Sutent & Paxil

Has anyone experienced adverse side effects from combining sutent (25mg) and paxil (20mg)? My mom was recently put on Paxil and since beginning that drug (for depression due to her renal cancer) she has become almost comatose-like. She cannot hold a fork to feed herself, or a small plastic cup. She sleeps almost all day and night and she has strange visions (hallucinations) when she is awake. I have asked our onc. if we can stop the paxil to see if that is causing these symptoms but he is adamant that she stay on it. I'm just looking for anyone that had a similar exp. to offer me suggestions. I am considering seeking out another onc. for a second opinion.

Thank you!

Hi Waterfae,

Has your doctor done a brain scan on your mom yet?  Please insist on a brain scan immediately as any spreading to the brain caught early is very treatable.  Good luck!

 Oranje

Yes we just had a bone scan, MRI and another cat scan done a few days ago - not showing anything but the cancer that has spread to the liver, which we already know about.

Good suggestion though! That was my first thought, it's spread to the brain.

I don't know if the changes are due to the Paxil, but please get another opinion.  Medications do such strange things in older people and react different in each one.  I believed the dr. when they told me not to change my mothers medicine when she had similar side effects.  It was a chemical imbalance in her system.  It will be a relief to you to get second and even third opinions.  You will be in our prayers.

I have been on Sutent for 15 cycles I was on Zoloft for about 6 months for depression right after I started on Sutent my PCP referred my to a physicist. I had several visits with her I was able to accept the fact that after five surgeries for RCC, it’s OK to feel depressed once and a while I have stopped taking Zoloft I have more energy however Sutent alone makes you very tired. Just a thought, also maybe just a change to another anti-depressant would help.

Hi!  I read your post & wanted to tell you about my mother's experience with Paxil.  She was dx with dementia & the dr's put her on Paxil along with her dementia medicine.  She had been taking the dementia medicine for 6 or 8 months when they added the Paxil.  After about 2 weeks she started doing the same things your mother did & we carried her to the er.  They took her off the Paxil & all of her symptons went away, she could feed herself, quit sleeping all day & night, etc.  It would be worth trying to get her off the Paxil.  Let the drs wing her off...this is a drug you can't just stop taking.  Hope this helps...god bless you & your mother.

I would ask your mother's onc to change to a different drug for depression. My cousin was on Paxil and from the very begining she had awful side effects. Just google Paxil, and you will see all the write up on it. Hoping your mother gets better.G-d Bless, mutha

My husband took Paxil for depression and I didn't like how it changed him. He's had better results with Wellbutrin + Lexapro. I have taken Lexapro for several years and feel that it helps with anxiety problems and I'm not aware of any side effects. Onc & primary both support continuing with Lexapro.

I'm not familiar with sutent. I'm on my 4th breast cancer drug - Tamoxifen. Too many unpleasant side effects with Arimidex, Aromasin and Faslodex.

I believe hallucinations are too strong a side effect and another drug should be tried.

Good luck to you and your mom.

Judy