Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
-
nd, I actually requested effexor and it has really helped me, I dread the day I have to go off of it because I heard it's horribly hard to get off of. I too am hot, cold, hot, cold. No happy medium!
0 -
I was on a low dose of Effexor, I got bad headaces going off it. I did like how calm it made me. It also did help hot flashes but it also made me very sleepy.
0 -
I have the same issue with hot/cold/hot cold. I find that if I don't get too cold, I don't get too hot. If I start to get cold in the night, I put an electric blanket on a very low setting. I can easily turn it off after a few minutes. With the sleep, this is a problem for me too. I can go to sleep but either my husband wakes me up around 1 snoring (at which point I go in the guest room) and then I take a 1/2 or .5 mg Xanax and that mostly gets me through the rest of the night. But sometimes half doesn't work. I got off Xanax for a while after my treatment finished but I have two challenging kids and I HAVE to have sleep to deal with them.
0 -
After 2.5 years on Tamoxifen, I am finally getting more symptoms.... hot/cold flashes, insomnia, emotional lability. I am really a mess right now. I wish I could get Effexor in Mexico :-(. Any other suggestions? I am thinking of taking a break from Tamoxifen, but I know my MO will not approve of that. Is taking a break for a couple of weeks okay?
0 -
So far I'm fairing really well on it but I have read many people take a break off these hormonals when the se's get too bad. Heck the se's of Letrozole (Femara) were so debilitating for me that I quit after 5 weeks (when it was bad after 2 days) and got back on Tamoxifen. Not ideal considering I am considered high risk but quality of life needs to factor in.
I take turmeric-curcumin that has black pepper in it for the flashes. Seems to help.
0 -
I started Tamoxifen today after 14 months on Aromasin and one month of Femara. The side effects of the Aromasin were bad until I started the Femara and they were worse. I went back on the Aromasin and the joint pain, especially knees, hands and wrists were debilitating. I haven't been able to sleep for months and have crazy dreams. I hope the Tamoxifen is better. I will never last the 10 years my oncologist says I will have to take this. I take Effexor for the hot flashes and it helps a lot.
0 -
HI all,
I started my Tamoxifen journey April 27. So far I haven't noticed much difference. I have put on weight for sure, and I am hot cold all the time. I notice I don't do well in the heat anymore like I used to. I also have not had a period since October. I wonder if it will ever come back?
0 -
Some people take Gabapenton(sp) for hot flashes, other people say Tumeric will help with hot flashes. I am only on week 3 of starting Tamoxifen again so side effects are showing up more daily. I find it odd how the side effects will show up much later as well. Last time I was on it trigger thumb was a problem for me. It went away when I went off Tamoxifen. I am going to try controlled release Melatonin for sleep. Anyone else try that?
I have taken breaks from my meds. When I had my ovaries removed, my MO took me off Tamoxifen for 2 weeks before surg and for a week after. When Arimidex got horrible my MO took me off for 2 weeks to see if the side effects got better. I stayed off a month and also took myself off Effexor and I felt great. In April my MO N/P took me off Femara to see if my ear ringing would go away. I stayed off a month until I could get into my MO and not the MO/NP. NP wanted me to stay on Femara and treat the side effects of high b/p, high cholesterol and bone loss with other drugs, where my MO did not agree to keep me on Femara. Joint aches were not there but my body was not reacting well to Femara.
What is everyones MO saying about taking Tamoxifen for 10 yrs? My MO is very anti-drug and said it is up to me. I do not like making that decision and hope my cancer center will do the bc index test by that time
0 -
ndgrrl- no benadryl with Tamoxifen. The Benadryl blocks the action of the Tamoxifen as they are both metabolized through the same pathway in the liver. Allegra, Zyrtec or xyxal are ok to take with Tamoxifen for allergy issues. Benadryl is ok only in an emergency situation. If you take anything for acid reflux, make sure it doesn't have active ingredient cimetidine in it (Tagamet). Here's a link to the known medications that interac negatively with Tamoxifen:
0 -
Sjsparks, mine came back almost 1 year after Chemo started.
ndgrrl I'm on the 10 years plan. I have church friends who are Oncology Researchers & they said to do 10 year if I can. So I asked my MO & she said 10. I thought it's quite optimistic, like "yeah you will be still alive & kicking to being taking this med 10 year in the future."
0 -
I am sorry you had such debilitating issues on Femara, Marionsgirl, arista928 and ndgrrl! I should be on it already, but I have been putting it off. I have already had a lot of joint issues that come and go (they run in the family, so I am not sure whether those are Tamoxifen or age-related).
It is encouraging to hear of others taking a break from Tamoxifen with their MO's blessing... I am not even sure I'll tell him? Quality of life has to mean something. The ear ringing drives me crazy as well, and it would be interesting to see if taking a break relieves that, and the other SEs.
Femara sounds like just an awful drug :-). 10 years is starting to look very difficult indeed.
I am starting my break today! I see my MO in late July.
0 -
Katcar, Femara (Letrozol) was a total mental nightmare for me and I will NEVER go back on it.
Since I stopped Exemestane I am sleeping like a baby! What a difference! Melatonin (actually good for you) stopped working for me anyway. I am on Tomox. now for 5 days & so far am ok other than hot flashes. Hopefully it won't create se's as time goes on like the Exemestane did after a year.
I took Black Cohosh for hot flashes (before I was on the Aromatase inhibitor Exemestane) and it worked great for me. Got it at https://www.puritan.com/menopause-101/ppblack-cohosh540mg100cap-019749 . I also get my Turmeric & other supplements there too. They have buy 2 get 3 free & free shipping with purchase over $25.
Anyway I have officially bought my passage on the Tomoxifen train now.
Blessings on your day!
Ade
0 -
Ade -- You just confirmed a large fear I have--that I will have a mental breakdown on Femara. I am already over-the-top emotional on Tamoxifen right now. Stopped taking it starting yesterday and going to see how it goes. I sobbed all night the night before last and did not fall asleep until 5am and then had to get up at 9:30am. I am a certifiable basket case.
I was told I cannot take Black Cohosh due to estrogenic properties. Maybe I can take Turmeric while on my break from Tamoxifen, but otherwise, there is some controversy whether it interferes with the CYP2D6 pathway.
Is Arimidex a little better than Femara? It is available here in Mexico. I am just trying to find something that sucks a little bit less as they all suck. My MO really wants me on Femara (wish I had a GIF for kicking and screaming).
0 -
All AIs suck but some do better on one v the others, while others all 3 suck too bad and come back to Tamox. From all I've read here, seems most like Aromasin better than Femara and Arimidex. Femara and Arimidex are basically the same while Aromasin has a differenct mechanism that helps some with se's that were too bad on Fem and Ari. Only way you can know is if you try it. My MO doesn't bother with trying me on Ari or Arom as Femara failed badly on me. I have bad joint issues in my knees and as is I have trouble walking at times. Since joint issues is a sure thing, I'm not even going to try for that se alone much less the others. She considers me high risk at 20% but qol is huge as I live alone and have to do things myself.
0 -
hi, just woke up with a horrible horrible graphic dream running in my mind. Is this common on Tamoxifen and how can I get them to stop? This dream was scary and so disturbing!
0 -
I haven't had bad dreams on Tamox but did on Letrozole (Femara).
0 -
hi, I was on tamoxifen for 2 years.
I did not have major side effects, little bit of joint pain. Did not gain weight. I was extremely nervous before I started taking it. The reason they stopped it is I develop polyps in my uterus which luckily biopsy was benign. now I'm in menopause and now very nervous to start the new drug they switched me toof.
good luck
0 -
ndgrrl...I have very vivid, and often very odd, dreams but that's from the Effexor (generic) that I'm on for the hot flashes. Never heard of dreams being impacted by Tamoxifen alone. Wishing you more restful sleep!
0 -
I have a huge amount of respect for all of the women who want to be careful what they eat and what products they use, etc. after cancer. But I think it is unnecessary to point out that hair dye has toxins and that you shouldn't use toxins in this thread. It is uncalled for. Many of us have hair that, because we have colored it for our whole lives, comes in dark brown or grey or some combination thereof and think it's inconsiderate to point out that coloring hair is risky. If you need to talk about the hair toxins, maybe do it in the what are you doing differently after cancer threads or in a thread created to discussed possible environmental toxins. I think this thread should be about support in regrowing hair and styling difficulties and texture due to chemo regrowth. Stepping off soapbox now.
0 -
Katcar, the Femara was the worst experience ever for me. There was no way on earth, this side of the looney bin, that I could stay on that. I have also found that L-Theanine (a natural supplement my Onc. said was ok) DID help with the mental thing - anxiety & depression. I read about it first on this site.
I had awful terrifying dreams on all of the 3 meds I tried (Femara/Letrzol - Exemestane/Aromasin - and Tomoxafen)
Now that I am off of them ALL - I sleep peacefully....but I realize not everyone CAN do that and I truly feel for you!
Blessings upon your day!
Ade
0 -
Okay, need some feedback. I've been on Tamoxifen for 18 months now, and for the most part, it's been reasonable. Lately (say, the last 2-3 months) I've noticed that I feel fatigued more easily, and sometimes feel like I'm going to fall asleep in the middle of the day, even sitting at my desk! My doctors don't seem concerned, and don't seem to have any real suggestions as to what to do about it. I have regained and maintained all of my pre-diagnosis activities, but some days I'm waning in energy by 3 or 4pm. I still sleep about the same amount of time as I ever did, but now I'm wondering if the sleep quality has been altered. I'm also thinking maybe there's some adjustments I can make to my diet that might help. I eat anything, don't really exclude anything, but don't pig out or go crazy with sweets, junk food, etc. I'm not keen on the idea of taking any more pills/supplements, but I'm open to reasonable suggestions.
For what it's worth, I'm pre-menopausal, not too much happening as far as hot flashes, etc, and going to be 48 soon.
0 -
Singin-me:
Thinking diet alterations might help. I think B vitamins are good for energy levels. I take a bunch of supplements, too. I think we all do. Are you getting exercise?
Also -- hey, for those of you who had additional surgeries while on Tamoxifen, how far in advance did you have to stop and how much after for surgery? I have Exchange in Sept. Of course, the doctors all say different things. PS and MO. Ha ha!!!
Thanks!
0 -
You don't need to stop Tamox for sxs. I was on it for my ex.
0 -
Singin-me I agree about not wanting to take any more pills but I found that taking B12 twice a day help with my fatigue.
0 -
Ade- Did the L Theanine help with the night terrors? I am having the worst dreams while on Tamoxifen and my sleep is so rotten because of it.
0 -
When I had my Ovaries removed in 2015 when I was first on Tamoxifen, my MO had me stop Tamoxifen for two weeks prior to surgery and a week after.
When does everyone take their Tamoxifen? I have been back on it a month now and between the crazy dreams. Hot and cold and hot and cold and not sleeping well I am very tired. I take mine before I go to bed. I wonder if taking in the morning would help of if that would just make me more tired at work?
Thanks
0 -
I take it half in the morning and half at night. Have 10 mg pills instead of 20 mg.
0 -
I take it at night. Has not hurt my sleep -- which is not perfect -- but it may even help it a little. I decided to take it at night because some said it made them sleepy. I also take melatonin, too. But that's it for sleep aids.
0 -
someone posted about taking Vit B 12 to help with the tiredness of Tamoxifen. I never noticed the doseage.?I know it was twice a day.
0 -
I take vit D and b 12. They don't seem to make any difference but I wonder what it would be like without them. I still only suffer from muscle cramps and there is no pattern. Sleepin I my calves, working out on my ribs, back, feet and legs..... It is what it is.0
