Topic: Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

Wow Harley, only 56 more pills to go with tamox!  That is great!  I hope I can make it that far and finish!  It just seems like forever, doesn't it?  What new drug are you suppose to take Jan 1? 

And, when you wrote about the New Normal that so many say, I am with YOU, I want the Old Normal me back.  I can always hope, can't I?

Jeanne, for the weekend, we are suppose to go out tomorrow night with some friends for pizza and beer.  I plan on eating too much pizza and drinking too much beer.  lol  We always have a great time with our friends.  Then, going back to one of their homes to just talk and drink some more.  Sounds like a HOOT to me!

Sunday, we usually just lay around and watch football together all day, movies, just snuggle up and relax and enjoy our day together.  I love it!

With the daily headache I am getting, I think, as a result of tamox, I bet this hangover will be a doozy!  lol

And Bonnie, I DO MURDER BEETLES/LADYBUGS AND I WILL CONTINUE!  LOL  I took a nap today and had a dream that they all got together and carried me to the bath and drowned me. LOL  I do have an imagination, don't I?  LOL

Susie

Wow Mary that sounds awful!  Your attitude is GREAT!  

I am 3 weeks on Tamox now and have had crazy night sweats and hot flashes and some nights I get bad leg cramps. Hope fully that's a sign it's working and that my body is just adjusting.

Hi,

Several of you who have recently started Tamoxifen may find that your SE calm down after a couple of months.  Mine did.  I had REALLY dry eyes, horrible night time hot flashes, nausea, and vag dryness, and my periods stopped.  All of the SEs went away, except missing period within two months.  Six months after being on Tam I had a full Hyster/Ooph, and that transition has been pretty easy--not difficult at all, I think it was because I was on Tam for months before.  I've stayed on Tam and will move to an AI later. I guess the only thing that really bugs me is that I'm more forgetful and more  tired, but it has been such a huge year bc, blm, reconstruction, hyster/ooph, oldest son moved away, started grad school while still working 40 hours a week, and now a torn rotator cuff, oh and I got a puppy.  So, really at this point who can tell why I'm more forgetful and tired.  I encourage those new on the drug to be patient, keep your onc updated on how you are feeling, but there is a very good chance the SE will pass.

Have a great weekend!

KarenW 

Rachel,

 I didn't do chemo as my Oncotype Dx was 15 and I opted out.So  the side effects are just from the Tamoxifen. I did just have to give in a cheek swab to my health care provider to see if I was metabolizing it fully, so we will see. It certainly feels like it!! I did see that crazy idea about the soap and am willing to try anything at this point! If I try it, I will let you all know how it works.

...wow...  it seems that there are so many new riders on the Tamoxitrain!!   I don't even feel like I belong here any more...

Susie,

Yes, I am almost finished the Tamoxifen... but that is because I started menopause at an early age... so I can take one of the Aromatase Inhibitors... either Femara or Aromasin, I think.   I will have to discuss it with my onc. when I see him again...  that will be December 11th... so technically, I may be starting the AI on Dec. 12...  so that would make it...  let's see...   36 more Tamoxifen pills...    I read that there was some kind of study which showed that for us older gals... (but I'm NOT old...)  it is beneficial for us to take Tamoxifen for 2 years, and then switch to an AI for 3 years...   My onc. mentioned that this would be the plan, so I guess he's heard about the study also...

MTG,

You will be just fine...   I know.... I was afraid to start taking the Tamoxifen, but it's been two years, and it wasn't too bad. 

HUGS
Harley

Harley:  You stay right here!  Don't you go anywhere.  We need you, we need your wisdom , your experience, your sistership with bc!  Everyone belongs here, new users, old users and undecided users!

Susie

Harley, did you see the post from meg about a new study that says that it might be equivalent to stay on Tamoxifen- IF the low metabolizers are eliminated from the analysis?  She didn't post a link to the study but she's usually very knowledgeable and reliable.

My oncologist told me an occasional glass of wine was fine. But the alcohol does interfere with the Tamoxifen, I think. It increases your estrogen levels.  I do find that when I drink, my hot flashes get worse and I get flush. Of course, that's not enough to stop me!

Good Morning All,

Susie....have 3 slices of pizza and a couple of Bud Lights for me tonight....o.k.   ???    That sounds yummy.

Harley and all older members~~ PLEASE stay with us beginners.  We need all the help we can get.   LOL

Jeanne....at least for Thanksgiving I'm having all my fattening stuff.  You know "if it tastes good it's not good for you."  :o)

I started Omega 3 fish oil caps for my dry eyes....per the eye doctor.  Anybody take thosefor any reason ????   I know they're good for lots of things.  :o)  Hope they work on my blinkers.

CatbirdC Bonnie

I bought all the supplements fish oil,vit b,d,e calciummag combo,coq10 and b complex. Problem is half the time I forget to take them.Any of you ladies still suffering from Chemo brain like me?

Hi all, really busy here isn't it?

Just thought I'd check in from wet and windy Ireland to let you know I took my 100th Tamox last night - everything going ok, did have alot of hip and leg pain last night and at 4.30 am I gave in and took paracetamol for the pain - tamox related??? *shrugs shoulders*

I have to say any se's have evened out and nothing drastic is happening, whew!!

Getting port out next Tuesday - yippee!!

Hugs to one and all - (((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Here is the article about Tamoxifen and Antidepressants that I read. 

August 5, 2009 - 1:56pm

Another article just came out on this issue. There seems to be quite a bit of evidence now that certain anti-depressants interfere with Tamoxifen effectiveness...

"News release
Popular Breast Cancer Drug Used with Certain Antidepressants Puts New Jersey Women at Risk
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new analysis finds that women in New Jersey who take the breast cancer drug tamoxifen in conjunction with certain popular antidepressants may be at a higher risk for a breast cancer recurrence.

In May, Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) and Indiana University School of Medicine released a study revealing that women using tamoxifen to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer who also use certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), for example Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline), have up to twice the chance of having a recurrence of the disease.

In a separate New Jersey-specific analysis, Medco found that among nearly 2,000 tamoxifen patients in the state during 2008, 12 percent were also taking SSRIs, including those that could put them in the at-risk population.

"We've been aware that certain antidepressants, known as CYP2D6 inhibitor drugs, block the activation of tamoxifen chemically, but this evidence shows that these drugs are putting women in New Jersey and across the nation at a much higher risk for recurrent breast cancer," said Dr. Milayna Subar, National Practice Leader for Medco's Oncology Therapeutic Resource Center located at Medco's Willingboro, N. J. pharmacy. "Women taking tamoxifen along with an SSRI should speak with their doctor immediately to discuss modifications to their medication regimen to ensure they are getting the full benefit of their tamoxifen therapy."

Approximately 500,000 women take tamoxifen in the U.S., with 80,000 new patients starting on the treatment annually. Nearly 30 percent of women taking tamoxifen also use an antidepressant. Based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey is among the states with the highest breast cancer incidence and death rate in the country.

The study by Medco and Indiana University School of Medicine that was presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). It was the largest study to-date looking at how these drugs impact breast cancer recurrence rates when taken with tamoxifen.

Antidepressants are often prescribed when women receiving tamoxifen are depressed, or to treat hot flashes -- a common side effect of the breast cancer drug. Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are among a group of antidepressant drugs known as CYP2D6 inhibitors. These drugs prevent the CYP2D6 enzyme from working properly, and cause less of the active form of tamoxifen, called endoxifen, from being produced, making the drug less effective at preventing breast cancer. Women taking tamoxifen along with certain SSRIs have a 2-fold increased risk of breast cancer recurrence compared to women not taking these drugs together.

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is one of the oldest and most widely used treatments for reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence among women with estrogen-dependent tumors. The drug works by blocking the estrogen receptors in the breast cells and can reduce the risk of a breast cancer recurrence by up to 50 percent. It's the only anti-estrogen available for prevention of breast cancer recurrence in pre-menopausal women and is one of several anti-estrogens used to treat post-menopausal breast cancer patients.

Medco Therapeutic Resource Center in Willingboro, N.J.

Willingboro, New Jersey is home to the world's largest automated pharmacy and is the current site of the Medco Therapeutic Resource Center (TRC) for oncology patients. Medco's TRCs focus on the specialized treatment of patients with chronic and complex conditions, including centers for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, immunologic and pulmonary conditions. Nearly half of the company's 2,600 pharmacists are specialists deployed across the TRCs where they provide disease-specific therapy management for those patients who account for 96 percent of pharmacy spending and 75 percent of this country's medical costs.

About Medco

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the world's most advanced pharmacy and its clinical research and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter^TM for more than 60 million Americans.

With more than 20,000 employees dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and 2008 revenue exceeding $51 billion, Medco ranks 45th on the Fortune 500 list and is named among the world's most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies.

For more information, go to http://www.medcohealth.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Luddy of Medco, +1-201-269-6402, jennifer_luddy@medco.com; or Erin Drelick of Coyne Public Relations, +1-973-316-1665, edrelick@coynepr.com

Susie,

Thanks!  You are so nice!   I don't know how much help I can be, but I'll try. 

BTW, I know that certain anti depressants can interfere with Tamoxifen.  My onc. wouldn't even let me take Effexor, which some say is ok.  He said that when I 1st started taking Tamoxifen... are you getting any hot flashes?  I said, 'a little, but it isn't really too bad.'  Then he told me to stop taking it.  He didn't want to do that metabolizing test.  He feels the symptoms or lack thereof speak for themselves.  Who knows?  Maybe he is just trying to save some money for my insurance. 

Rachel,

No, I didn't hear anything about that.  Gee, I wish I had that info. so I could print it out to show my onc.  He doesn't really like it when I print stuff out to show him, but I think he just might be interested in that.  :D   That is interesting...  So, I would do just as well on Tamoxifen for the entire 5 years, and NOT switching...   well, I did have some issues with my uterine lining getting thick... menopause doesn't help matters...   and I had to have a d & c a year ago.  Worst surgery I ever had..     so maybe it will be good to switch and get off Tamoxifen.   I don't know...

Also, my onc. told me that Evista or Raloxifene, works just as well as Tamoxifen, but without the effects to the uterus.  But when I asked him for a script, he checked it out, and told me that since I have had cancer, I can't take Raloxifene to prevent a recurrence...  just my luck!!  I bet that one day, after many trials, they will start offering Evista to women to help prevent a recurrence.  They already use it to prevent cancer in high risk women.   So....  I don't know, but it seems like I should fit into the 'high risk' category!  lol   I guess only time will tell...

Jeanne,

Yes, I heard that alcohol is bad for us ER+ gals.  But, I like to have a drink once in awhile.  I try to cut back, but it's no fun.   :D

Catbird,

Don't worry... I'll still be around. 

Hugs to all,

Harley

Two more ultra simply, healthy, Thanksgiving appropriate dishes: 1) Glazed Carrots - cover baby carrots (or 1" pieces) in water, boil till water almost gone (carrots should be almost fork tender by this point); Add  a little Orange Juice and just a splash of maple syrup, let cook till liquid is quite thick and carrots are tender and glazed/candied, be careful not to let it burn at the end, the sugar can brown quickly. 2) Instead of mashed potatoes - mash baked sweet potatoes, far healthier and more fall like (you can also play and add in pumpkin or mashed carrots; of course, if we're being healthy, leave off the marshmellows ).