Tamoxifen Side Effects

 MMC you can do it ! You HAVE to do it.  I was really scared as well but ask your Doctor lots of questions and learn of the cancer that you have.  Sorry to hear that you don't have the support from some family members but I am sure you have "some" support, lean on them. Also, they have great support groups out there, free and normally held at the hospital or cancer center that you are going to, if not check your local churches.  Everyone is always frightened when they hear the "C" word.  But you can do it.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds.  The 6 weeks of radiation flew by and its already been a year, sure there are side effects, but isn't there always with any meds we take?  I will ***** everyday about the weight I have gained and the loss of energy BUT, I am also thankful and blessed that my chances or it returning  are lowered.  I can always lose the weight.....I will be thinking of you this friday, my prayers will be with you.

Bev, my headaches are getting better.  I have been taking sinus meds and they seems to be helping, I go for MRI tonight, cat scarn came back normal but they just want to make sure !! Who knew that it just might be a case of bad allergies....which i never had before!! I am going to talk to my primary doctor about switching up my Zoloft.....

Hang in there everyone !!

Tracey

Hi Bev...

Thats too funny but also so true ! And of course now my one knee is shot and we can blame it on the extra weight gain along with the bone density loss due to the Tamoxifen... Now I get to have some shots of Synvisc to help with the knee pain and lubercation. I need a knee replacement but I am too young so I am hoping that this helps !! Just taking things one day at a time !!!

Keeping fingers crossed for MMC tomorrow !!!

Hugs
T

I have been on Tamoxifen for about 2 1/2 months. about 6 weeks ago, I started feeling extremely anxious and depressed. Psychiatrist put me on Effexor, Seroquel, and Klonopin -- not much relief yet. I was told that you could try to split the 20mg dosage and take half in the a.m. and half in p.m. This hasn't seemed to help much either. Has anyone had these side effects? Has anyone taken their dosages in the a.m. and p.m. instead of all at once? Has anyone heard that it's ok to literally split the pill in half or should I ask for 10mg pills and take 2 per day? Thanks!

5 years is pretty standard treatment for tamoxifen. As for the depression, is it really from the tamoxifen, or from dealing with the cancer diagnosis?

One of the benefits of some antidepressants... they can help relieve the hot flashes associated with menopause. When I started being able to sleep at night again, it was amazing how much better I felt. I tried several different antidepressants, but Effexor is what finally worked like a charm for me. Some women find that Paxil or Zoloft works well for them. So talk to your doctor about it. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

Hugs...
BEV

Thanks for the link, Lauren. :)
BEV

Hi Hanapepe,

I am too on tamoxifen... 5 months passed too since I started taking it. Oh, for me too, "the five year period" is a very long time. I started calculation since the first day, then I started to think that it is crazy!!
My side effects are different from yours; facial hair and eyebros falling with slow growth. What is your dosage of tamo.?
I think we will be tamoxifen takers friends as we have started at the same time. I don't have hot flashes which I passed during the chemo.
I am premenopausal but suppressing my ovary for at least 2 years as I am diagnosed with grade III ( some high risk during the 1rst 2 years)
u can share me the hard experience
Best wishes

No experience with tamoxifen, but I hope someone who does will answer your question.

:)
BEV

I am on my 5th year of Tamoxifen.  Tried the other Aromatases, too many side effects.  Tamoxifen is cheap and works.  5 years cancer free, had left side mast in 07, chemo and rads.  You cannot take ZOLOFT with Tamoxifen, only one that you can take is EFFEXOR...for depression.  I also take clonidine for the heat; I am extra hot all of the time, much worse than menopause.  All other symptoms gone.  Talk to your oncologist and primary physician.  Both my psychiatrist (for the depression meds) and oncologist went to a seminar a few years ago and got me off zoloft.  I loved cymbalta...cant that yet.  I will be going off tamoxifen soon....hope I return to a normal temperature.  SJ

My oncologist says the start date of the *cancer free* concept starts when we are first diagnosed.  I was diagnosed 11/06, so I am going on 6 years cancer free.  No side effects from clonidine.  I am on 225 effexor....seeing my doc this week.  I am still having very severe hot steamy spells.  I think I can get off the tamoxifen in 2013.  Hope this helps.  SJ

In April I was diagnosised with LCIS and had a lumpectomy in May. I was put on Tamoxifen as a result although the area around the lump was smooth which they said is a sign on no cancer. I took the Tamoxifen for three weeks and all the side effects of constipation, mild vaginal itch, tired, nausea and weight gain immediately..uuuhg! I usually weight 128 and I'm 40, any pound feels like a ton. I stopped taking the Tamoxifen because of the side effects and I was just honestlt MAD...madder than mad, don't know how to explain it. But I have made a choice to take the Tamoxifen. It has been suggested to change some of my diet and give my body time to adjust. I like the idea of gradually introducing my body to the Tamoxifen. I haven't seen an actual Oncologist and that has been suggested to so that is on my list this week. It's great to hear that I am not alone in this scary time. Thanks to everyone who is responding on here, it gives me encouragement!

Any type of cancer has an emotional component. Geez! People die of this disease, so how could one not be angry and resentful! Yes, there is the "whole breast=nurturing" thing. Personally, I was more worried about the possibility of losing my life than my breast. Some people do get very upset about losing a breast. They feel loss of femininity and womanliness. Personally, I can live without a breast just fine, thanks.

As for the tamoxifen, I can't speak to that. Never took it. Maybe someone with experience with it will be able to speak better to the side effects.

Sometimes low energy can be from depression, as well. And it you aren't dealing with your feelings about your diagnosis, then that could be part of the lack of energy.

Have you talked to your doctor about your low energy levels???

Hugs...
BEV

TAMOXIFIN...i have been taking it 1.5 months after 7 weeks radiation.  The side effects are life-changing, but there isn't an alternative!  I already went through menopause, and now I get to go through it again.  The anxiety and mood swings are horrible!  And, i am always nauseous.  I am going to a holostic medicine specialist.  I am opposed to MORE prescriptions to relieve symptoms.  That's how this all started in the first place... HRT after hysterectomy for 8 years, then stopped...then within 3-5 years, breast cancer.  apparently this is pretty text book.

NEXT:  has anyone had good experience with holistic medicine or natural herbal remedies!  I am feeling desperate (yes, part of a tamoxifin symptom!!)... in MN.

I am excited that I found this blog. I read all the comments and stories and I can see that we are facing this challenge but not alone. I have been taking tamoxifen for the past 4 years. I have experienced many of the side effects (weight gain, hair thinning, leg/foot cramps, mood swing, hot flashes, water retention, coughing, etc). I have done everything not to let these symptoms to discourage me. I feel that as long my doctor and the mammography confirm that I am cancer free, I will take these symptoms any day. However, for the past few months, I began to experience some blood spotting. The Obgyn did a biopsy but thank god it was negative. But the past three weeks, I have been spotting more. Does that mean that I need to have another biopsy to make sure all is okay? I want to be positive but once I see blood it does not give me a good feeling? I started taking tamoxifen after found some atypical cells which were removed on both breast. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. GChica