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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • DCISinAZ
    DCISinAZ Member Posts: 135
    edited February 2017

    DowntonAbby - my doctor didn't even recommend it. Even after I specifically asked. My husband is a physician and is going to talk to some other MO and get his take on it.

  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2017

    No Watson brand? I've been taking Watson's version of tamoxifen for about a year, w/o too many terrrible/bad side effects. Got a refill (at Walmart) today and was given Mylan. They told me they are no longer able to get Watson's brand. So what gives? Is anyone still getting Watson's? And where? Is it just Walmart that has a problem getting it now or is it no longer possible to get anywhere. I am so not happy about switching brands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • annoyingboob
    annoyingboob Member Posts: 459
    edited February 2017

    can someone remind me when the best time to start tamoxifen is? I'm supposed to start in a week, after xrt, but I thought I read somewhere it's best to begin on your period, and that just started today. Doubt it makes a huge difference in the scheme of things, but wondering if I should start today instead of in a week? Or maybe wait a month and start with next cycle? Thoughts

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited February 2017

    I didn't know anyone on Tamoxifen even got periods anymore. I haven't had one since chemo.

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2017

    I still have my regular periods and have been on Tamoxifen for over 6 mos. My MO never gave me any restrictions to starting, Tamoxifen, said it was my choice to wait until after radiation, but if I waited, I should start right after rads.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited February 2017

    I never quit having periods on Tamoxifen but I didn't have to have chemo or rads either so maybe that made a difference. Of course now that I've had my total hysterectomy, no more periods. ThumbsUp

  • Catkin
    Catkin Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2017

    They never gave me a recommended time of the month to start Tamoxifen. It was just as soon as convenient after radiotherapy. My periods stopped after a couple of months. I've been on it for 15 months, do you think I'm counting :). I am 50 and I had surgery and radiotherapy but no chemo.


  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited February 2017

    I'm back from the hyster. It did take about an hour, and the incision is about five inches. The first night was tough. Lots of flank and back pain. Doc said it was from the ligaments and nerves holding the uterus being cut. I came home after one day, my preference. Keeping up w pain meds, but so far this is manageable, though I think the Mx was initiallyeasier re: pain control. Here is the really crazy thing, I've only had a handful of light hot flashes since wed. Usually they come on like a tsunami. Crossing my fingers that that trend continues!

  • TinyDancer5
    TinyDancer5 Member Posts: 217
    edited February 2017

    I just picked up my next bottle of Tamoxifen and the MFG name is "Mayne". I have been on Watson for the past year and I don't want to switch brands now. Anyone here using the Mayne brand?

  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2017

    I didn't want to switch from Watson either. I guess I'm not the only one being told it is not available right now. I've never tried another brand, but I guess I will start taking Mylan's version in about a week.


  • ARCats
    ARCats Member Posts: 105
    edited February 2017

    farmerlucy, I'm happy that's over for you. Wouldn't it be great, no more HOT FLASHES!!!

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited February 2017

    Indeed it would ARCats

  • bbwithbc45
    bbwithbc45 Member Posts: 367
    edited February 2017

    My pharmacy keeps changing the suppliers on me all the time; it seems every 3-4 months. Sometimes they even give me part of my pills from one supplier and the remainder from another. I lost track already, so I'm not even trying to keep up figuring out which manufacturer causes me which side effects.


  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited February 2017

    I am interested to hear experiences on Icool. The reviews online seem good. I just started it.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited February 2017

    Tiny Dancer---I'm on the Mayne brand. I started out on Watson and swapped to Teva after a couple of years because I'd heard SEs were fewer and it was true for me. At my last refill I was told no more Teva Tamoxifen so I did a little research. Mayne bought Teva and kept the exact same formula so I you like Teva you should like Mayne. Lots of ladies do ok on Watson but most say the Teva/Mayne seems to be just a bit better.

    Trvler--I've been on iCool for 2 years now and find it works great for me. It doesn't get rid of HF but makes them fewer in number and much milder. Lately I've been experimenting with the different variations. I've always taken the little white pill form but that's getting harder to find so I'm trying the blue gel caps and surprisingly I think they actually work better. I know it's the same active ingredient but as we all now know thanks to Tamoxifen, it's the fillers that'll do you in every time!! I don't know anyone else that takes iCool but I tell my MO thank you every time I see him because it's made menopause bearable for me.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited February 2017

    I believe that Watson got bought by Activis and is now distributed under the Activis Mayne brand. I'very been on that for months and did not see any difference.

    Farmerlucy . . .sending healing vibes,

    Saw MO today for 6-month check. I'm anemic, probably from the heavy cycle I just finished. I'll have to have hormone blood work if I go back to these cycles regularly. On the good side, MO said Tamoxifen is good enough even if ER levels go back up. So no more lupron in my future. Yeah!

    Scottie

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2017

    Farmerlucy, glad surgery is over & hope pain stays manageable. And hope trend continues with HF.

    Scottie, YAY, good news from your MO visit!

  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2017

    Any more Icool stories? Interested....I tried it a couple years ago and it didn't help. Might give it another go.

  • loral
    loral Member Posts: 818
    edited February 2017

    Tiny Dancer....I use Mayne, that is the company that bought out the Teva brand. Suppose to be exactly as the Teva brand.

    Mayne Pharma has enhanced its generic products portfolio with 42 products acquired from Teva/Allergan.

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited February 2017

    Lala: Thanks for the feedback.

    Blown: I got on the Icool site and read some reviews. One person said it didn't really help until the second pack so I am going to try it for a few months. I will report back.

  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 662
    edited February 2017

    Thanks Tryler - looking forward to your report back on the Icool.

  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2017
    Ladies looking for some feedback on mysterious bruising at least 18 months past chemo. I have a bruise the size of a silver dollar in my right leg just above the knee. It's nearly black it's so purple. The spot was quite sore the day or two before the Bruise started. My instincts tell me a deep varicose vein ruptured. I've got a few of them so it makes sense that this is what it is, I just don't know why.
  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited February 2017
    No experience here Molliefish, but I hope you get some answers.

    Day four post TAH. This certainly is not an easy surgery. Everyday gets better and better. Mainly sore. I used a lot of my PS's tricks re: setting up a dressing station for wound care, though my gyn said ok to leave it uncovered, I just can't do that. Off narcotics since yesterday. For some reason my blood pressure was spiking at the hospital so my gyn put me on meds. Sucks getting old.

    Going to try to drive to the farm to check on the animal crew today. It is way worse for me emotionally to lay around and think, than to do a few things, rest, do a little more.

    Skipped Tamoxifen for two days, but now my friends the HF are back. Missed them - not. Thirteen months to five years. Counting.every.day.

    I am grateful to have this drug though. I recently took stock of all the changes BC has brought me - BMX, ooph, now hyster. Guess no one gets out of this life unscathed.

    Keep on keeping on friends! 💋
  • TinyDancer5
    TinyDancer5 Member Posts: 217
    edited February 2017

    lala1 and labeled, I called Walgreens and asked them if they could get the Watson brand because I didn't want to switch to Mayne. The pharmacist called their supplier and said "sure, we can get Watson for you". Now I don't have to worry about any new SE's

  • katcar0001
    katcar0001 Member Posts: 321
    edited February 2017

    FarmerLucy--sorry to hear that you are so sore, and that it was not an "easy" surgery. Those two words just don't go together in my mind when one is having so many parts removed. I hope you are much better soon! Take it easy driving!

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited February 2017

    Thanks katcar! Pathology all came back clear. Whew.

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2017

    Farmerlucy, glad for the good path report!

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited February 2017

    Thanks so much!

  • katcar0001
    katcar0001 Member Posts: 321
    edited February 2017

    Great news, FarmerLucy!

  • ARCats
    ARCats Member Posts: 105
    edited February 2017

    farmerlucy, awesome about the path report! Sorry about the pain, just take it one step at a time.

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