Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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I am getting really bad arm cramps. I wonder if I split my dose it might help?
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Trvler: it might. I had bad leg cramps traveling to the shoulder and then to the other side of the body. My MO lowered the dose to 10 mg. After 6 weeks on this and the cramps going away, she put me on 10 mg twice a day. So far, OK. But do not split the pill - get a prescription for 10 mg tabs. And consult your doctor first.
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Reckless... Why do you say to not split the pill?
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I'd like to know about the pill splitting as well. Most of the time I can get the 10mg pills, but sometimes I cannot, and then I split them.
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It is my understanding and I just read an article to confirm, while capsules shouldn't be split, some tablets can be halved and some shouldn't be. You should seek the guidance of the oncologist to determine if you can split a tamoxifen tablet, but i would think it's probably fine as it is equally sized, has a score mark in the middle dividing the tablet in two and likley the dosage of meds are spread evenly throughout the tablet.
The biggest concern with pill splitting (aside from crushing it and not being able to accurately halve it) is that the actual meds are not evenly spread thoroughout the tablet.
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Great news on the biopsy front.. all test results negative for any abnormalities. Don't come back unless you have symptoms and have a great time.. such good news. Then I went for an ultrasound today for a suspicious lump in the other breast... never ends...
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I said not to split the pill for the reasons molliefish mentioned.
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Splitting Tamoxifen may release carcinogenic powder particles.
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well I'm a dumbass and split mine tonight. I forgot to take it at lunch so I stupidity decided to just take half tonight.
Read my bottle after I saw your posts!
Won't do that again!
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Good to know why not to split. My bottle says swallow whole. Do not chew or crush.
Molliefish, glad your biopsy results are negative and praying that the suspicious lump is nothing to worry about either. I go for my first mammo since lx Tuesday & can't help but have a little anxiety over it.
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Hi guys. I don't agree that you can't split the pill. It's only time released medication that shouldn't be split. You should be able to split accurately if its scored and you have a pill splitter. Good luck to all...
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Mollie, hope the lump isn't anything and tbalding, prayers for good results!
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Thank you. I'm feeling pretty calm about this one. What will be will be.
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Molliefish-Know whatever happens we are here with you. You are in awesome shape again and what will be will be. Cancer doesn't know who it is messing with so it best stay away.
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Molliefish - what made you ask for US?
I just had one few weeks ago because it's been bothering me since mammogram in May. there was this ache when they squeezed sideway (but not top-bottom). And I can see something across when I raise my arms -- the size & shape of the rib. I don't think I've ever looked at chest, & kinda amused "oh look I can see my ribs" on my BC side.
MO don't think it's anything but ordered US for peace of mind. The first thing the Tech asked me was if I have lost weight... well yes. about 20 since during chemo.... I took a peek at the monitor & heard back from the radiologist right away. everything inside is normal, nothing looks out of place...
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Good Morning Superius, I had a mammogram in the spring/summer that was normal but I found a small lump under the nipple in the opposite breast when doing a self exam. I mentioned/showed it to the Oncologist at my October appt and for peace of mind he ordered an US. He said he couldn't feel anything appreciable, but the US tech didn't seem to have a problem locating it. The oncologist told me to call 48 hours after the US but it was on Thursday afternoon so it will be Monday before I can call. Off to clean out my molliefish tank :-)
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myspaulding, I took a 2 week break after being on for only a couple of months. I don't know if it was the break or switching to the Teva brand that helped but my SEs are less. I still have some hot flashes and dizziness but I feel like I'm overall both of those as well as my brain fog are better.
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Finally got the results from the Oncologist yesterday... ultrasound is negative for any abnormalities... So now that I know that little lump is a normal duct, it will be easier to detect something that doesn't belong... one more set of tests to get through to confirm all is well. I've been having consistent sore/scratchy throat since forever... and in the last 6 months my lymph nodes in my neck are swollen... I've had a culture done, going for ultrasound Monday on the nodes and a consult with the ENT (which reminds me I haven't heard from the doctor on this one x 8 days)... I read somewhere that the effects of the blocking of estrogen can cause this kind of response... the feeling that you're constantly coming down with a cold.. who knows. I haven't really had a cold since prior to my cancer diagnosis so it could well be. That being said... onward and upward we go ladies... one day after another, one foot after another, and one minute at a time when we have to.
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molliefish, glad the ultrasound was negative
I got a good result on my post BC mammo0 -
hi.
I started tamoxifen 10mg at night a few weeks ago, taken at night. plan is to add 10mg to morning in a couple weeks as my body adjusts. so far, my SE mild with feet hurting in morning (until i get going) and wrist/finger aches in morning and dull headache in the morning until i have a cup of coffee (which usually does it). I can tolerate the joint pain but waking with headache for 5 years not a happy thought
2 questions...
any of you experience headaches? did it resolve as your body adjusted?
of course I'll ask my MO but wondering if any of your docs are okay with 10 mg a day. I'm post menopausal low body fat and estradiol tests pre-pill showed low estrogen levels so wondering why I would need to take a 20mg dose that may be indicated for those with more estrogen production. I'd like to take a little as necessary to get the job done!
thanks!
jp
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yay!!!!! I love to hear the good test results!!!!!!
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I just started Tamoxifen a few weeks ago. I am having hot flashes, but I had some before so I was kinda used to them; just more frequent now. Also, no vaginal dryness, in fact I have some discharge so if anything I am more lubricated than ever! I was SO concerned about side effects and so far no big whoop
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I started Tamoxifen four weeks ago, haven't had any problems with hot flashes but I'm already post menopausal so maybe it's not too big an adjustment. But I have had major problems with mood swings and depressive episodes, not sure if it's down to the Tamoxifen or the post diagnosis brain strain.
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Hi to all
I have been taking tamoxifen for a month now and have no side effects at all. The only thing I have noticed is that my period was a week later than usual.
Just wondering how long it takes for side effects to appear?
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Hi Olive, I've been taking it since July 16 & still, fortunately, have no noticeable side effects. Hoping it continues that way
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Dizzybee: I've been taking Tamoxifen for almost a year (hooray! -one down four to go). I was starting to get irregular periods (perimenapausal, 50 years old) before taking it and it totally stopped my periods the very next month. Also I have more of a tendency to backache. Most importantly I feel that the drug has lowered my mood very much. Ok there is the strain of recovering physically and psychologically from surgery, radiotherapy and the strain of having had cancer. However I feel as though the tamoxifen makes me very sensitive to stress, prone to anxiety/apprehension/dark morbid fearful thoughts, as if super menapausal with very low oestrogen. Recently I have felt finally as if I'm getting on average better in my day to day mood, like the bad episodes are shorter (like a few days). Mornings are always worst, evenings better. Oh I had insomnia too but that is getting better. Looking at the recent postings I think it is wonderful that some of us are getting only very slight and tolerable side effects. Some women fell very depressed with just their natural menapause (and leading up to it) never mind taking tamoxifen too.
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My big concern with Tamoxifen side effects is the endometrial thickening and risk of cancer. I started out with abnormal endometrial readings and a polyp so it's likely to be a problem. The gynecologist wants me to stop taking it but the oncologist wants me to carry on, so I'm going to get a second opinion. I asked if I could take an AI instead, got told with DCIS it's Tamoxifen or nothing.
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Dizzybee, you should tell your MO about the moods. Funny story, I went in today for my appointment. I was complaining about severe fatigue. She said she gets this a lot. She wasn't too concerned. Then she said that if I was having depression that was a different story. She said that mood changes are something they stop the medication for. I was shocked. Why would moods mean you needed to stop the medicine? Not sure but apparently it's something you should mention to the MO. I hope you feel better aoo
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Dizzybee: I must admit I have no idea about the state of my endometrium and I try not to think about it, just watch out for unusual symptoms. That's a pain having your medical professionals giving you contradictory advice. As you say you need another opinion, maybe from a gynecologic oncologist (I'm not joking , I just looked it up). I thought of it because my husband once spoke to a urologic oncologist.
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No, I had no idea about the state of mine either, but I've just had some extensive testing of it! I had some bleeding on the third day after I started the Tamoxifen, and it's a symptom of endometrial cancer so they hauled me in for biopsies. They came back clear, but the gynecologist said they normally treat endometrial hyperplasia with progesterone to even the hormones out. Except you can't have progesterone when you have breast cancer.
So I've started out with already abnormal readings on a drug which raises the level further, and an oncologist who says I need it, and a gynecologist who says I need to stop it...
So the mood swings are a symptom of complete meltdown while I try to decide what I'm more afraid of. I have started an antidepressant, I've tried to deal with this on my own but it's been time to admit things have got too difficult.
What I need is for someone to tell me whether I'm more at risk from the breast cancer I know about than the possibility of endometrial cancer in the future. So in the meantime I'm still taking the Tamoxifen while I try to get a second opinion from an oncologist who can weigh up the risk of both and give me an answer.
I just wish I could take an AI instead, I'm scared at the thought of stopping the Tamoxifen and having nothing.
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