Tamoxifen Side Effects????

babebussie
babebussie Member Posts: 150
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've been on tamoxifen for about 1 month now and i don't know if the side effects i'm feeling is from the medicine or if it's the fact that my bc mets to bone is just giving me the usual pain. Can someone give me some advise?
I have been experiencing so much stiffness, especially when i'm sitting down for a while then i stand up. It's really bad in the morning when i get up, OMG i can hardly move for about the 1st 10 minutes. Also i have stiffness in my fingers.

Plz advise:-)

Comments

  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #2
    I get stiff too
    Babe,
    Yes,I'm stiff a lot too. I've been taking it for a little over a year now. I'm not sure if it's me getting older(46),or side effects from tamoxifen(I'm also on Boniva which could be part of it).My fingers aren't stiff though.
    You'll probably get more advice from here and maybe bring it up the next time you see your oncologist.
    Take care,
    Patty
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #3
    Hope I didn't scare you
    with my comment on still being sore after a year. Just remember,everyone's different and hopefully it won't be the same with you!
  • babebussie
    babebussie Member Posts: 150
    #4
    outdoorgirl said:

    Hope I didn't scare you
    with my comment on still being sore after a year. Just remember,everyone's different and hopefully it won't be the same with you!

    Well with the bone pain from
    Well with the bone pain from the mets i dont think the tamoxifen stiffness could ever be any worse than the pain i feel from my bones without the tamox.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #5
    Hi Babe, I have been taking
    Hi Babe, I have been taking tamoxifen for over 2 years and the side effects I have had are hot flashes, discharge, no period, and muscle cramps. So far no stiffness.

    Hopefully the added aches you have been feeling will taper off soon.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #6
    outdoorgirl said:

    I get stiff too
    Babe,
    Yes,I'm stiff a lot too. I've been taking it for a little over a year now. I'm not sure if it's me getting older(46),or side effects from tamoxifen(I'm also on Boniva which could be part of it).My fingers aren't stiff though.
    You'll probably get more advice from here and maybe bring it up the next time you see your oncologist.
    Take care,
    Patty

    Patty, please don't say 46
    Patty, please don't say 46 is old!!!!! I will be 46 in October and I consider myself/us to be young. Far from old.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #7
    Eil4186 said:

    Hi Babe, I have been taking
    Hi Babe, I have been taking tamoxifen for over 2 years and the side effects I have had are hot flashes, discharge, no period, and muscle cramps. So far no stiffness.

    Hopefully the added aches you have been feeling will taper off soon.

    Hi Babe
    I have been on it for almost a year now. No side effects apart from the odd night sweat. I guess this doesn't help you at all. Sorry. Hugs Jxxxxxxxxx
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #8
    Eil4186 said:

    Patty, please don't say 46
    Patty, please don't say 46 is old!!!!! I will be 46 in October and I consider myself/us to be young. Far from old.

    My mind doesn't
    feel old,it's my body that feels that way! I'm sorry if that was insulting the way it came out! No,I love my 40's,wouldn't want to go back for anything!!
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #9
    Hi, babebussie...
    The stiffness you're experiencing could be from the Tamoxifen - it's a common side effect, which might subside with time as your body adjusts to the medication. Am so sorry for your additional discomfort.

    I took Tamoxifen for 2 years - no side effects. Now, have been on Arimidex 3+ years, and - I have daily, constant achiness and stiffness. I take Aleve on the worst days; but, not too often.

    Please be sure to discuss how you're feeling with your doctor. I'll be hoping your stiffness doesn't last long.

    Best wishes to you.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
    Christmas Girl said:

    Hi, babebussie...
    The stiffness you're experiencing could be from the Tamoxifen - it's a common side effect, which might subside with time as your body adjusts to the medication. Am so sorry for your additional discomfort.

    I took Tamoxifen for 2 years - no side effects. Now, have been on Arimidex 3+ years, and - I have daily, constant achiness and stiffness. I take Aleve on the worst days; but, not too often.

    Please be sure to discuss how you're feeling with your doctor. I'll be hoping your stiffness doesn't last long.

    Best wishes to you.

    Kind regards, Susan

    I agree with Susan....talk to your doctor....
    I spent a looooong period calling my onc and starting with "I know it's probably canceritis, but.....". It REALLY helps to ask!

    I have been taking Tamoxifen for 3 years. I am fairly symptom-free, but I am TRULY old, 53, and without my female organs (my rectal cancer took care of those babies...lol!).

    You are SUCH a trooper!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #11
    I was stiff and it took me
    I was stiff and it took me some time to get my joints moving as well. Here's the updated drug monograph. Some of it talks about bone mets....I think you'll find it interesting.

    Tamoxifen
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #12
    Hi Babebussie,
    I have been
    Hi Babebussie,
    I have been on tamox. for about 5 months. I have the pain in my feet, legs, and hands. I'm not sure if it is the tamox. or my Lupus or Fibromyalgia. I DO think that it has made these nueropathies worse. I'm 52 and my body feels 90. I don't think of myself as old.

    See what your onc. says about it. My (now ex) onc. told me that it didn't matter which one it was because that is the option I have right now, and there is no test that could tell us which disease caused the primary pain. She's right on the last part-which ticks me off.

    You hang in there and let us know what your dr. says.

    Love and gentle hugs,
    Donna
  • BrittaA
    BrittaA Member Posts: 19
    #13
    How to cope - Joint pain/stiffness
    Hi Babebussie – Sorry to hear you are suffering from joint pain and stiffness – definitely a common side effect of chemotherapy. Love, strength and survival, Britta
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #14
    BrittaA said:

    How to cope - Joint pain/stiffness
    Hi Babebussie – Sorry to hear you are suffering from joint pain and stiffness – definitely a common side effect of chemotherapy. Love, strength and survival, Britta

    So some are having side
    So some are having side effects here apparently.
  • Cabango
    Cabango Member Posts: 1
    #15
    Tamoxifen Musicle Cramps

    Hi all, I don't know if anyone still reads this, I see it's four or five years old, but... I'm in year 4 of taking tamoxifen, and I've had increasing stiffness and ongoing muscle cramps in my feet, shins, thighs, back, hands.  I'll jump for joy (or whatever the stiff out-of-shape version of that looks like) when I've stopped taking it!

     

  • deeb111
    deeb111 Member Posts: 141 Member
    #16
    tamoxifen

    so sorry to hear of your difficulties but yes tamoxifen effects joints mood libido and all that kind of great stuff but still ask doc they may have something for it

     

  • helen e
    helen e Member Posts: 223
    #17
    Me too

    I have been on Tamoxifen for over 3 years and still get stiff. When I get up from the couch and walk to the kitchen I feel like I'm 80. Takes me quite a few steps to limber up. Although, I haven't noticed it so much lately.

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