Tamoxifen and hot flashes

TraciInLA said:

Laurissa,
My doctor had me start taking Tamoxifen at bedtime, and the hot flashes started the 2nd night I took it -- but only at night, never during the day. So he had me switch to taking it in the morning, and that worked wonders -- I still have some hot flashes during the night, but not too bad and not nearly as often.

You just have to jump in, start taking it, and see how you do -- like chemo, everyone reacts differently. But definitely keep in contact with your doctor once you start, and let him/her know if you get hot flashes -- something as simple as changing the time of day you take it may help.

Traci

crselby said:

This won't help you,
This won't help you, Larissa, because I had hot flashes BEFORE I took Tamoxifen. I called it God's cruel joke on Women. Mine started when I was 47, eleven years ago, when I started menopause naturally. Had leg cramps and sweats, too. Took hormone replacement therapy after enduring the hot flashes and interrupted sleep for 2 years. Took premarin for 4 years (and progesterone) then quit since it wasn't really helping. So when the oncologist was telling me about the side effects of Tamoxifen, he said, "You WILL develop hot flashes" I replied, "Shows how much you know, I've had them for 11 years already!" The Tamoifen DID make them more frequent (every hour in the evenings and through the night) and stronger (more sweat). I tried Peridin C megadoses for a month and saw no difference. So I finally asked my gynecologist for something effective. I started taking Effexor at its lowest dose. Some days were better, but hot flashes were still bad. So this month I am trying a pill and a half daily. They are still bad but less frequent during the daytime. I'll stay at this dose for another 2 weeks, and then re-evaluate it again.

When I have no hot flashes, during the day, I am so happy. It's great to feel 'normal' again. When I teach at the community college, it is so darn embarrassing to have sweat bead up on my face and drip down my back. Even my feet perspire. Geez, I drink gallons of water just to stay hydrated.

So, as I said, I can't tell you when the hot flashes kick in. It only took 2 days of taking Tamoxifen for mine to get worse. Hopefully, you'll be one of the lucky ones for whom there are no noticeable side effects. And it really is for an effective and important reason that you will be taking it!!
~~Connie~~