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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • tmh0921
    tmh0921 Member Posts: 519
    edited July 2016

    My oncologist and psychiatrist both said Lexapro and Celexa (both of which have the same active ingredient) are OK with Tamoxifen.

    I believe the heart interaction is tied back to dosage, the FDA has revised recommendations related to maximum daily dosage of both of these drugs due to potential heart rhythm issues. The max daily dose recommended for Celexa is 40mg and for Lexapro is 20mg. Basically 20mg of Lexapro is equivalent to 40mg of Celexa as Celexa has an inactive ingredient accounting for 1/2 the dose.


  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited July 2016

    Yep. I'm on Celexa and I'm fine on it with Tamox so I'm not worried. I guess if I had pre-existing cardiac issues then I'd question it but otherwise I know my MO knows what she's doing.

  • Lauraleigh16
    Lauraleigh16 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2016

    I start Tamoxifen in about 2 weeks, My doctor wants me to be on it for 2 years then I can try and get pregnant and then after I have a child I have to be put back on it. Can anyone tell me the side effects of Tamoxifen? Being that I am 31 and have not had menopause, I have been on the zolodex injection every 4 weeks having my last injection in May 2016, Does the Tamoxifen have the side effects as the zolodex injection? I surely hope not I hated the shot!!!!! If anyone could help o would greatly appreciate it!

  • Lauraleigh16
    Lauraleigh16 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2016

    I start Tamoxifen in about 2 weeks, My doctor wants me to be on it for 2 years then I can try and get pregnant and then after I have a child I have to be put back on it. Can anyone tell me the side effects of Tamoxifen? Being that I am 31 and have not had menopause, I have been on the zolodex injection every 4 weeks having my last injection in May 2016, Does the Tamoxifen have the side effects as the zolodex injection? I surely hope not I hated the shot!!!!! If anyone could help o would greatly appreciate it!

  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2016

    Jennie, Lexapro, Celexa and Effexor are safe to take with Tamoxifen.

  • dismay15
    dismay15 Member Posts: 219
    edited July 2016

    I have developed a mildly itchy, blotchy, red rash on my arms and stomach, I have had it for a week.   I will call the MO tomorrow as I am not sure if this is a result of taking tamoxifen.  Does anyone have experience with this. I have been on tamoxifen for 9 months and have had only a few minor side effects so far.

  • tmh0921
    tmh0921 Member Posts: 519
    edited July 2016

    Lauramiley2016

    I took Tamoxifen when I was 27 after by BC DX and took it for 2.5 years before stopping to have a baby. I had hot flashes, some mood swings (though those were probably more stress than anything), weight gain, and ovarian cysts. When I went off the Tamoxifen all of that resolved. I was told to wait 2 months to get the Tamoxifen out of my system before trying to get pregnant. Once we started trying it took me 7 months to get pregnant. I've had 2 babies (now 13 & 8) since.

    I didn't go back on Tamoxifen after having my babies. I have since been diagnosed with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia, so I'll be starting back on Tamoxifen in August (had to change up another medicine I take first to prevent interactions).

    Tracy

  • MJS1266
    MJS1266 Member Posts: 159
    edited July 2016

    Musosgirl,

    I may be too late with my comment but have been on vacation.  I had these type of symptoms because of a thyroid problem.  I had complained a couple of times about heart palpitations to the nurse practioner.  It wasn't until I had a full physical and complained again that I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem.  Now that my thyroid is normal, I haven't had these symptoms on Tamoxifen.

    Good luck,

    Mary-Jo

  • Amy9848
    Amy9848 Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2016

    I am on Tamoxifen without ovary suppression. My period runs about 15 days late every month, but is still fairly regular. I saw my gyne about removal and she wants to wait a year.

  • lvbugs
    lvbugs Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2016

    dismay15, I had a rash in one area on my leg, it cleared up when I went on vacation and then the rashcame back when I returned home. I realized it was a lotion that I was using at home. I changed my lotion and it went away. What was strange was that it was a lotion I had been using for years, but just recently they changed it to add an ingredient.

  • LovingIsLiving
    LovingIsLiving Member Posts: 89
    edited July 2016

    Hi all, I'm back just to post an update. Since I started taking Magnesium Glycinate in addition to the magnesium that's in my calcium supplement, I haven't had any leg cramps and my hot flashes are shorter and less often. So that's one good thing!

    The other thing that has me a little worried is that for the first time since before my diagnosis I had some spotting yesterday...I've been in menopause for ~2 years, but before that I had fibroids which caused really heavy bleeding and I had an embolization that completely stopped the symptoms. I read that tamoxifen can cause fibroids. I have a four month checkup next week so I'll talk to my onc about it but I do want to see my Gyn doctor. Has anyone here postmenopause had bleeding?

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited July 2016

    Maybe. Not clear how menopausal I am yet at a hormonal level. I had some spotting and a transvaginal ultrasound showed some endometrial thickening. Therefore, I had an endometrial biopsy. Just heard today it came back negative. The instruction is to let them know if spotting recurs.

  • dismay15
    dismay15 Member Posts: 219
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for the reply Lvbugs - beginning to think this rash has nothing to do with tamoxifen. May have been a new body wash!!

  • Strawberry8
    Strawberry8 Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2016

    Hello!

    I am closing in on my first 3 months of taking tamoxifen. I have a follow up with the oncologist next week. Does anybody know if he will be doing any blood tests to see if the drug is impacting anything? I am concerned about bone loss but I assume its too early to tell yet.

    At first I had mild hot flashes and night sweats, and some cramping during the first couple months. I only have my ovaries so I don't really have a way to track my cycles anymore. I also have some periodic constipation, and dry skin, possibly thinning hair but that had been an issue last year leading up to my hysterectomy.

    I suppose if he does not do any blood tests and he basically just asks how I am feeling, I will just ask my gyn or gp to do so at my next appointment.

  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 499
    edited July 2016

    Jennie93 and shellym

    I have a call in to my onc about the Tamoxifen and Lexapro. She told me Lex was a good choice and she is in a top cancer clinic. I am really concerned.

    I will let you know what she says.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited July 2016

    Strawberry8---I was told by my docs that Tamoxifen is actually good for your bones, that it doesn't cause bone loss. Maybe I heard wrong but I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about bone loss. But it's always good to ask for baseline measurements of things when on Tamoxifen. Bone density and endometrial lining as well as eye health are three that come to mind.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited July 2016

    Tamoxifen indeed is good for bone density, so that's not something you need to worry about. The AIs are hard on bones.

  • Strawberry8
    Strawberry8 Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2016

    thanks for the quick replies! I read that for premenopausal ladies tamoxifen can cause bone loss. I am 41, and at best perimenopausal. I am somewhat lucky that I no longer have a uterus, so the endometrial lining issue is taken care of. I will let you know what the onc says/does next week.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited July 2016

    Tamoxifen is generally given to premenopausal women. Bone loss is not a listed side effect. "Bone mineral density studies have failed to find evidence of increased risk of osteoporosis in women treated with tamoxifen. One study noted a significant reduction in serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase, indicating that tamoxifen may actually decrease the rate of trabecular bone resorption." (Drugs.com side effects list)

  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 155
    edited July 2016

    Strawberry8, I have been on Tamoxifen for over a year, but my MO does not do blood tests of any kind. I still go to my PCP for annual physical, and they did all the usual blood tests. My liver enzymes were a little elevated, but when I went back a month later, they were back to normal. My MO is going to do some tests in December to see if I am menopausal or not, and will do a bone density test. Reason for this is because if I am menopausal, she will switch me to an AI, and they can cause bone loss. Need to check to make sure my bones are strong enough.

    After Chemo, it does seem strange not to have your blood tested regularly, but they don't. Unless you have symptoms of some kind, I guess they're not needed.

  • RDA123
    RDA123 Member Posts: 55
    edited July 2016

    I'm on lexapro and asked my oncologist about it with tamoxifen. He said it's fine. I'm a little confused when people mention it has interactions??

  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 499
    edited July 2016

    My onc said that Lex and Tamox are a good combo. Those .com websites are not your doctors!!

  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited July 2016

    My pcp seems to be more into labs than my onc. Saw her today and liver enzymes have come down since chemo but still high so she'll see me in 4 mo for labs. She was a bc pt herself so it's comforting to see she seems to want to keep a closer eye on me.

  • ORgal
    ORgal Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2016

    sjacobs, that is really strange you don't get blood tests. I had my first blood test 1 month after starting tamoxifen to make sure it wasn't affecting my liver. Now I see my MO every 6 months and do a blood test each time. I just hit my one year anniversary on it, 4-9 years to go - ugh.

  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2016

    my onc is anti-labs without symptoms as well, but I do have my pcp do them. If tamoxifen is affecting my liver, I want to know earlier rather than later

    http://livertox.nlm.nih.gov/Tamoxifen.htm


  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited July 2016

    After preliminaries/baselines and seeing if my WBC normalized after chemo, my MO has gone to once a year.

  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 125
    edited July 2016

    Hi, Everyone -

    I have had difficulties with the Tamoxifen towards the end of my first year of being on it. I went off it from mid-January (2016) until April due to emotional reactions to it. Increased depression. Once it was re-started in April, I quickly started to have the same difficulties. The depression was becoming worse. I saw my oncologist (her practitioner) and I am stopping the Tamoxifen. Tomorrow, I will be starting Evista. Anyone else here on the boards taking Evista?

  • TinyDancer5
    TinyDancer5 Member Posts: 217
    edited July 2016

    My estradiol is up to 706 from 326 and my MO is considering having Lupron injections along with taking Tamoxifen. I have a TVUS scheduled for next week. Can anyone tell me about the side effects from Lupron? I don't have any issues with the Tamoxifen anymore.

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited July 2016

    TinyDancer, I just started Zoladex (a cousin of Lupron). All of my issues with tamoxifen were gone; the Zoladex caused some ovarian/pelvic pain for a few days (my MO says this is normal, because the ovaries are fighting nap time), and the hot flashes were worse for about a week. Other than that, I'm not seeing any problems.

    My WBC is low, but that's probably a SE of tamoxifen and/or Herceptin, not Zoladex.

  • superius
    superius Member Posts: 310
    edited July 2016

    Kate: how long will you be on Zoladex? MO said we will talk about Lupron in Sept.

    Also confirmed with her that I'm on the Tamoxifen for 10yrs. (which my church Onco people told me at the beginning "do 10 yrs if tolerable.")

    So hot flashes went away ~ june 10, then it's now back (might be right after my period came back???), but VERY mild. & I actually had to ask one of my onco people, "is it me or is the choir loft too warm?" LOL

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