Bottle o Tamoxifen
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I have been on Teva for 17 months. They filled Mylan once and I did not take-now I requested only Teva so I don't have to worry about it. My side effects have gotten less. Have some hot flashes and occasional leg cramps
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I've only been on tamoxifen for a month and I had to call my Dr. The fatigue was outrageous. Getting a shower was tiring me out. I couldn't function at all. I was running 3 miles every day and hiking mountains before all this. It was almost instant that I lost all motivation. I couldn't even make dinner. Most nights I could eat because that was too much effort. I swear to you I was in a coma. My Dr had me stop it and I'm instantly better. Took my family apple picking today. I feel so much better. The Dr is going to wait two weeks and then we will do 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks. Anyone else have this happen? Does rebooting help? Or is this just how I will feel on this medicin
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Hello,
I have been taking it since January 2016, I have e,percent ed hot flashes, my cycle has not stopped, but it has gotten lighter, and I don't know if this is a side effect because I did not see it on the I formation, but my hair has gotten really thin and sheds a lot. Does anyone know if thinning Harrison's the side effects? I have not approached my year of taking it and have four more to go. Will I be bald by that time from taking it?
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I am wondering if anyone else is getting cramps in any place in their body besides legs? I am getting horrible cramps in my right arm every time I stretch it. I know it's the Tamoxifen but my doctor doesn't think so.
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Yes, I had cramps in muscles other than in my legs before beginning tamoxifen, but they have gotten much more frequent and worse since beginning tamoxifen. I find that magnesium helps. If you search on BCO, you will find several threads talking about the different forms of magnesium that people try. Some seem to work for some people, and others for other people. For myself, magnesium citrate powder, brand name Natural Calm, available on Amazon among other places, is the only thing that reduces my muscle cramps.
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Yes, my cramps travel from my sole all the way to the shoulder. I did not have it prior to starting tamox. Magnesium was not working for me, but lowering the dosage to 10 mg did
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I was getting weird pains in pelvic area ?
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RDA - I think that has to do with the drug's effect on the uterus. Generally it causes uterine thickening -very, very, rarely is it cancer, though it is good to have your gyn monitoring you.
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To Salex - I've been on Tamoxifen since Nov 2015 and I've noticed that my hair brush seems to be pulling out an awful lot of hair so it must be getting thinner, nowhere near going bald though. Also my periods stopped within 2 months but I was becoming quite irregular anyway being 49 years old.
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Yes to cramps. Leg cramps, wonky-feeling feet, and pelvic pain. It's gotten worse since I've been on Zoladex with the tamoxifen; my doctor says these are symptoms of menopause, as is the anxiety/depression that I've been experiencing. Yay.
The good news is that the side effects are treatable (magnesium, turmeric, and fish oil help me with the cramping and joint pain, and I'm hoping that Lexapro will help me with the psychological turmoil), and I'll take the 18% reduction in risk. Down the hatch with the magic pill; into the belly with the magic pellet.
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I get cramps in both my feet, it is definitely tamoxifen related as I never had it before! Massaging helps!
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I am going to try eating a banana a day. I remember that being a remedy for leg cramps when I was pregnant. I already take magnesium. Not helping.
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I eat 1-2 bananas a day. The don't seem to work for me. Not into supplements, but I might try. Cramps in the feet in the poo, this summer, cramps in the intercostal so in the ribs when tying shoes, in the back when stretching before a work out or with a yawn.... You kinda get used to it, and learn not to move in a certain way.0
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I used to get restless leg a lot BEFORE taking tamoxifen. My sister recommended magnesium glycinate as it is absorbed better than magnesium citrate. It worked! Then in July when I was diagnosed with DCIS I quit taking it, no reason really. I was doing okay without it. And now, a week after being on tamoxifen I am having the worst restless leg, it keeps me awake at night. When I do sleep, I wake up drenched in sweat. I started taking the magnesium glycinate again in hopes it will alleviate the restless leg. We shall see. I am like a zombie from lack of sleep! Also, I am on Wellbutrin (bupropion) and I just read an article that this is not a good antidepressant to take while on tamoxifen. I am getting a second opinion Friday with new oncologist. Maybe he will have some answers.....if I can remember my questions! Lol
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I get leg cramps (only in my calves) in the early morning but its not too bad. I stretch the muscle by pulling my toes up towards my knee to make the pain go away. I also take magnesium (oxide and stearate in one pill) every other day. I'm not sure if that helps or not, I don't eat many bananas. Also I am more prone to pain in the lowest part of my back which might be the joint pain problem. I have to be careful picking things up and playing any sport. I also have low mood/anxiety but that's a whole other story
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Hi everyone! I started Tamoxifen today. I was to start it last month, but I was overcome with anxiety about the SEs and possible health risks. I planned to refuse hormone therapy, but my older sister has been on it for 4 years without serious SEs. She said try it, you can always stop.
Harley44 - my gynecologist said uterine cancer due to Tamoxifen is very rare. I spoke to her about it today.
I was surprised when she (gynecologist) told me that Tamoxifen would not stop my period. My period will stop when I go through menopause, she said.
~ Julia
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I was told that my RLS and leg cramps was due to dehydration and that I need to drink more fluids. I've never had a cramp since.
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I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer (sorry to all Debbie's out there) but I was told the same thing too. I used to suffer horrible leg cramps as a youth, when my hormones were coming alive so to speak. I was fine through my adult life. I routinely drink 2-3 litres of water a day. Since my first pregnancy I take a tall glass of water to bed and drink through the night. I didn't start gettting muscle cramps in all these strange places until after I started tamoxifen. That being said, I'm quite willing to entertain that the cramps are a long term side effect of the body recovering from chemo. or that it's an effect of the lack of estrogen uptake since the Tam is an estrogen blocker
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I get leg cramps even when drinking overy 100 oz a day.
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To Jul1970 - It is worth trying the Tamoxifen, you might have minimal side effects and as your sister said you can always stop or take a break.
Personally speaking, my periods stopped quite suddenly within 2 months of starting Tamoxifen but they were becoming irregular and were on the way to stopping anyway.
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Thanks for the confirmation. I KNOW it's the Tamoxifen. Hard to avoid it. I can't really avoid certain movements. Oddly, other movements don't bother it at all. Did 2 Jazzercise classes and it was fine. But if I reach out and extend my arm to get something in bed like a pillow, youch.
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The cramps (not just leg, but also back, foot, and chest) are a thing that come and go with me, seemingly without rhyme or reason. I agree that staying hydrated is important (it was important before, too, but maybe not on the radar quite as brightly). But Molliefish, I think you might be right: hormones regulate everything. All body processes. We're replacing our own estrogen with endoxifen (tamoxifen's active metabolite), so there are bound to be bumps in the road . . . and muscle cramps.
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Update from the new Gyne. She's great! I've never met her before, but I got a huge hug from her after telling all about my diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. We she took the time to go through the entire history, and her experiences so far. She doesn't feel the thickening of the endometrium will turn out to be any thing nefarious, but will do the biopsy next week to put any suspicion to rest. I wish she'd been my Gyne all along. Love her!
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I started Tamoxifen on Sept. 27; a 10mg tablet in the morning and evening. I also take 1 Feosol (iron supplement) daily. I cannot take more than the one 10mg Tamoxifen in the morning because of stomach pain. I take the Tamoxifen and Feosol separately, and both with food. Has anyone else experienced stomach pain taking Tamoxifen? Did it eventually go away?
I left a voicemail for my oncologist's nurse about the situation. The stomach pain lasts all day. Prior to the Tamoxifen, the iron supplement upset my stomach slightly.
Day 3 of Tamoxifen, I'm noticing a dry mouth, stomach pain, dull headache and feeling a bit spacey. I have made a couple of silly mistakes at work -- nothing catastrophic, but I am hoping that will stop as my body adjusts to the medication.
I have a question for long-time Tamoxifen users....does the drug prevent sexual arousal or orgasms? I have read that it decreases sex drive and can cause vaginal atrophy in some women. The decreased sex drive I can manage, but if arousal and orgasm can't happen on the drug, that might be a problem.
~ Julia
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Julia, I've taken it for over a year without sexual response problems. My libido is lower, but I'm not sure I can pin that on the Tamoxifen.
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Thank you, ksusan, that is good news!
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Julia, I had a year's worth of stomach issues after Tamox. The Gastroenterologist never figured our why although I'm still on Omeprazole. I'm not sure if it was the Tamox, stress from everything, both or neither. My stomach issues have considerably improved in the past month since I went on an anti-inflammatory diet, i.e., gluten-free free etc. The diet was due to lymphedema, but it's possible that the Tamox etc made me more sensitive to gluten as well as artificial preservatives and sweetners.
Scottie
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Jul1970--I had stomach problems on Tamoxifen as well. At the suggestion of my holistic doctor, I began taking a probiotic. He felt that all my surgeries along with the Tamoxifen and just general stress had thrown my system out of whack. It took a couple of months but my issues did go away. I take the Primadolphilus Optima brand with 14 strains that I buy refrigerated from my local Vitamin Shoppe. He said I should make sure whatever I buy has as many strains of probiotics as possible and stays refrigerated. My dad is also a doctor and confirmed that the anesthesia, chemo and rads can all throw off the balance in your gut and probiotics will help a lot.
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Along that line, if you were like me you were prescribed major antibiotics to aid in reconstruction healing. Those strip the gut of any good bacteria. Another excellent reason to take the probiotic.
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Thank you Scottiemom11 and lala1. I eat gluten free, low sugar and have always eaten healthy (except for the occasional donut or cake piece...I love cake, lol). I will definitely start the probiotic. I plan to stop by a local health food store today and see if they carry Primadolphilus Optima brand. An RN friend told me to buy Fago Greek plain yogurt with active cultures and eat that once daily to help my stomach as well (that mixed with a spoonful of honey is delicious!).
I was miffed at my oncologist yesterday because she said, "the iron supplements cause stomach pain" when I told her about my issue with the Tamoxifen. Um, I know that. I would not have called to report a problem with Tam if I thought it was the iron. I have taken iron for 2 years. My stomach is use to it. The pain might be caused by the two together, but I never had this degree of stomach pain with the iron. She told me to stop the iron supplements to see if things improve. I told her I would, but I'm taking only 10 mg of Tam daily until things improve.
My friend who has breast cancer and takes Tamoxifen said, "Doctors give everyone 20mg, despite their body weight, age, cancer type, etc. Maybe at your age (46), slow growing cancer type and slender build, you can take just 10 mg and it will still work well." Makes sense. I will take 20mg if and when the stomach pain improves. Until then, 10mg it is.
Hope all you ladies are well.
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