Tamoxifen and Side Effects

tamoxifen
I've only been on tamoxifen for 3 weeks ... so I don't know if "it" is the tamoxifen ... or just me ... the weather ... old age (I'm 65) ... or what ...

But ... I work full time and it seems that I spend 80% of my time putting my sweater on ... taking it off ... burning up ... or freezing to death.

Other than that "possible" side effect ... I haven't had any problems ... but I will admit that I was a bit concerned when I started taking it ... so I've been taking 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at bedtime ... so ... maybe that's keeping some of those other side effects away. I don't know ... but ... I'm ready to put my sweater back on now ... burrrr

hugs.
teena

tjhay said:

They were talking last weed
They were talking last weed about gabapentin helping with hot flashes, I take it for other reasons, and started it after i started the tomox but once they mentioned it i did realize that i was having less hot flashes, if you look back through the posts you should be able to find the discution on it
tj

knock on wood
I've been on Tamoxifen for two months now. I haven't had hot flashes...yet. I asked the Dr about that last month and she said if I didn't have them the first month, I probably won't. I'm hoping she is right. My last cycle was during chemo, so I'm guessing I'm in Menopause. (Just turned 43)

I hope the flashes end for you soon!

bellergal-s
My gynecologist talked at length with my oncologist about what I could take for hot flashes, irritability, headaches, etc that came with my tamoxifen and early menopause. He decided to try an older drug on me called bellergal-s. I understand that it is no longer readily available but can be compounded for you at a compouding pharmacy. It is a combo drug of ergot, belladonna alkaloids and phenobarbital. It worked exceedingly well for me. My family thought it was great too ;-) I took it for about 2-3 years. Hope this helps someone.

CypressCynthia said:

bellergal-s
My gynecologist talked at length with my oncologist about what I could take for hot flashes, irritability, headaches, etc that came with my tamoxifen and early menopause. He decided to try an older drug on me called bellergal-s. I understand that it is no longer readily available but can be compounded for you at a compouding pharmacy. It is a combo drug of ergot, belladonna alkaloids and phenobarbital. It worked exceedingly well for me. My family thought it was great too ;-) I took it for about 2-3 years. Hope this helps someone.

Before I get in trouble
Before I get in trouble again, please know that I took this drug many years ago (probably early 1990's) and am just stating what worked for me. Talk with your physician. Also, some non-meds things that helped: thin cotton nightclothes (& have a change at bedside if you have night sweats), regular exercise, and avoiding any alcohol, caffeine and NSAIDS (triggers for me).

Noel said:

Not on it
I am not on Tamoxifen and probably won't take it. The side effects are way too scary. And, so many of the bc survivors that were on it have had recurrences on this site that I have read. My oncologist said it would only reduce my chance of a recurrence by probably 1%, so, I don't think that is worth it. Good luck to you. I hope your hot flashes go away.

♥ Noel

Don't they say that if you
Don't they say that if you have NO side effects, that it isn't working?

I am not on it yet either. The chance of procurring another cancer while on it is making me delay it.

Leeza

sassysheila said:

I'm on Tamoxifen too...
Yep -- those hot flashes are not very much fun! My Onc put me on Gabupentin (300mg 3Xday). It has helped a bunch. I don't wake up with night sweats anymore and most days only get a few mild hot flashes. Sometimes I still get a doozy, but it seems to be working for me.

Yep, sweaty...ewww
and I ache....ache every day. i go to the gym 6 days a week, and it has helped some...but if i stay in one position too long, i feel like a 95 year old woman trying to get up...much pain. But i would rather hurt, and live, ya know?
jeanne

It's a matter of how you look at it!
I prefer to think I am on a mini tropical vacation with equal trips to the north pole! How many people around you can do THAT at the drop of a hat, huh? Looks like your pretty special to me (giggle). ♥Pammy