Tamoxifen Dosage 10 or 20 mgs?

mgm42
mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Is anyone on 10 mg of tamoxifen rather than 20 mg? If so, did it help to reduce the severity and/or frequency of side effects? I may want to consider asking my onc about reducing my dosage once the vacation from the tamoxifen, which my onc gave me, is over because of severe muscle cramping. Thanks. Hugs, Marilynn

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    I take 20mg....
    The last thing I do before bed. And, I make sure I am warm enough while sleeping. 5 years on Tamoxifen in June. BUT, I take the 'real' stuff...the generic gives me all sorts of trouble, interestingly enough.

    I get terrible cramps in my left foot and calf. I always attributed it to the rads thru my left hip...my best work-around is that I started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin...seems to really help with all my joint pain (I'm osteoporotic from the chemo), and the great side is that my cramps come under control, as well. The only time now that I get them, and this seems wierd, but true, is if my feet get cold. I have a fav swap meet here in Holland, and the floors are bare concrete. After a few hours, I got terrible cramping in my feet, so bad that I had to stop, I couldn't even walk. I don't know what made me think it was the cold, but I bought some thermal socks....no more feet cramps!

    Dutch hugs, Kathi
  • kt1127
    kt1127 Member Posts: 51
    I take 20mg in the am I have
    I take 20mg in the am I have suffered for the past month and a half (since starting it) with terrible side effect, the night sweats, day sweats nauseusness and vomitting. I have been on effexor for it and they just upt it two days ago already I am noticing I am sleeping better. Maybe you can ask your doctor about the effexor. Good Luck feel well
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    I've never had Tamoxifen,
    I've never had Tamoxifen, but best of luck to you!!
    Hugz,
    ~Kari
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    KathiM said:

    I take 20mg....
    The last thing I do before bed. And, I make sure I am warm enough while sleeping. 5 years on Tamoxifen in June. BUT, I take the 'real' stuff...the generic gives me all sorts of trouble, interestingly enough.

    I get terrible cramps in my left foot and calf. I always attributed it to the rads thru my left hip...my best work-around is that I started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin...seems to really help with all my joint pain (I'm osteoporotic from the chemo), and the great side is that my cramps come under control, as well. The only time now that I get them, and this seems wierd, but true, is if my feet get cold. I have a fav swap meet here in Holland, and the floors are bare concrete. After a few hours, I got terrible cramping in my feet, so bad that I had to stop, I couldn't even walk. I don't know what made me think it was the cold, but I bought some thermal socks....no more feet cramps!

    Dutch hugs, Kathi

    Thanks, Kathi
    I do take the generic form and have for the past 9 months or so. So, I will give the real thing a try. Who knows. That might be the answer. I can't take the glucosamine/chondroitin because of an allergy to shell fish, but I WILL try the warm socks, too. Thanks a bunch. Hug, Marilynn
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    kt1127 said:

    I take 20mg in the am I have
    I take 20mg in the am I have suffered for the past month and a half (since starting it) with terrible side effect, the night sweats, day sweats nauseusness and vomitting. I have been on effexor for it and they just upt it two days ago already I am noticing I am sleeping better. Maybe you can ask your doctor about the effexor. Good Luck feel well

    Thanks...
    I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such severe side effects. I hope your body will adjust and these will ease up enough that you can get off the effexor. If you're like me, you don't like taking pills, pills, and more pills. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs, Marilynn
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member

    I've never had Tamoxifen,
    I've never had Tamoxifen, but best of luck to you!!
    Hugz,
    ~Kari

    tamoxifen
    I take 10 mg. in the morning and 10 mg. at night. Works for me. :-)

    Good luck.

    Hugs,
    Teena
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    tgf said:

    tamoxifen
    I take 10 mg. in the morning and 10 mg. at night. Works for me. :-)

    Good luck.

    Hugs,
    Teena

    oooohhhh, thanks....
    This give me another option. Thanks so much. I dont' want to get off of this med because I know how important it is. I will be talking to my onc in another week and I will be sure to ask her about this possibility. You're a doll! Hugs, Marilynn
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I think 10 mg lowest dose
    I normally have bottle in my purse-left in car today...but I THINK 10 mg-I have very little side effects (I THINK) hot flashes not too bad, night sweats yes, leg cramping at night on occassion-very painful

    I just started with issue this week (bleeding after almost 4 yrs of not) and very personal issue (which I have not seen discussed on here) which is getting worse now after 18 mths...just went back to GYNO said thinks all due to tamoxfen...though not serious

    I also do have thickening of uterus and get ultrasound @ 6mths and D & C!

    SO I am not sure what the higher dose would do since I THINK I have been on lowest since day one
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138

    I think 10 mg lowest dose
    I normally have bottle in my purse-left in car today...but I THINK 10 mg-I have very little side effects (I THINK) hot flashes not too bad, night sweats yes, leg cramping at night on occassion-very painful

    I just started with issue this week (bleeding after almost 4 yrs of not) and very personal issue (which I have not seen discussed on here) which is getting worse now after 18 mths...just went back to GYNO said thinks all due to tamoxfen...though not serious

    I also do have thickening of uterus and get ultrasound @ 6mths and D & C!

    SO I am not sure what the higher dose would do since I THINK I have been on lowest since day one

    20 mg
    I take 20 mg. and take it of a morning. I do have some hot flashes and have noticed some minor leg cramps just in the last week or so. I take the generic. I have been on it for a little over 5 mos. I was really moody at first but that got better, and the hot flashes are not as bad as they were in the beginning. Best of luck. God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    correction...at lunch I checked my script bottle..
    I too take 20mg daily...first thing in the am works best for me...
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member

    correction...at lunch I checked my script bottle..
    I too take 20mg daily...first thing in the am works best for me...

    Cramps
    I'm on the 20mg in the morning also on effexor for the night sweats and sleep meds. As long as I sleep I feel ok. I remember a thread on leg cramping from Chen (I think), it was recommended to put a bar of soap under the sheet at bottom of bed. She posted that it worked. Haven't tried it myself. If I find it, I'll bump it up.
    Sher
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    Sher43009 said:

    Cramps
    I'm on the 20mg in the morning also on effexor for the night sweats and sleep meds. As long as I sleep I feel ok. I remember a thread on leg cramping from Chen (I think), it was recommended to put a bar of soap under the sheet at bottom of bed. She posted that it worked. Haven't tried it myself. If I find it, I'll bump it up.
    Sher

    Sher:
    I wake up on avg 4-6 x nightly...never sleep more then 2 hours straight for most part. I have mentioned to Dr and never suggested any sleep aides!
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member

    Sher:
    I wake up on avg 4-6 x nightly...never sleep more then 2 hours straight for most part. I have mentioned to Dr and never suggested any sleep aides!

    Sleep
    I would ask about it. I've been on Abien 10mg. since June 09. Can't sleep without it.
  • kt1127
    kt1127 Member Posts: 51
    Sher43009 said:

    Cramps
    I'm on the 20mg in the morning also on effexor for the night sweats and sleep meds. As long as I sleep I feel ok. I remember a thread on leg cramping from Chen (I think), it was recommended to put a bar of soap under the sheet at bottom of bed. She posted that it worked. Haven't tried it myself. If I find it, I'll bump it up.
    Sher

    Sher I feel the exact same
    Sher I feel the exact same way. As long as I can sleep I feel okay. Sleeping isnt always easy on the tamox. They upt my effexor just two days ago and already i feel like the night sweats are easing. Not the cramps though. I think I am gonna try the soap.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    kt1127 said:

    Sher I feel the exact same
    Sher I feel the exact same way. As long as I can sleep I feel okay. Sleeping isnt always easy on the tamox. They upt my effexor just two days ago and already i feel like the night sweats are easing. Not the cramps though. I think I am gonna try the soap.

    I'm on 20 mg of Tamox. and
    I'm on 20 mg of Tamox. and take effexor also.I always take it in the a.m., but I wonder if it would be better at night...
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    kt1127 said:

    Sher I feel the exact same
    Sher I feel the exact same way. As long as I can sleep I feel okay. Sleeping isnt always easy on the tamox. They upt my effexor just two days ago and already i feel like the night sweats are easing. Not the cramps though. I think I am gonna try the soap.

    Soap
    I just stuck two bars of soap under my fitted bed sheet. Unfortuantely, it's Dove = that's all I had in the house. My mom tells me that Ivory is what is recommended because it is pure soap. Who knows. Tomorrow I'll pick up some Ivory. Hey, whatever works. I'm even using an electric blanket tonight to keep my torso and legs warm. KathiM said that thermal socks helped her, so I figured an electric blanket might be good, too.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member

    I've never had Tamoxifen,
    I've never had Tamoxifen, but best of luck to you!!
    Hugz,
    ~Kari

    Not on tamox either, but,
    Not on tamox either, but, want to say good luck.


    Jan
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    When I was on Tamoxifen it
    When I was on Tamoxifen it put me in a deep depression. I found that by splitting it in half and taking 10mg 2x/day I was better within days. It didn't seem to help my other problems though. Good luck to you!
    jan
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member

    When I was on Tamoxifen it
    When I was on Tamoxifen it put me in a deep depression. I found that by splitting it in half and taking 10mg 2x/day I was better within days. It didn't seem to help my other problems though. Good luck to you!
    jan

    Thanks, Jan
    I always look forward to your responses. You are such a researcher. I marvel at your skills. As for the 10/10 split in dosage, my onc told me to try it and see if that helps at all.