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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 1,605
    edited April 2009

    Spring- Glad to hear you haven't exploded yet.  You will do fine, think positive!!  You too Caligirl.  Don't be afraid, hop on the train!!  You did hear their is a chocolate car, right?  See you there!

  • mevanatta
    mevanatta Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    Spring and caligrlof68

    Sounds like we got on board at the same time.  Last night 3/31 was my second night. 

    Spring.. I thought I was nuts this AM until I read your post.  I swear that I am having "Cold Flashes" today.  Also I was nauseated this morning so I took some anti-nausea liquid. That seems to work well.

    Caligrlof68... I have been taking my Tamox at night so that it hopefully does not affect me to badly during the day.

    Headed over to the chocolate...

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    I'm heading for the chocolate train to join you Makraz and others. Cold flashes.. YES!! At night I get hot and sweat...but i sleep through that...but then i wake up freezing cold with drenched pj's from all that sweating. Of course, this was all caused only from chemopause.

     Did any of you call around to check prices of Tamox at different pharmacies? I found it ranged from a high of $180 for 90 days to a low of $24 for 90 days. The cheapest was at Bakers(A grocery store) Pharmacy. It is apparently on their generic cheap list. Just an FYI to anyone who pays out of pocket for tamox.

    Stacy 

  • revkat
    revkat Member Posts: 122
    edited April 2009

    Tamoxifen is $9/30 days or $24/90 at Wal-mart as well. (I hate Wal-mart, but if price matters and that's what you've got in your area --- buy your meds there!)

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    Glad I am not the only one with "cold" flashes. It seems like my body is a little whacked out about temperature control. It's not bad though. Certainly managable. LAYERS seem to be key! Layers of covers, layers of clothes!

    MeVan, welcome to the chocolate train!!! LOL. (or car?) I just ate my one square of dark choc. a day...

    Spring...

  • mevanatta
    mevanatta Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    Spring ~

    Gotta love that smile of yours!  I think I be trying me some of that dark chocolate....mmmm good!Laughing 

    I decided today.. without BC eventually I would have went through menopause and had hot flashes anyway.  Just sooner than I planned.

    For the cold flashes.. I decided to take my heating pad to work and turn it on went I get cold.  Got me an extra bottle of anti-nausea liquid, one for my desk and one at home. 

    Also I had a really bad headache today.  But that could be that I am cutting back on caffeine. 

    caligirl ~

    I get my prescription from Dillions (Kroger family)  and I had to pay 5.32 for 30 days.  We have exceptionally good insurance.  But I think the 5.00 prescriptions at Dillions are standard for generic.  Wow.. after seeing what some are paying, I feel extra blessed.

  • pameliza
    pameliza Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    Hi,

    I'll be joining you all this week.  I started and stopped Tamoxifen once but my oncologist wasn't too happy.  I had Taxol/Herceptin combo treatment then Herceptin only for a year -  just finished February.  The doctor told me that the Tamoxifen for me is equally as important as the chemo was, soooo, I guess I better quit being a rebellious child and "take my medicine".  It's encouraging to read all of your posts!!  Thanks!

    Pam

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    mevanatta....I probably wouldn't have thought to call around for a cheap price...normally I just go to walmart for scripts....but my onc said he saw tamox on a generic cheap list and couldn't remember which store it was. So, I gave it a shot called around. SHOCKING price differences!! I think Dillons and Bakers are part of  the same family of stores...so that makes a lot of sense that they would have the same generic list. 

    Stacy 

  • mevanatta
    mevanatta Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    Caligrlof68

    Yes, Baker is part of the Kroger Family.

    For those that are interested Tamoxifen is on the generic list for the Kroger Family Stores.

    Here is a list of those grocery stores for those not aware... (not sure if they all have a pharmacy)

    Kroger, Baker's,City Market, Food4Less, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, FredMeyer, Foods Co, Dillions, Barclay, Gerbes, Hilander, King Soopers, OwensRalphs, Smiths, Smiths Marketpace and JayC

    Here is a link to the the Kroger Pharmacy page

    http://www.kroger.com/generic/Pages/default.aspx

    They list their price as $4/30 or $10/90...at our Dillions.. is that the same price as Baker? 

    BTW, no hot flashes last night (at least I was not soaking wet when I got up) no nausea and no cold flashes today.  Are SE's only occuring once in a while or do they occur daily for alot of women???

    Hopefully, this is what is will be like.

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited April 2009

    Hi

    I started Tamoxifen Monday and i was wondering about the s/e.  As i was reading your information they seem to be very mild. ( well compaired to the chemo)   Thank God!  It sounds like it is not all bad.  Thank you !! Laughing 

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    No Mevanatta....at Bakers it's $24 for 90 days. still quite affordable.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    It hasn't been a week for me, and no SE's yet. Though I did wake up last night drenched. May have more to do with wearing thick winter PJs when I didn't need to! Not sure yet!

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    Ok.. question.. does everyone take 20 mg daily?  or do you take 10mg twice daily? I was checking out the Pharmacy site and seems it is offered as both strengths. 

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    20 mg every night. 1 whole honkin' pill!!

  • mevanatta
    mevanatta Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    20 mg every night... with a baby aspirin(to prevent clotting)

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited April 2009

    Trish,

    I'm so glad that your liver issues seem to have calmed down. 

    Yes, prayer is a very powerful thing!

    Hugs

    Harley 

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 1,605
    edited April 2009

    20 mg every night, too. 

  • traci1970
    traci1970 Member Posts: 104
    edited April 2009

    20 mg daily

  • sunshine787990
    sunshine787990 Member Posts: 101
    edited April 2009

    20 MG Every night!

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    thanks everyone...i guess there is no getting around actually taking that icky little pill....one a night...all 20 mg's   grrr. I'm not thrilled about this, but I suppose I'll do it for my kids.

  • Mary22
    Mary22 Member Posts: 428
    edited April 2009

    I am doing well with taking Tamoxifen in the morning and Effexor XR 37.5mg in the evening, before bedtime. It has helped with the mood swings and crying.

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 1,605
    edited April 2009

    Good for you mfgibby.  I have heard that Effexor works wonders!  Glad you are feeling better.

  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 362
    edited April 2009

    I take mine at bedtime.  Only forgot once!  LOL

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    We are all so good! Pat selves on back ladies!!!

    :)

  • caligrlof68
    caligrlof68 Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2009

    ok..i actually took my first pill. It went down without  a hitch!!  GULP

  • 40baldboobless
    40baldboobless Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    Just finished up chemo and am now on to the next phase.  Just took my first 20mg pill.  I've been concerned about the effects of the drug.  Nothing like chemo though I'm sure.  I was having hot flashes before BC.  I was peri menopasual.  I drank soy milk to help and it did somewhat.  I already take a baby asprin so it looks like I'm covered.  Hopefully weight gain won't be an issue.  Although DH and I joined Weight Watchers tonight so that will help.  Chemo + steriods = large tushy (+20 pounds weight gain).  Lost my boobs but gained and extra behind. Isn't life a hoot and full of surprises.Surprised  Thanks to everyone for sharing.  Feel like I like do this.  It's one pill compared to chemo...no biggie.  Let's kick cancer butt!!!!!!!!  Survivors RULE!!

    www.caringbridge.org/visit/tinaoates

  • mevanatta
    mevanatta Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2009

    Way to go Caligrl68...

    please post daily your different symptoms for a few days..

    Umm,,, I read this was supposed to decrease libido?  Ummm.. I do not think that is true.  Actually, for the first time in awhile my libido seems to be increasing???  My husband asked me if I was taking an anti-depressent?  Says I been much more "happy" this week.  I do not notice a difference... maybe it is the tamoxifen having a reverse affect on me?

    Maybe I am just feeling better with since the past 2 months really sucked.

  • marlenet
    marlenet Member Posts: 114
    edited April 2009

    Hi ~ I have been reading leg cramps are a s/c of tamoxifen, . Where do you guys feel the cramps?  I have read to watch for blood clots in the legs.  I if understand right a blood clot is warm to the touch, hurts to touch, etc. leg will new swelling, redness, discomfort, or warmth in your legs, I alos read The possibility of pulmonary embolism is less than 1%.  That alone scares me.  But less then 1%, is not bad....

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited April 2009

    Stacy, report back in, you didn't explode last night or anything, did you?? LOL.

    Tina, didn't explode or anything, right? Good for you girl! Let's kick it's butt!!

    I've had 4 nights in a row, and so far so good. I took my top off last night and didn't wake up soaked. This may be part of it. Sleep topless! LOL.

    Tina, I felt the same, Radiation was nothing like chemo, and so far (thought it is early) the pill is nothing like Rads. 

    Spring...

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 1,605
    edited April 2009

    Tina,

    Great attitude!  Welcome to the tamoxitrain. 

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