Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

lala1

I actually did better on the Teva brand than the Watson brand. With Watson I had joint and muscle pain, sinus issues, nausea and dizziness. On the Teva brand most of that went away except the muscle and joint pain, which I keep at bay with my turmeric and ginger supplements.

molliefish

does anyone know if we have different brands in Canada? Not that I'm having any seriousissues. Just curious? I am so tired these days but I think it's chemo hang over and getting fit again, and driving an hour each way to work 5 days a week. And the gas is interesting. I feel like my belly is bloated due to the gas. And I know that's got something to do with the Tam because I never had this problem before Tam.

Live4them

lala1 .. I'm curious about turmeric . I asked my onco if I can take it since I heard of so many benefits , and he told me not to . He wanted to make sure my liver processed my tamoxifen first and he was scared the turmeric would lessen the tamoxifen .. I really wanted to take it any issues for you ?

bella_16

Hello,

I finished radiation a few weeks ago, and now my MO wants to start me on Tamoxifen. I am only 10% ER positive, and PR neg.. She said I would most likely receive "little benefit" from the Tamoxifen, but should give it a try. She explained that if I had any severe side effects that I could just stop it. Not sure if I want to start it after hearing about all the side effects.

Anyone else on Tamoxifen with a weakly positive ER??

thanks

DeeRatz

Molliefish-We do have different brands here in Canada. I get my Tamoxifen directly from the Cancer clinic here. I had been taking the Astra Zeneca brand(individually wrapped in a foil pack). They have since switched me to the Teva brand. I had started taking the Teva brand before I ran out of my other prescription. My hot flashes on the Teva brand are way less than the Astra Zeneca brand. A very noticeable difference

Trvler

Bella: I have to tell you, if my ER was that low, I would seriously consider not taking it. I would get a second opinion. I know people who are much higher than that who don't take it. That said, my only SE's are hot flashes (which I already had and don't seem any worse) and my right arm bicep hurts a lot when I stretch my arm which I never had before T so I think that's the cause.

lala1

Live4them---At first my MO said not to take the turmeric but then he did some research and OKed me taking it. He said the most recent research seems to show that there isn't a problem with it and Tamoxifen. It helps me alot so I'm willing to chance it.

KateB79

Horrible knee pain upon rising in the morning and after sitting for more than an hour. Tamoxifen, Herceptin, residual effects of chemo, or some combination?

I'm taking Mylan tamox, for what it's worth.

ksusan

Perhaps Tamoxifen and menopause?

Trvler

Ok, I am trying an experiment. Anyone want to try with me? At the onset of a hot flash, I take deep belly breaths. I can't remember if I read about it on here or elsewhere. But so far, I have noticed my hot flashes don't seem as hot. Could be completely coincidental. I hope some of you will try it with me.

ksusan

A Japanese study supported abdominal breathing to decrease hot flashes. I think they do decrease duration and intensity. I do this at night and in meetings where stripping would be impolitic.

superius

I'm in! Especially during church choir / service! I am surrounded by Onco people (3 researchers, a radiologist, + an Endocrinologist, all in the choir), I get no sympathy! they just deadpan & go, "are you hot?"

molliefish

thanks Dee. :-)

DeeRatz

I took my Astra Zeneca brand Tamoxifen last night. My hot flashes were brutal. I did lots of abdominal breathing. Didn't work for me.

Nolagirl1126

Hi! I'm new here...started Tamoxifen yesterday.

Lala1- what brand/type of Tumeric do you take?

KateB79- I have developed "tennis elbow" without playing tennis for a year 😳 Just finished Taxol/Herceptin for 12 weeks and starting Herceptin once every 3 weeks. I don't know if I can blame it on that or sleeping wrong?? Don't know exactly what caused i

Trvler

I am having trouble finding what brand I am taking. Where do you see it? Do different brands pills look similar/the same?

lala1

Nolagirl1126---I take Gaia Turmeric. It's made it North Carolina and my holistic doctor said he's checked it out and is satisfied with the quality of their ingredients.

twiggyOR

Tryle:r My brand is at the bottom left corner of the label. Mine is Watson.

jojo9999

Tryler - the best way to determine it is to go to www.drugs.com and input the number imprinted on the tablets. It weill also give a list of all of the other ingredients. I have had the bottle say one brand (teva) but the number imprint on teh pills was for a different generic (watson).

eggroll

I just want to let folks know that I developed crippling abdominal cramps a couple of weeks after I started Tamoxifen. I went off and on it several times and had it happen again each time. So I'm switching to AI's since I am likely post-menopausal anyway. They will do another bloodtest to confirm. In case someone has that happen to them, you are not alone.

Bcky

Kate B79. I have written here about knee pain. I was switched to Mylan Tamoxifen without my permission from the pharmacy. I stopped by and explained my knee pain is horrible on the Mylan brand and to please put me on Watson again.Watson brand caused knee ache but nothing like this. I am hoping it is just the Tamoxifen brand switch that is causing the severe pain. Yes upon rising I can barely walk. It has gotten much worse in the last week. It has been so bad that I am holding onto the furniture to walk in the apartment. I am limping at work and just stepping up a curb is a major issue. I am going to set an appointment with the Oncologist tommorow. I have had to have major bloodwork done and a crown put in so I have delayed seeing the Onc.

Paulinek

I'm just wondering when SE started to happen for most of you. I just started tamoxifen last night and I'm nervous about the SE

TinyDancer5

Does anyone having weird feelings in their toes? If yes, what do you do to relieve it?

The only thing different going on is, on Wednesday I started Teva brand instead of my usual Watson brand of Tamoxifen. Could there be a coincidence?

Scottiemom11

I experimented with splitting my dose and taking twice a day over the weekend. SEs were worse. So back to mornings for me. Also I am back to the Watson brand which I seem to mm tolerate better. I am now taking turmeric, ginger and mag citrate. Will have to see if this combo does the trick.

Scottie

PhoebeLee

For what it's worth I've been taking tamoxifen citrate for about 5 months now with no side effects that I can tell - other than it bringing on menopause which was imminent anyway. No weight gain, no weight loss. I just wanted to mention this not to brag but because it's easy in a forum like this to believe that most women have side effects when I don't think it's the case- correct me if I'm wrong. I too was very nervous initially, and did not want to take it.

TinyDancer5

Just wondering why many of you are taking any of these: turmeric, ginger and mag citrate. For SE's? Can someone list what SE's are helped by taking either turmeric, ginger and/or mag citrate. Also how much do you take, how and when to take it. Thanks!

Musosgirl

I posted the following on another thread late last night:

Well, it's here. The day I can no longer stall on starting Tamoxifen. I saw my therapist Friday. I saw my PCP today. No new solutions, no alternatives (looking more on the anti-anxiety med side), no magic wands. I asked my DH to pray over my pills tonight--never done that before--and I sobbed for a good 5 minutes (MAN I miss my Paxil!). But it's done. If PTSD taught me anything it's "do it afraid." Only 3,651 more to go.


Hot flashes are a trigger for my PTSD. I was steady as a rock on Paxil but it interferes with Tamox, so now I am on Effexor. The switch was not very smooth--I am warm, sometimes sweaty, all the time. And much, MUCH more moody/weepy. I was awake most of the night, experienced two hot flashes, but managed to stay calm and ride them out.

Someone else asked how soon side effects take to start, and I would like more info as well. Do they get worse as you go on? Does it have a cumulative effect? I don't see my MO for 4-7 weeks, but I see his PA next week. Wondering if I should start Turmeric and Ginger now?

El_Tigre

hi,

Just curious, how many are taking melatonin with tamoxifen? Naturopath has me down for 20mg every night to help boost it's effectiveness

ORgal

Tinydancer5, I started taking magnesium for the hot flashes and leg cramps I was getting after a couple months of tamoxifen. It really helped the hot flashes at first, but not as much now. I just changed to a different type to see if it will help. I started having knee joint pain really bad after being on tamoxifen about 5 months so I started taking glucosamine. I've now replaced that with ginger and turmeric.

ElTigre, I know others are taking melatonin. I tried it one night and didn't like it at all. I laid in bed feeling really groggy all night long but was unable to sleep. I don't think that's what it's supposed to do.

Scottiemom11

Tinydancer. . .the Turmeric and Ginger are supposed to help with the HFs, I have seen improvement with the turmeric. The jury is still out as to whether the ginger helps more. I've only been on the ginger for a week. The mag citrate is for the joint pain. I really notice that if I forget to take it. Daily exercise definitely helps with the combination as well as eating a light dinner. If I eat anything heavy after about 5pm I don't sleep at night.

The SEs definitely vary by each individual and not everyone has them.

Scottie