Acute tamoxifen-induced depression and its prevention with venlafaxine.
BACKGROUND
Tamoxifen is a first-generation selective estrogen-receptor modulator that has been shown to decrease recurrence and prolong survival among premenopausal women with breast cancer; however, it also results in estrogen-insufficiency symptoms, the most common being hot flushes.


OBJECTIVE
The authors present a case in which tamoxifen apparently produced acute depression symptoms in a 34-year-old breast cancer patient.


METHODS
After two aborted periods of tamoxifen treatment, the patient was started on venlafaxine as a preventive measure before tamoxifen treatment was begun again.


RESULTS
After 2 months of treatment with venlafaxine, tamoxifen was initiated for a third time, with no recurrence of her previous mood symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of depression may result in better compliance with tamoxifen regimens and, thus, more favorable outcomes.
Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
François
F
Bourque
Sherif
S
Karama
Karl
K
Looper
Victor
V
Cohen
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride