Antidepressants for cancer pain

Examples

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Tricyclic antidepressants

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Endep	amitriptyline hydrochloride

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Norpramin	desipramine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Sinequan	doxepin hydrochloride

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Tofranil	imipramine hydrochloride

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Pamelor	nortriptyline

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Prozac	fluoxetine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Luvox	fluvoxamine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Paxil	paroxetine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Zoloft	sertraline

How It Works

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Antidepressant drugs increase levels of the chemicals produced in the brain to improve your mood. Lower doses relieve pain and may help you sleep.

Why It Is Used

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In low doses, antidepressants relieve chronic pain and pain related to the peripheral nervous system (neuropathic pain), such as cancer pain. They may also cause drowsiness, which may improve sleep and relieve fatigue.

In higher doses, antidepressants can help to relieve symptoms of depression.

How Well It Works

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Some people find that low doses of antidepressants help relieve cancer pain. Researchers are still exploring whether and how well antidepressants affect cancer pain. These drugs can improve sleep. This, in turn, may improve your ability to manage your pain.

Side Effects

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Different antidepressants have different side effects. If you have severe side effects from one drug, your doctor may give you a different one.

Most side effects decrease over time. They may include:

• Constipation. Make sure you drink enough fluids while you are taking any of these drugs. Most adults should drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water, or noncaffeinated beverages each day. Include fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet each day.
• Diarrhea.
• Dry mouth.
• Nausea.
• Changes in appetite or weight.
• Nervousness or anxiety.
• Blurred vision or worsening of glaucoma.
• Drowsiness or insomnia.
• Low blood pressure.
• Tremors and sweating.
• Urinary retention.
• Headache.
• Decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

FDA Advisories. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued:

• An advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines, but to watch for warning signs of suicide in those using them. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.
• A warning about the antidepressants Paxil and Paxil CR and birth defects. Taking these medicines in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may increase your chance of having a baby with a birth defect.

What To Think About

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Elavil is the most common antidepressant that is used to treat cancer pain. It may cause side effects, such as dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation, or difficulty urinating.

You may start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks of taking antidepressant medicine. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you do not notice any improvement by 3 weeks, talk to your doctor.

People with cancer pain and depression are often treated with one of the following:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), or paroxetine (Paxil)
• Higher dosage of tricyclic antidepressant than is used for cancer pain alone

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Credits

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Author	Cynthia Tank
Editor	Renée Spengler, RN, BSN
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Lisa Shaw
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Michael Seth Rabin, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Updated	November 4, 2005