“Can chemotherapy cause depression?”
My wife is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Ever since her treatment has started, she has been extremely depressed. Is this a common symptom? Is it safe for her to be on an anti-depressant while undergoing chemotherapy?
9 Answers
She needs antidepressant medication with supportive psychotherapy.
It's common as she has to adapt to her new condition and face teh questions of illness and death. Antidepressants are safe to be on during chemo though it depends on the kind, please contact your health care provider
Yes and yes.
Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing event that can cause depression itself. Then, on top of it, treatment with very powerful chemotherapy causing severe side effects. Yes, it can cause depression. It is very important to be positive and not give up. Antidepressant medication can help a great deal. There are several of these meds that are safe with chemotherapy. Also, having emotional support from family is very important.
Jan Fawcett
Psychiatrist
You should talk with your cancer specialist- depending on the specific medication you are taking this is possible.
C Marlo Baird
Psychiatrist
Yes.
Hello,
Yes, chemotherapy can cause or worsen depression. A person in chemotherapy has many factors that can produce depression, such as knowing that they have cancer or a family history of depression. Depression during chemotherapy needs to be treated by a competent professional that has knowledge in the treatment of this special case of depression.
Dr. Santiago Noa
Yes, chemotherapy can cause or worsen depression. A person in chemotherapy has many factors that can produce depression, such as knowing that they have cancer or a family history of depression. Depression during chemotherapy needs to be treated by a competent professional that has knowledge in the treatment of this special case of depression.
Dr. Santiago Noa
It definitely can cause depression. First, she should see about a support group through the oncologist office. Check www.DBSAlliance.org for other free groups in your area and information on depression. Just because you have a good reason "to be depressed" does not mean don't treat it. If you get run over by a car, G-d forbid, and your leg is broken, you don't say, "Sure it's broken, it got run over by the car," and don't fix it. For sure, you fix it.
Medication can be helpful in 60-70 percent of cases. If all else fails or it gets so bad she can't eat or take meds, ECT is still the best, most effective, and quickest way to get out of the severe depression (electroconvulsive therapy). From our website:
http://www.alephcenter.com/ectinformation.html
The top Youtube video is 10 minutes. I don't suggest you start with this treatment as meds and sometimes just counseling can help, but if things get worse, this really works in 90-95 percent of cases. Don't use alcohol, medical marijuana, or other drugs. Can just make things worse.
Good luck and see a psychiatrist if you need more assistance, or a psych nurse practitioner.
Kevin Goeta-Kreisler, M.D.
Medication can be helpful in 60-70 percent of cases. If all else fails or it gets so bad she can't eat or take meds, ECT is still the best, most effective, and quickest way to get out of the severe depression (electroconvulsive therapy). From our website:
http://www.alephcenter.com/ectinformation.html
The top Youtube video is 10 minutes. I don't suggest you start with this treatment as meds and sometimes just counseling can help, but if things get worse, this really works in 90-95 percent of cases. Don't use alcohol, medical marijuana, or other drugs. Can just make things worse.
Good luck and see a psychiatrist if you need more assistance, or a psych nurse practitioner.
Kevin Goeta-Kreisler, M.D.
I would run it by the oncologist first as there are many chemotherapy agents. In all likelihood, yes. There are psychiatrists who specialize.
