tamoxifen - hot flashes!!

katcam
katcam Member Posts: 83
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
does anyone have any suggestions on relief for hot flashes from the tamoxifen? i read one posting that said to put apple cider vinager in your tea. i tried it - i think the only reason i wasn't so aware of the hot flashes/night sweats is because i had the WORST indigestion ever!!
also, does anyone else get crampy from the tamoxifen? i am crampy almost everyday.....
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Comments

  • chessie
    chessie Member Posts: 40
    #2
    I take an anti-depressant that does seem to help with the flashes. I know, because if I forget to take it at bedtime, they are worse the next day. As far as the crampiness, did you mean like menstral cramps, or GI type cramps? If its uterine, you need to tell your doctor. How long have you been taking it?
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #3
    I don't get hot flashes. I'm not sure if it's because I'm just lucky or because I take so many supplements and something helps. I do take Evening Primrose Oil which is supposed to help. I don't get cramps, but my legs feel restless and stiff if I sit for any length of time - I keep having to stretch them. It's like they are about to cramp up.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #4
    LesleyH said:

    I don't get hot flashes. I'm not sure if it's because I'm just lucky or because I take so many supplements and something helps. I do take Evening Primrose Oil which is supposed to help. I don't get cramps, but my legs feel restless and stiff if I sit for any length of time - I keep having to stretch them. It's like they are about to cramp up.

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    yes!! my legs get restless, too. i thought it was just me turning 50 this year.
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #5
    chessie said:

    I take an anti-depressant that does seem to help with the flashes. I know, because if I forget to take it at bedtime, they are worse the next day. As far as the crampiness, did you mean like menstral cramps, or GI type cramps? If its uterine, you need to tell your doctor. How long have you been taking it?

    yes, like menstrual cramps. i did tell the gyno and he didn't seem to be concerned.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    Oh, GREAT! Something MORE to look forward to! I'm just at the brink of my Tamoxifen/Arimidex/Efemra experience...PLEASE don't ruin the surprise! (hehehehe)
    I'm already missing my ovaries, etc from the bowel resect...hot flashes, at least for me, DO get better! For me, I just dress in Layers, and stay VERY hydrated...sounds wierd, but it seems to make a difference in the frequency!
    Hugs,
    Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #7
    KathiM said:

    Oh, GREAT! Something MORE to look forward to! I'm just at the brink of my Tamoxifen/Arimidex/Efemra experience...PLEASE don't ruin the surprise! (hehehehe)
    I'm already missing my ovaries, etc from the bowel resect...hot flashes, at least for me, DO get better! For me, I just dress in Layers, and stay VERY hydrated...sounds wierd, but it seems to make a difference in the frequency!
    Hugs,
    Kathi

    That is EXACTLY what I mean about you Kathi. YOu are so funny. I love reading your posts.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #8
    KathiM said:

    Oh, GREAT! Something MORE to look forward to! I'm just at the brink of my Tamoxifen/Arimidex/Efemra experience...PLEASE don't ruin the surprise! (hehehehe)
    I'm already missing my ovaries, etc from the bowel resect...hot flashes, at least for me, DO get better! For me, I just dress in Layers, and stay VERY hydrated...sounds wierd, but it seems to make a difference in the frequency!
    Hugs,
    Kathi

    i have been taking it for just a little over a year - i see the ocon next week and i'm planning on asking about that osteoporosis drug that they say is just as effective as tamoxifen, but without the side effects. i would just love to sleep thru the night once without waking up to rip the covers off, only to start to freeze about 3 minutes later!!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #9
    katcam said:

    i have been taking it for just a little over a year - i see the ocon next week and i'm planning on asking about that osteoporosis drug that they say is just as effective as tamoxifen, but without the side effects. i would just love to sleep thru the night once without waking up to rip the covers off, only to start to freeze about 3 minutes later!!

    Yeah, read about that...investigating that myself...bone density (dexa) scan today, I have always been Osteopenic...
    I personally look at night sweats as my own personal hot tub (hehehehe).
    Hugs, Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #10
    katcam said:

    i have been taking it for just a little over a year - i see the ocon next week and i'm planning on asking about that osteoporosis drug that they say is just as effective as tamoxifen, but without the side effects. i would just love to sleep thru the night once without waking up to rip the covers off, only to start to freeze about 3 minutes later!!

    I read about Raloxifene. It has only be tested to prevent (for those without a history) of BC. From what I understand, it is effective for those with a high estrogen level. I have just had mine tested - it is not detectable! Yes!

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #11
    LesleyH said:

    I read about Raloxifene. It has only be tested to prevent (for those without a history) of BC. From what I understand, it is effective for those with a high estrogen level. I have just had mine tested - it is not detectable! Yes!

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    oh, that is awesome! how great for you. i remember the last time i was at the dr. they took blood but i never got any results - i will ask about that. the article i read wasn't clear about who exactly raloxifene would help. take care :-) kat
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #12
    KathiM said:

    Yeah, read about that...investigating that myself...bone density (dexa) scan today, I have always been Osteopenic...
    I personally look at night sweats as my own personal hot tub (hehehehe).
    Hugs, Kathi

    well then i've been the hot tub for months!! i think i'm starting to prune......
  • amazinggrace
    amazinggrace Member Posts: 8
    #13
    I've been on Tamoxifen since November. The hot flashes (I call them heat waves) were constant, and if I wasn't having one of them then I was FREEZING! To go from one extreme to the next over and over every day and night was really getting to me. And of course, I wasn't sleeping at night.

    My radiation oncologist put me on an anti-depressant. The first week the only change I noticed was that I didn't get the freezing episodes. The second week I started seeing a little more improvement. I am now SLEEPING at night!

    I had fought against taking anything else, because I felt like taking a pill to offset side effects from another pill, would just create more problems. But.....can you put a price on a good nights sleep?

    Ask about it, it may give you the releif you are wanting!

    Laurie
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #14
    amazinggrace said:

    I've been on Tamoxifen since November. The hot flashes (I call them heat waves) were constant, and if I wasn't having one of them then I was FREEZING! To go from one extreme to the next over and over every day and night was really getting to me. And of course, I wasn't sleeping at night.

    My radiation oncologist put me on an anti-depressant. The first week the only change I noticed was that I didn't get the freezing episodes. The second week I started seeing a little more improvement. I am now SLEEPING at night!

    I had fought against taking anything else, because I felt like taking a pill to offset side effects from another pill, would just create more problems. But.....can you put a price on a good nights sleep?

    Ask about it, it may give you the releif you are wanting!

    Laurie

    that is exactly what i am having - hot & freezing. day and night. i asked my gyno and he said i could take black cohosh, which i took for a couple of weeks and it did help, but then i noticed that the bottle has a breast cancer warning on it, so now i'm afraid to take it. someone else said to try vitamin e?
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #15
    katcam said:

    that is exactly what i am having - hot & freezing. day and night. i asked my gyno and he said i could take black cohosh, which i took for a couple of weeks and it did help, but then i noticed that the bottle has a breast cancer warning on it, so now i'm afraid to take it. someone else said to try vitamin e?

    I do Vitamin E as well. I use Isomer E from Walgreens - it contains a blend of tocopherols and tocotrienols. If you do take Vitamin E make sure it is natural Vitamin E (a blend is best). If the label says dl-alpha tocopherol, it will probably do you more harm than good.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #16
    amazinggrace said:

    I've been on Tamoxifen since November. The hot flashes (I call them heat waves) were constant, and if I wasn't having one of them then I was FREEZING! To go from one extreme to the next over and over every day and night was really getting to me. And of course, I wasn't sleeping at night.

    My radiation oncologist put me on an anti-depressant. The first week the only change I noticed was that I didn't get the freezing episodes. The second week I started seeing a little more improvement. I am now SLEEPING at night!

    I had fought against taking anything else, because I felt like taking a pill to offset side effects from another pill, would just create more problems. But.....can you put a price on a good nights sleep?

    Ask about it, it may give you the releif you are wanting!

    Laurie

    I haven't tried an anti depressant, but I routinely ... every night take a sleeping pill... Ambien 5mg. Before cancer I would never had even considered the thought of taking sleeping pills.... but when you can't sleep.. life is no fun... So I have just accepted as a new routine to my new life. Does the antidepressant really stop the hot flashes. I get so hot routinely that when everyone else is in a jacket I am normally in short sleeves... I guess it will be a very warm summer.
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #17
    Susan956 said:

    I haven't tried an anti depressant, but I routinely ... every night take a sleeping pill... Ambien 5mg. Before cancer I would never had even considered the thought of taking sleeping pills.... but when you can't sleep.. life is no fun... So I have just accepted as a new routine to my new life. Does the antidepressant really stop the hot flashes. I get so hot routinely that when everyone else is in a jacket I am normally in short sleeves... I guess it will be a very warm summer.

    no, it's not fun to be tired all the time. i have been wearing spring tops all winter with a jacket. i actually have been in sleeveless tops on some of the coldest days! i am not looking forward to the hot days in summer - i have a fan on my desk at work now that i have to switch on several times a day & let it just blow in my face. the girl that sits next to me has a heater that she can't seem to live without!! i always ask her to turn it away from me - i can't stand the extra heat! there is a walgreens on my way to work and i will be there tomorrow to get the vitamin e blend that Lesley mentioned. maybe that will help.... i hestitate to start on sleeping pills - i would be afraid that i would become too dependent on them. i sometimes have a glass of wine before bed, that helps me fall asleep - i just can't stay asleep.
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #18
    I did read that antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for hot flashes, but that they MIGHT intefere with the metabolism of tamoxifen - making it less effective. I'm not sure if you want to take the chance. And when I have had a few bad nights I take a Melatonin. I did check with my onc and she is happy for me to take that. It really helps me.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #19
    LesleyH said:

    I did read that antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for hot flashes, but that they MIGHT intefere with the metabolism of tamoxifen - making it less effective. I'm not sure if you want to take the chance. And when I have had a few bad nights I take a Melatonin. I did check with my onc and she is happy for me to take that. It really helps me.

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    Wow, Lesley...a post on the colorectal board about Melatonin being used for low WBC! And I always thought it was just good for the "crankies" after time changes when traveling!
    Hugs, Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #20
    KathiM said:

    Wow, Lesley...a post on the colorectal board about Melatonin being used for low WBC! And I always thought it was just good for the "crankies" after time changes when traveling!
    Hugs, Kathi

    Low levels of melatonin have been linked to different kinds of cancer, including breast. Supplements have been shown to help tamoxifen work better (but supplements at too high a dose to use without doctor supervision). So, I figure a boost of 1 mg twice a week has to be a good thing.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • dwrfwmn
    dwrfwmn Member Posts: 1
    #21
    katcam said:

    well then i've been the hot tub for months!! i think i'm starting to prune......

    I too suffered with terrible hot flashes until I found this great web site I will share it with you it is: womenworkingwondersinc.com I just can't believe the difference it has made in my life. I hope it works for you too. D

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