Findings do not Concur on Tamoxifen, Antidepressants and Breast Cancer Recurrence

Findings do not concur on two separate studies done to see if taking antidepressants interferes with the cancer prevention drug, tamoxifen’s ability to prevent breast cancer recurrence. Antidepressants are taken by breast cancer survivors to help with the hot flashes caused by tamoxifen.One study conducted by Medco Health Solutions of Franklin Lakes, N.J. showed that use of some antidepressants, mainly Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, almost doubled the risk of breast cancer recurrence within two years after patients started tamoxifen.

Medco’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Epstein said, “no greater breast cancer risk was seen in women taking the antidepressants Celexa, Lexapro or Luvox with tamoxifen, and there are reasons to think that other antidepressants may be safe as well.”

In a second smaller study Dutch investigators reported just the opposite. They found no evidence that antidepressants increased the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women taking tamoxifen.

Both the Dutch and Medco studies were presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Both studies were based on a review of medical records, not a prospective clinical trial.

Since the findings do not concur on the recurrence of breast cancer while using tamoxifen and antidepressants, Dr. Claudine Isaacs, a breast specialist at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, advised,”until these data are absolutely clear, I would avoid drugs that impact on tamoxifen metabolism.”