hot flashes from tamoxifen

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ckmcclelland
ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've given up on bras. I think there is no answer until more healing occurs. Would help if I'd been warned about this.

However, my hot flashes from tamoxifen are so frustrating. Has anyone found things that help? I am on Effexor for hot flashes and despression and am thankful for that. I suppose it's just something to endure for 5 years.
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  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #2
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    Bras
    I didn't wear bras for quite awhile after radiation. Fortunately for me, it was in the winter time and I could wear bulky sweaters.

    Yes, I, too, am suffering from hot flashes from Tamoxifen. I look at it that at least it's working! No fun, but we can do this!!

    Peace.

    Patti
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #3
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    pattimc said:

    Bras
    I didn't wear bras for quite awhile after radiation. Fortunately for me, it was in the winter time and I could wear bulky sweaters.

    Yes, I, too, am suffering from hot flashes from Tamoxifen. I look at it that at least it's working! No fun, but we can do this!!

    Peace.

    Patti

    I know I will do this. I
    I know I will do this. I hear about others who quit their tamoxifen because of side effects but I think that is very unwise. I'll do everything I can to keep cancer free, even with the hot flashes.

    My spring tops are quite revealing without bras but I do have a camisole which helps some.

    Colleen
  • Christine Louise
    Christine Louise Member Posts: 426 Member
    #4
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    Bra free and lovin' it
    I always hated bras. That band around the ribs -- never comfortable for long. I'm thrilled to go braless now! (Small expanders in.) Yes, warm weather tops may be too thin, so I wear a comfy NO BAND camisole under a few.

    Good for the Effexor. Ugh, I hate the thought of 5 years of side effects. I guess we gotta do what we gotta do, though. "Endure" -- that's us, isn't it?!
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #5
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    Christine Louise said:

    Bra free and lovin' it
    I always hated bras. That band around the ribs -- never comfortable for long. I'm thrilled to go braless now! (Small expanders in.) Yes, warm weather tops may be too thin, so I wear a comfy NO BAND camisole under a few.

    Good for the Effexor. Ugh, I hate the thought of 5 years of side effects. I guess we gotta do what we gotta do, though. "Endure" -- that's us, isn't it?!

    Yes, I think "endure"
    Yes, I think "endure" describes us though I know it could have been much worse. I'm ready to start healing physically and emotionally. Still feel "raw" from the whole experience.
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #6
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    ckmcclelland said:

    Yes, I think "endure"
    Yes, I think "endure" describes us though I know it could have been much worse. I'm ready to start healing physically and emotionally. Still feel "raw" from the whole experience.

    Have you tried changing the time of day you take it?
    Don't know if this would help you, but it helped me.

    My understanding is that you have several options as to when/how you can take Tamoxifen: 20 mg in the morning, 20 mg in the evening, or 10 mg morning and evening. My doctor started me with 20 mg in the evening -- by the 2nd night, I was up every 2 hours with unbearable hot flashes. He changed me to taking it in the morning instead, and it has helped tremendously. If you haven't already tried changing the time, it's a simple thing to try and might help, depending on what times of day you're more prone to getting hot flashes.

    Traci
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #7
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    TraciInLA said:

    Have you tried changing the time of day you take it?
    Don't know if this would help you, but it helped me.

    My understanding is that you have several options as to when/how you can take Tamoxifen: 20 mg in the morning, 20 mg in the evening, or 10 mg morning and evening. My doctor started me with 20 mg in the evening -- by the 2nd night, I was up every 2 hours with unbearable hot flashes. He changed me to taking it in the morning instead, and it has helped tremendously. If you haven't already tried changing the time, it's a simple thing to try and might help, depending on what times of day you're more prone to getting hot flashes.

    Traci

    tamoxifen
    I'm also on effexor and tamoxifen. I've found what works for me is having the oncologist prescribe the 10 mg tamoxifen ... and I take one in the morning (with my 75 mg. effexor) and then I take the other 10 mg. tamoxifen at night with 1/2 of a 75 mg. effexor). I seem to have only an occasional "warm" flash ... but nothing like the hot flashes when you just want to rip your clothes off and jump in a freezer.

    Good luck.

    hugs.
    teena
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #8
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    tgf said:

    tamoxifen
    I'm also on effexor and tamoxifen. I've found what works for me is having the oncologist prescribe the 10 mg tamoxifen ... and I take one in the morning (with my 75 mg. effexor) and then I take the other 10 mg. tamoxifen at night with 1/2 of a 75 mg. effexor). I seem to have only an occasional "warm" flash ... but nothing like the hot flashes when you just want to rip your clothes off and jump in a freezer.

    Good luck.

    hugs.
    teena

    I took Traci's advise and
    I took Traci's advise and started taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Still had night sweats so my oncol. put me on 37.5 mg effexor that I take at night. It is helping. The night sweats are a lot less often but I still wake up 2-3 times a night. I've been told it happens when you're premenapausal. One more thing to endure.

    Sher
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #9
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    Sher43009 said:

    I took Traci's advise and
    I took Traci's advise and started taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Still had night sweats so my oncol. put me on 37.5 mg effexor that I take at night. It is helping. The night sweats are a lot less often but I still wake up 2-3 times a night. I've been told it happens when you're premenapausal. One more thing to endure.

    Sher

    Sher,
    I'm sorry my advice didn't work for you!

    You know the other advice that I dispense liberally for just about every problem on this board -- Ben & Jerry's! I KNOW for certain that is an effective complementary therapy for a loooooong list of BC-related problems!

    :-) Traci
  • XO143XO
    XO143XO Member Posts: 23
    #10
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    I Start Tomoxifen Tomorrow
    I am sorry you are going through the hot flashes, but you really helped me to get ready for tomorrow by asking the question. I am already on Effexor. I don't know if my Dr. called in 20mg or 10mg. I will find out soon. When I start flashing I am going to try all the tips and advice that has been given here.

    I hope you find the right combination of timing, etc, so you feel much better very soon.

    I keep saying this but I don't know what I would do without all of you taking the time to share your experiences even when you don't feel well yourselves. God Bless.

    Kristi xoxox
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #11
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    XO143XO said:

    I Start Tomoxifen Tomorrow
    I am sorry you are going through the hot flashes, but you really helped me to get ready for tomorrow by asking the question. I am already on Effexor. I don't know if my Dr. called in 20mg or 10mg. I will find out soon. When I start flashing I am going to try all the tips and advice that has been given here.

    I hope you find the right combination of timing, etc, so you feel much better very soon.

    I keep saying this but I don't know what I would do without all of you taking the time to share your experiences even when you don't feel well yourselves. God Bless.

    Kristi xoxox

    I am on tamoxifen. I take
    I am on tamoxifen. I take the drug at night. I don't get night sweats. I have the Hot flashes all day long. I have a fan on me all night long and I do ok. I am also on effexor, but I was on this drug long before I was on tamoxifen. If this is a drug that is to help with the flashes I don't want to know what its like with out it. I think this summer is going to be really tuff.
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #12
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    Sher43009 said:

    I took Traci's advise and
    I took Traci's advise and started taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Still had night sweats so my oncol. put me on 37.5 mg effexor that I take at night. It is helping. The night sweats are a lot less often but I still wake up 2-3 times a night. I've been told it happens when you're premenapausal. One more thing to endure.

    Sher

    endure
    Guess what? It happens when you're postmenopausal, too. I wake up 2-3 times a night, too, but am glad it's not more often. My worst hot flashes are during the day but I'd rather have them then than at night and be sleep deprived.
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #13
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    Kat11 said:

    I am on tamoxifen. I take
    I am on tamoxifen. I take the drug at night. I don't get night sweats. I have the Hot flashes all day long. I have a fan on me all night long and I do ok. I am also on effexor, but I was on this drug long before I was on tamoxifen. If this is a drug that is to help with the flashes I don't want to know what its like with out it. I think this summer is going to be really tuff.

    summer & hot flashes!!!!!
    I'm not looking forward to summer with these hot flashes either. I will be thankful for air conditioning and fans. I told my oncologist I couldn't start to think about hot flashes like this for 5 years. I can't think that way. I told him I'd do well to survive the summer. I don't think these men oncologists really know what it's like but I guess there's nothing they can do about it anyway. Can't help but wonder if it were men suffering from these hot flashes if more research would be going into it. However, I guess they are harmless in the long run but quite annoying to say the least.
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #14
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    TraciInLA said:

    Sher,
    I'm sorry my advice didn't work for you!

    You know the other advice that I dispense liberally for just about every problem on this board -- Ben & Jerry's! I KNOW for certain that is an effective complementary therapy for a loooooong list of BC-related problems!

    :-) Traci

    good thought but
    It was breast cancer that brought me to Weight Watchers. I lost 35 pounds and want to lose more. Ben & Jerry's is comforting but I'm torn. At my age, things have caught up with me & are affecting my health in other ways, too.
  • gracep
    gracep Member Posts: 2
    #15
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    i solved the hot flash problem....
    ...after 10 years suffering. Mine were horrendous, dripping, soaking wet flashes on the hour every hour, followed by freezing chills and shaking. This went on for 10 years following start of tamoxifen, and then another 5 years of femara. I tried it all - every anti-depressant on the market, accupuncture, dietary changes, drugs, drugs, and more drugs, and even stellate ganglion blocks. Tried them all one at a time for at least a few months each, until my brilliant primary care physician - not my oncologist who would just shake his head and say "sorry" - suggested I try a cocktail of 3: gabapentin (which always at least mitigated them somewhat), megestrol, and a low dose of prozac. Bingo!! During the day now, I only get slightly warm sometimes (nighttime sweats are still drenching however) and I have my life back for these last 6 months.
    Please, ladies... don't give up. Tell your doctors to get you on gabapentin right away (I begged my oncologist to prescribe this after I'd read a very early study at Rochester on this use of gabapentin nearly 10 years ago). I have absolutely no side effects from this drug, nor megestrol nor prozac. I have my life back!!!! I see people now, go to meetings again, eat out publically, all those things I had given up 10 years ago!!! Grace
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #16
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    TraciInLA said:

    Sher,
    I'm sorry my advice didn't work for you!

    You know the other advice that I dispense liberally for just about every problem on this board -- Ben & Jerry's! I KNOW for certain that is an effective complementary therapy for a loooooong list of BC-related problems!

    :-) Traci

    Traci
    I'm sorry if I sounded like I was blaming you for the night sweats. That was not my intent. I was thinking how much worse they'd be if I took the tamoxifen at night instead. I wonder after reading Kat11 if taking it at night gives you the day hot flashes, and taking it in the morning gives you the night flashes???? Or more likely it just causes flashes! I'm going to the freezer for the Ben & Jerry's!

    Sher
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #17
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    Sher43009 said:

    I took Traci's advise and
    I took Traci's advise and started taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Still had night sweats so my oncol. put me on 37.5 mg effexor that I take at night. It is helping. The night sweats are a lot less often but I still wake up 2-3 times a night. I've been told it happens when you're premenapausal. One more thing to endure.

    Sher

    I don't have hot flashes,
    I don't have hot flashes, but, I have read and heard that Effexor is supposed to help. I like Traci's advice on Ben & Jerry's whether you have them or not. Hope you get to feeling better!
  • ckmcclelland
    ckmcclelland Member Posts: 47
    #18
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    gracep said:

    i solved the hot flash problem....
    ...after 10 years suffering. Mine were horrendous, dripping, soaking wet flashes on the hour every hour, followed by freezing chills and shaking. This went on for 10 years following start of tamoxifen, and then another 5 years of femara. I tried it all - every anti-depressant on the market, accupuncture, dietary changes, drugs, drugs, and more drugs, and even stellate ganglion blocks. Tried them all one at a time for at least a few months each, until my brilliant primary care physician - not my oncologist who would just shake his head and say "sorry" - suggested I try a cocktail of 3: gabapentin (which always at least mitigated them somewhat), megestrol, and a low dose of prozac. Bingo!! During the day now, I only get slightly warm sometimes (nighttime sweats are still drenching however) and I have my life back for these last 6 months.
    Please, ladies... don't give up. Tell your doctors to get you on gabapentin right away (I begged my oncologist to prescribe this after I'd read a very early study at Rochester on this use of gabapentin nearly 10 years ago). I have absolutely no side effects from this drug, nor megestrol nor prozac. I have my life back!!!! I see people now, go to meetings again, eat out publically, all those things I had given up 10 years ago!!! Grace

    Thanks!
    Thanks! I'll see what I can get my doctors to do. If no progress, I'll find one that will help me. I'm dripping right now but at least there is hope for the future.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #19
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    ckmcclelland said:

    Thanks!
    Thanks! I'll see what I can get my doctors to do. If no progress, I'll find one that will help me. I'm dripping right now but at least there is hope for the future.

    There is always hope
    There is always hope ckmcclelland! Hang in there!


    Hugs, Diane
  • EstherMSKCC
    EstherMSKCC Member Posts: 20
    #20
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    hot flashes from tamoxifen
    Dear ckmcclelland,

    I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing hot flashes after treatment. I'm an employee of Memorial Sloan-Kettering and came across this discussion thread. I have read that there is some evidence that acupuncture and yoga may each relieve certain symptoms of cancer treatment, including hot flashes.

    Here are links to our "About Herbs" database featuring the pros and cons of acupuncture and yoga, which you may be interested in reviewing:

    Acupuncture: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69111.cfm

    (in case the link is corrupted, here it is with spaces in between):

    w w w . m s k c c . o r g / m s k c c / h t m l / 6 9 1 1 1 . c f m

    Yoga: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/77718.cfm

    w w w . m s k c c . o r g / m s k c c / h t m l / 7 7 7 1 8 . c f m

    About Herbs (www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs) ( w w w . m s k c c . o r g / a b o u t h e r b s ) is an excellent resource that offers evidence-based information about herbs, botanicals, alternative regimens, supplements, etc., and provides details about each agent's constituents, how it works, adverse effects, interactions, and potential benefits or problems. I hope this information is useful to you and others on this site.

    All my best, -Esther
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #21
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    Sher43009 said:

    Traci
    I'm sorry if I sounded like I was blaming you for the night sweats. That was not my intent. I was thinking how much worse they'd be if I took the tamoxifen at night instead. I wonder after reading Kat11 if taking it at night gives you the day hot flashes, and taking it in the morning gives you the night flashes???? Or more likely it just causes flashes! I'm going to the freezer for the Ben & Jerry's!

    Sher

    No worries, Sher
    Sher, I know I'm all-powerful and all-knowing...:-o...but even *I* can't cause (or prevent, unfortunately) hot flashes! No worries! I'm just sorry you're still struggling with them and having such trouble sleeping.

    Cindycflynn talked on another thread about how her doctor recommended taking vitamin E to help with hot flashes (not as tasty as Ben & Jerry's, to be sure, but probably healthier! :-). So I'm trying that now...I've been taking it for a couple of weeks, and I've had a few nights where I've slept much longer at a stretch without waking up from a hot flash, so I'm staying hopeful.

    Traci

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