6 months of chemo for Hodgkins Lymphoma, I had a month to start her on alternatives. One of the alternatives I started her on was a product called Natural Calm www.vites.com and also Barleans flax oil www.barleans.com These are the two main alternatives that helped her frame of mind and kept her from depression.

I had to laugh when her oncologist told her that she may experience some blue moods while going through her chemo, and thry could give her something to help. I knew from my research that she would not as long as I had anything to do with it. The saying that mother knows best , is true!

Good luck and God bless

**pkellyc** · 11-17-2004, 01:29 PM

Thank you for for your support. And I am so sorry that anyone should have to go through this. My dh has lukemia and has had it for a couple of years now. He just started on the antidepressants a couple of days ago. The doctors office called and he can change his perscription, but my dh wants to go without it. He did not know that once you start them you need to be weaned off of them. A little scary don't you think? His treatments end in Feb., and he has come this far so I just need to keep an eye on him. Dh and I had a heart to heart and your right Dee his anger is born out of feeling terrrible, fear and frustration. He is having some side effects, but from what both dh and I understand from others, he could be doing a lot worse. Although he does have a lot of weight loss and flu like symptoms, he has not lost his hair, and has experienced very little nausea. For this we are thankful.

Dee, I take it your cancer is gone, congrats and I am offering up a prayer for you. Thank you for all your advice it all sounds good.

Countrybumpkin thank you for the links i am going to look them up. I hope all is well for your dd, and I will pray for her also.

**SewCrafty** · 11-17-2004, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by pkellyc
Thank you for for your support. And I am so sorry that anyone should have to go through this. My dh has lukemia and has had it for a couple of years now. He just started on the antidepressants a couple of days ago. The doctors office called and he can change his perscription, but my dh wants to go without it. He did not know that once you start them you need to be weaned off of them. A little scary don't you think? His treatments end in Feb., and he has come this far so I just need to keep an eye on him. Dh and I had a heart to heart and your right Dee his anger is born out of feeling terrrible, fear and frustration. He is having some side effects, but from what both dh and I understand from others, he could be doing a lot worse. Although he does have a lot of weight loss and flu like symptoms, he has not lost his hair, and has experienced very little nausea. For this we are thankful.

Dee, I take it your cancer is gone, congrats and I am offering up a prayer for you. Thank you for all your advice it all sounds good.

You are more than welcome. Ask me anything you want. I can ask my hubby and family members if it is something you need to know as the caregiver. I have also been a caregiver and know how hard it is.

The chemo he is getting it toxic to his system. You feel like you have a really, really bad case of the flu for days and days on end. And the exhaustion is something else. I had all the side effects they said I could get, but none of them really bad either. They have some fantastic drugs now for nausea. Tell him to take them, they are worth thier weight in gold!

Yes, he should be weaned off the antidepressants the same way he went on them. Lower doseage for a few days and so on until he is off them.

Thank you, yes so far so good for me. I have another mammogram coming up in a couple of weeks.

Big

to you both, it isn't easy but now that he realises how he is acting maybe that will help him to see things differently. Tell him I said to keep his chin up, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, just have to go around a few bends first.