tamoxifen

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bjhof
bjhof Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Do you know, when the 5 years of taking this is over, do you just stop the drug or do you have to be weaned off? Is anyone out there taking anything after tamoxifen?

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  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #2
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    I'm only on my second year of tamoxifen, but my mom took it for 5 years and then just stopped when she finished the last prescription. She isn't taking anything else, but I do know there are women who are taking other drugs after tamoxifen - don't have the details though. Diane
  • krisrey
    krisrey Member Posts: 194
    #3
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    Hi bjhof,
    I have only been on tamox for 6 months, but I think that you can just stop it at the end of 5 years..it loses it effectiveness after that time. There is a brand new drug out that was in a study, but they stopped the study because of the really good results of the drug. It is a drug for women to take after tamox..I can't recall the name right now, but I am sure someone will know. This is really good news, especially for people like me that will still be young enough after the 5 year mark that could get their period back. Hope this helps a little..if i think of the name of the drug I will post it..it just escapes my mind right now...
    Kris
  • cinder
    cinder Member Posts: 50
    #4
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    I took Tamoxifen for 5 years and when my 5 years were up the doctor told me I could quit taking it. I didn't have to take anything else, it was like a normal life without drugs. Now, 10 years later, my cancer came back and I am now taking Arimidex. Hope this has answered your question.

    Cinder
  • tlmac
    tlmac Member Posts: 272 Member
    #5
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    ksfc said:

    I'm only on my second year of tamoxifen, but my mom took it for 5 years and then just stopped when she finished the last prescription. She isn't taking anything else, but I do know there are women who are taking other drugs after tamoxifen - don't have the details though. Diane

    The drug you're thinking of might be Femara. It's 4th generation aromatase inhibitor, like Arimidex, only supposedly even more effective.
  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #6
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    tlmac said:

    The drug you're thinking of might be Femara. It's 4th generation aromatase inhibitor, like Arimidex, only supposedly even more effective.

    Thanks - that's it - I thought my chemo brain was gone, but I couldn't think of the name - LOL!Diane
  • nette
    nette Member Posts: 1
    #7
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    cinder said:

    I took Tamoxifen for 5 years and when my 5 years were up the doctor told me I could quit taking it. I didn't have to take anything else, it was like a normal life without drugs. Now, 10 years later, my cancer came back and I am now taking Arimidex. Hope this has answered your question.

    Cinder

    Cinder Im not very good at ALWAYS taking my pill but did it every make you sick. I puke every morning I take it and cant get anyone to believe me. If I quit taking it for a week or so I stop. I have tested and tried everything. any ideas or comments? anyone? I worry about it returning because of how I take it.... thanks
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #8
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    nette said:

    Cinder Im not very good at ALWAYS taking my pill but did it every make you sick. I puke every morning I take it and cant get anyone to believe me. If I quit taking it for a week or so I stop. I have tested and tried everything. any ideas or comments? anyone? I worry about it returning because of how I take it.... thanks

    Your comment is interesting because it IS one of the first side effects listed yet few people get the vomiting problem.

    Have you tried taking it with food - dinner - in the evening. Did your doctor have any suggestions? I found that one time when I got the generic version instead of Nolvadex - the brand name - the generic gave me a stomachache every day - no doubt in my mind that was it.

    If you are post-menopausal you could switch to Arimidex which might be easier for you to take.

    Jean
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #9
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    nette said:

    Cinder Im not very good at ALWAYS taking my pill but did it every make you sick. I puke every morning I take it and cant get anyone to believe me. If I quit taking it for a week or so I stop. I have tested and tried everything. any ideas or comments? anyone? I worry about it returning because of how I take it.... thanks

    found this on Imaginis website

    "Nausea or vomiting: Some women who take tamoxifen may experience nausea or vomiting while on the medication. Nausea and vomiting usually cease after the first few weeks on tamoxifen. Women who experience severe nausea and vomiting while taking tamoxifen should talk to their physicians about ways to relieve these symptoms"
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #10
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    I found a product that I think everyone should take, and I take it too. It's called THE GREATEST VITAMIN IN THE WORLD. I have a website that you can go to to find out some very interesting stuff about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, indigestion, weight loss, and why it is proven to be the best in the world. It is made from whole foods, and is the most complete, highest grade, and most absorbable vitamins, minerals(amino acid chelated), enzymes, and probiotics known on the planet ALL IN ONE CHEAP BOTTLE!! It has everything you need to nutritionally support your entire body and it's all for $40 bucks. Some of the ingredients cost more than that for a single ingredient, not to mention that most of what you buy in the store can actually cause cancer, heart disease, and more. Just read the label, if it doesn't say words like carrots, wild yams, and other vegetable words that you know, then they are synthetic and they could be hurting you, and even if they're not they not doing you much good either. Please for you and everyone you know, share this website- it's www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/wiley15427
  • pattyrg
    pattyrg Member Posts: 16
    #11
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    I hope you are still checking this for replies.

    Definitely, talk to your oncologist what do to next, even if it is just to stop. There are so many things being learned every day, you don't want to miss out on something that will improve your survival rate!!!

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