Antidepressants and anti anxiety medication

[Dino24]

Is Anyone taking any of these medications to help deal with the stress of prostate cancer? Or what else seems to help? I' m wondering if these added medications are too much for the liver combined with other medications for prostate. Thanks

[YostConner]

I use cymbalta. My husband calls it our happy pill.

[j-o-h-n in reply to YostConner]

I'm on cymbalta for leg pain (one of the side effects and it works).

Ya know, maybe that's why I'm happy all the time....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/02/2019 5:21 PM DST

[Darryl Partner]

You are welcome to share your feelings here. We are all mirrors of each other and ready to listen

[Dino24 in reply to Darryl]

Thank you. My last PSA went up from 1.6 to 3.0 and a follow up bone scan showed a " possible blooming effect" in the cervical spine. The rest of the bone mets was gone. Also a couple of tiny new spots. I'm on ADT and now beginning Provenge. Since the scan I've gone into an emotional downward spiral. I asked my Dr. for a prescription and gav me Zoloft 10 mg an and short supply of Xanax .25 mg. until the Zoloft kicks in.

[Dino24 in reply to Dino24]

Correction, It may be Lexapro. I don't have it with me right now

[Hidden in reply to Dino24]

Xanax is great to take the edge off . Just don’t get hooked on it. I’ve know a few that have. Do whatever it takes to feel well .

[Dino24 in reply to Hidden]

One week and I can see what you mean

[Hidden in reply to Dino24]

A friend Handed me a zany before I was to speak in front of 300 people at my brother Charley’s funeral. I was so up tight and sad. After the zany kicked in and before my speech I was completely calm . No problem . I had two personal friends that loved zanny so much and were totally addicted . Without it totally dysfunctional . One was an ex girlfriend. She was Exec at a big pharma company . High stress career.. but if the zanny ran out disaster amigo . Poor chick .. Couldn’t help her out of that one.. My friend Randy mom ‘s died. He was tied to her hip . Sunk in depression ..He started taking 4 long white bars of zany a day for four years . He acquired agoraphobia. Fear to leave his house . He was the most outgoing likable guy that I’ve ever met . He now is on psychotropics and I don’t know who he is anymore . He’s not there. Some go out like that . Anything to get you thru the storm or when needed. Don’t get stuck there brother .. Good Luck Dino!

[Cynthgob]

A little Xanax to sleep sometimes. .25 so only a quarter dose seems to help aleve some anxiety

[ecm1]

I started taking Lexapro 10 mg around the same time that I stopped taking Casodex. One of these changes, or maybe both helped me a lot emotionally.

[Dino24 in reply to ecm1]

Thanks. Good to hear it's helping

[Hex40]

I take Remeron (Mirtazapine) to help with sleep and mood but I think it’s run it course. I used to take it before bed but I seem to have developed terrible restless leg syndrome.

[Zetabow]

I started taken CBD oil last week for pain, not feeling the benefits of pain yet but I'm certainly more relaxed and less emotional outbursts.

[Hidden]

I've been seeing a therapist for what he calls "existential angst" It's helped a lot and he has also taught me some mediations that really help me to get above my anxiety.

Not saying that will be a substitute for meds, but may provide some additional help for you.

[Tall_Allen]

Venlafaxine (Effexor) has the added benefit that it might diminish hot flashes. I know a few men who take it. Not a bad idea to monitor your liver enzymes when you go in for your blood tests. I did psychotherapy and practice mindfulness to reduce anxiety.

[WayneSC in reply to Tall_Allen]

I was taking this primarily for hot flashes and when I stopped, life’s annoyances seem to return. I am back on Venlafaxine and I seem to be more tolerant.

[gleason9guy]

Ambien and Xanax at night to sleep and stay asleep until morning. Tramadol for pain when I have it. Otherwise, some daily Prozac. That's my baseline.

[judg69]

Hi Dino, I have taken Zoloft in the a.m. for about 15-20 years for anxiety , and I take one .5g Xanax and also melatonin at night as a sleep aid. Seems to work well for me. All Best Wishes, judg69

[WayneSC in reply to judg69]

I have tried melatonin and the

dreams are entirely too weird.

[Shooter1 in reply to WayneSC]

melatonin no problems, Venlafaxine horrible side effects.

[Hidden in reply to WayneSC]

Tell me about it . Fours years of them .

[Bebby1 in reply to Hidden]

What side effects did you experience?

Hubby started 1 week ago

Already noticed frequency and intensity of flashes has improved

[oldbeek]

Jack Danials. Makes you forget about sex also

[j-o-h-n in reply to oldbeek]

Is that Jack-off Danials (sic) or Denials?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/02/2019 5:26 PM DST

[Jimhoy in reply to j-o-h-n]

If you help Jack onto a horse will you help Jack off?!!!

[Bebby1]

My husband has been put on Effexor to help deal with or at least modify the hot flushes

This is an antidepressant

He has only been taking it aweek but already has seen some reduction in intensity

I figure it could be a win win as he does get down about the disease

All drugs bypass the liver but there was no mention of a problem

[Bebby1]

Bless you 👍👍👍👍

[Bebby1]

Didn’t mean bypass

Meant liver sorts all drugs before distribution to nominated area

[Tjc1]

I settled with taking effexor after trying many others. I may have to change again. I fought taking anything as i did not even take asprin befire the cancer. Im glad i take it now.

[mcp1941]

Zoloft in 1996, for less than a year. Going back on Zoloft this week.

[Metungboy]

Tons of exercise. Medications like lexapro cymbalta Zoloft etc are ok but don’t work as fast as exercise. Xanax decreases anxiety in the short term but makes you more anxious in the medium to long term.avoid it is my strong advice.

I see a frank psych who grounds me and helps me tell myself the truth.

Helps a lot.

[jedgar1]

I take clonipin to sleep and since my meds make

Me tired I exerscise for stress every other day

[j-o-h-n]

Did you discover that there wasn't any water in the lake?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/02/2019 5:24 PM DST

[j-o-h-n]

Chocolate ice cream (two scoops)....

BTW Dinosky... Tell us about yourself... age, location, scores, treatments, treatment center, doctor(s) name(s)?

All info is voluntary and helps us help you and helps us too.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/02/2019 5:29 PM DST

[j-o-h-n]

Well at least you punched out a fishing hole... as they say "you killed two birds with one stoneD"

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 06/02/2019 5:45 PM DST

[Josephaloysius]

I use OTC Benadril

[Hex40 in reply to Josephaloysius]

Benadryl gives me a bloody nose.

[tom67inMA]

I take low doses of bupropion and clonazepam, and have for years before the cancer thing started. The bupropion is a bit stimulating, so helps with fatigue. They both have long half lives so if you miss a dose you don't get instant withdrawal symptoms.

Cymbalta was too much and wore off to quickly. I'd go from weirdly happy and unable to sleep to deeply depressed in a day. Effexor wasn't as bad but had unpleasant withdrawal effects.

Exercise is excellent if you can do it.

[chipler]

Ativan / Lorazepam. 1/2 to 1 mg before bedtime. Helps me get a full nights sleep. Durine the peak of treatment .. surgey, radiation, chemo, Lupron, Xtandi .. it really helped knowing that sleep would not be a problem.

Seems other used Xanax. Only problem is that in years past it was implicated in the death of the spouse.

Ambien is also not recommend if over 60, for similar reasons but also sleep cooking and sleep driving.

[Hex40 in reply to chipler]

I also use .5 lorazepam when I wake up in the night. Most of the time I use 2. Ambien drove me nuts after several weeks of use.

[Hidden in reply to chipler]

Ambien😩

[Hidden]

Dare devil , no farm equipment ? That’s no fun . No restless nights for you amigo . Keep truckin ..

[Dino24]

Thank you for your replies everyone. You've given me good insight for living with this. I appreciate the sense of humor expressed especially

[Bebby1]

Oh Wow

That’s crap

I’ll be watching

[Hidden in reply to Bebby1]

Most symptoms got better with time. Or we just adjust to them . Some men sail through without any issues. Others don’t make it. Treatments in my opinion are a crap shoot . In the end APC will fry us ..until then we push back and smell the roses along the way . 😎

[Bebby1 in reply to Hidden]

I think that’s pretty accurate

But hey

You guys all have different tales to tell different ails to share

The human body is a pretty amazing thing

But the mind is the wonder

Stay strong

Fight hard

[Hidden]

Xanax helps me sleep. Bourbon is good for the soul. Everything in moderation please.