Topic: Tamoxifen and SE's

I think when we are told we will be starting a new med we research the crap out of it to see what the side effects might be and sometimes we talk ourselves into having them....try not to do that to yourself....I found that if I just take the pill and go on about my business instead of dwelling on the "might be's" it is a little easier to take...

Im not discrediting your upset tummy as I have read many women here post that it upsets theirs too....Ive never heard much about the stool part....

Sometimes your system just needs a few days to get use to the new meds and those quirky side effects will disappear....I sure hope thats what happens for you.....I have very few se's with the tamox and when I had my last "bad boob" scare and the path report came back b-9 I jumped for joy that I take it and that it apparently is doing its job....

Sorry you feel icky :(

jdg1,

When I take Tamoxifen, sometimes my stomach feels a bit 'upset'.  I don't feel nauseus, but I just feel kind of 'unsettled'.  I was taking it with a meal, either Lunch or Dinner, but because of the terrible night flashes, I now take it before bed.  I usually don't have any stomach upset when I take it at bedtime.

Hope you feel better soon.

Harley

Well strangely enough, I have the opposite problem that I suspect is from the tamoxifen.   I feel fine, have no hot flashes etc., but tend to get constipated -- something that was never an issue before.

M.

Mamhop,

Since I have started the Tamoxifen I don't really have as many hot flashes don't know kinda weird.  Today my stomach was better so who knows.  I already have a problem with constipation so for me to have reg bowel movements from this drug would be great.  lol

June

Everyone's different.  A friend of my sister's had a mastectomy.  She said she experienced what felt like morning sickness after taking tamoxifen for 3 months, which is why she said she decided to remove the other breast too, as a precaution, because she didn't want to have to take tamoxifen for 5 years.

I've been taking tamox. for a year now, and the only SE's I'm experiencing are hot flashes and irregular periods (I'm premenopausal and my periods used to come like clockwork).  I thought I'd experience nausea too because my sister's friend did.  My onc. told me the only things he wanted me to be aware of when taking tamox. was blood clots, endometrium cancer (or is that uterine cancer) and hot flashes/night sweats.  My onc. said I could split the pills if I wanted to, and take half in the morning and half at night, if it was affecting my stomach, but he said it shouldn't.  I just take it about 1 hour before I go to bed and I've never had any problems.

June,

Your doc can prescribe Tamoxifen in 10 mg pills, take one in a.m. and one in p.m.

I can't take the nausea and diarhhea any more.  This is my second try on Tamox.  I'm giving up again today after trying it for another six weeks.  It's scary.  I'd rather have aches and pains.  I didn't even mind the hotflashes. I was taking it at night with food.  I'd wake up sick and be like that all day until it was time to do it again.  I tried Arimidex and lasted a week.

I've had a total hysterectomy ... maybe I should think about going back for mastectomies ... don't know what to do at this point.  I had IDC and am high risk with LCIS.

Best wishes to you,

Bren

Bin,

Wow!  I am so sorry to hear that you are having the issue with the Tamoxifen.  Have you spoken with your Surgeon about having the mastectomies done?  I reacted the same way as you to birth control pills and I thought that I would react the same way to the Tamoxifen.  Only seems like stomach issues and some joint pains.  But then again I have only been on them now for 10 days so who knows.

June

Hi June,

Nope, haven't talked to him about it yet.  Just saw him 3 weeks ago and I didn't bring it up.  I'll see the medical oncologist this June and talk to him.  I have my first MRI scheduled for this Nov or Dec and I'll wait and see what that looks like.

Just for today, I'm trying to find a little serenity between 3 month intervals!!!  My new thinking is, if I go at it one day at a time, it may be easier to manage ... than trying to mange obsessing about the next 3 months, 2 years, 10 years, etc. 

I'll let you know how my new plan works!!

Booklady ... great suggestion.  I'll see if CVS uses a different distributor than wallymart, which uses "barr laboraties."  BTW ... we sure had a close call with those tornadoes didn't we!!

Take care all,

Bren

I have a question.  I am rather new to these forums. I had a breast reduction at the end of January of this year. I was very happy with my results. When I had the tissue that was taken out biopsied (it is always biopsied when removed) they found LCIS on 1 spot. They looked very carefully to see if it spread but luckily it had not. I do not have any breast cancer in my family.  After seeing 2 Oncologists, a breast surgeon they said it would be a good idea for me to go on Tomoxifican.  They told me to think about it.  Well I just went to my 3 month check up with my Oncologist and he mentioned it again and suggested I go on it.  I am very nervous about going on this drug with the SE I keep hearing about.  However of course I would rather deal with this than cancer. I also worry about the possibility of stroke, aneurysm etc that they say can happen, even though it is rare.  I know I need to at least try it but I am so worried about it.  SOmetimes I just wish I would go through and have a bilateral mastectomy and be done with it. My Dr did not recommend this at this point.  Any advice. Thanks - I am so happy that i found this site.

I have been on Tamox. for 2 weeks now.  The first few days I did feel nauseated.  I thought it maybe was the vitamin I took with it too.  Now after the 2 weeks i am doing well with it, no side effects to speak of. 

Hello all...Does anyone know if spotting can be a s/e of the three inhibitors? It seems I may have read that on one of these threads but am not sure. That would not be a good thing after being menopausal for almost ten years.

Thanks for the input in advance.

Evie