Insomnia - Rads or Tamoxifen?

grams2jc
grams2jc Member Posts: 756
in Breast Cancer #1
Ok ladies, what do you think?

I finished rads last Friday 07/08 and have been on Tamoxifen since May 21 of this year. I have been having trouble sleeping a full night for the last 4 weeks or so. I get anywhere from 4 to 6 hours and I am done, I am usually a 7 to 7 1/2 hour gal. I have no trouble falling asleep just don't sleep very long so am always sleepy. If it is the Tamoxifen I will try taking it in the a.m. since I am taking it in the p.m. due to nausea I was experiencing.
If it is the radiation after-effects then surely they will start to ease with more time since treatment.

Would love to hear your ideas.

Thanks,

Jennifer

Comments

  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #2
    I don't think rads cause
    I don't think rads cause insomnia. Probably the tamoxifen. Or a combination of all the stuff you have been through this last few months.
    I find the days I go to the YMCA to work out, I sleep better. I do take melatonin also. I started taking it when I was diagnosed.

    Cindy
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #3
    mamolady said:

    I don't think rads cause
    I don't think rads cause insomnia. Probably the tamoxifen. Or a combination of all the stuff you have been through this last few months.
    I find the days I go to the YMCA to work out, I sleep better. I do take melatonin also. I started taking it when I was diagnosed.

    Cindy

    I don't think rads could be
    I don't think rads could be the cause as they usually wear you down, so, you sleep a lot. It might be the tamox. What does your doctor think?


    Leeza
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #4
    jnl said:

    I don't think rads could be
    I don't think rads could be the cause as they usually wear you down, so, you sleep a lot. It might be the tamox. What does your doctor think?


    Leeza

    Jennifer
    Having just finished rads myself and not being on tamoxifen yet, my bet is the lack of sleep is from tamoxifen. Rads make you tired... just the opposite.

    Oh boy... I guess I better start resting up before next week.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #5
    Thanks guys
    I went ahead and googled Tamoxifen side effects and it lists insomnia. I know that literature is not as good as personal experience. I still have more energy than I did during chemo, it would just be nice to snooze like a baby again

    Jennifer
  • MusicMama
    MusicMama Member Posts: 11
    #6
    Insomnia
    Jennifer- Thank you for posting this thread! I have been on tamox for a year now. About 3 days into it I thought I was going crazy! 4 hrs max sleep. After 2 months I switched to taking it in the morning. It helped slightly in that the nite time hot flashes were not as disruptive. After 3 months, I talked to my onc. I guess it is a fairly common side affect. She prescribed Ambien. Well that gets me to fall asleep, but not stay asleep. I can do about 5 hrs now. At least now I know it's not all in my head! I am learning how to cope better with it. I hope things improve for you!!

    Diane
  • TxRn64
    TxRn64 Member Posts: 26
    #7
    Tamoxifen
    Jennifer:

    I definately think it's the Tamoxifen. Radiation wore me out, worse than chemo. I started taking Tamoxifen and about 4 weeks or less into it I all the sudden couldn't sleep. I feel asleep but couldn't stay asleep, getting anywhere from 3 to 5 hrs sleep at night. Last week, my doctor perscribed me Elavil(often used for depression, but also for sleep)at night. This past week, I've sleep better than I have in 6 weeks!

    Good Luck,

    Tammy
  • TxRn64
    TxRn64 Member Posts: 26
    #8
    Tamoxifen
    Jennifer:

    I definately think it's the Tamoxifen. Radiation wore me out, worse than chemo. I started taking Tamoxifen and about 4 weeks or less into it I all the sudden couldn't sleep. I feel asleep but couldn't stay asleep, getting anywhere from 3 to 5 hrs sleep at night. Last week, my doctor perscribed me Elavil(often used for depression, but also for sleep)at night. This past week, I've sleep better than I have in 6 weeks!

    Good Luck,

    Tammy
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #9
    butterflylvr said:

    Jennifer
    Having just finished rads myself and not being on tamoxifen yet, my bet is the lack of sleep is from tamoxifen. Rads make you tired... just the opposite.

    Oh boy... I guess I better start resting up before next week.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Rads will make you tired. I
    Rads will make you tired. I am not on tamox, so, I don't know if that is one of the side effects or not.


    Lex
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #10
    Thanks ladies!
    I'm so glad to know that I am not the only one who has experienced this SE. It isn't one I had heard a lot about so wasn't sure.

    Tried 2 Benadryl last night and am happy to report a full 7 hours sleep!

    Almost felt like a new woman today,

    Jennifer
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #11
    You sound like me. I don't
    You sound like me. I don't take tamoxifin, but I think the combination of anxiety and depression I've experienced due to the cancer has taken its toll. I take ambien now and I do sleep a little longer. What I do now is either get up at the ungodly hour I wake up and do things, or I turn on the TV to a low hum. Sometimes I can get a little longer like that. Good luck....

    Judy

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