Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

ArtyMom

Thanks Garden Gypsy! Luckily my boys are fairly self sufficient and even helpful occassionally! I'm not too good with taking care of myself and usually push myself too hard. Asking for help is hard but I'm learning to do it.

gardengypsy

ArtyMom,

In a spiritual sense, taking care of yourself is one of the big lessons of BC.

What can we do to take care of ourselves during the holidays?

ArtyMom

I'm definitely doing fewer chores and letting myself eat whatever I want. There have been some presents to myself joining in the shopping trips as well! I'm considering a radiation therapy therapy cat too

gardengypsy

For the first time in my teaching career, I am not doing work at night anymore. That feels good.

I

ArtyMom

gotta do whatcha gotta do!!!!

gardengypsy

:-) :-)

tsoebbin

Celebrating it was only 5 degrees here today, and I was the only one that was warm! Yay tamoxifen hot flashes!

Lovinggrouches

eating what ever I want and have gained 13 pounds since surgery lol!!

Scottiemom11

Had my TVUS today. Good news. Lining is actually thinner than before. I have two very small cysts but nothing to worry about. So another odd question regarding Tamox symptoms. Has anyone developed a major sensitivity to smells? I have and it's getting worse.

Scottie

gardengypsy

Scottie: Happy to hear about your tests. I have not heard this about smells!

Lovinggrouches~ We need to eat a lot and exercise more.I love my recumbent bike.

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lala1

So I've spent the last couple of days trying to get my Tamoxifen refill. I take Teva brand which works the best for me as far as SEs. I have to ask CVS about a week or so in advance to order it since they only keep the Watson brand in stock. So they call and tell me that the Teva has been discontinued and they can no longer get it. I call around and get the same response from everyone else. So I called Teva itself and they tell me that they have sold their Tamoxifen to Mayne Pharma and have acquired Actavis Tamoxifen. Why they did all this I don't know. But they put me in touch with Mayne Pharma who said they did buy Teva Tamoxifen and have rebranded it Mayne Tamoxifen and they did not change the formula including fillers. So supposedly if you like the Teva brand, the Mayne brand is the exact same. I picked up my 90 day supply today and start it in a couple of days. I'll report back on if I think the SEs are any different than the last couple of years on Teva. By the way, I have the phone number to Mayne and they also gave me the NDC number which is what your pharmacy will need when ordering the Tamoxifen. I can post it if anyone wants it but they did say the pharmacy can look it up as well. Hope this helps anyone trying to get the Teva brand.

superius

The one I have is second bottle from Mayne. I had Teva before.

Don't know if it's related but I barely had any hot flashes or warm flushes in past couple months. that's the only s/e I ever had. (well... besides irregular period)

gardengypsy

Lala~ Thanks for all that research. I've had luck with the Teva brand as well. I will ask the pharmacist about Mayne.

jojo9999

lala1 - can you tell me what number/letters are imprinted on the actual pills that are by Mayne? I knew that Teva sold out to Mayne. I used Teva for 20 months - for the last year, I too had to request the Teva pills or else they would give me Watson. Recently I needed a refill, and didn't ask ahead of time - so took the Watson pills they had in stock. Not sure the differences are signficant. My side effects on the Teva were constantly changing so I can't say if the Watson pills are really causing different side effects. But I might switch back if the Mayne pills are the same. Thanks

lala1

jojo---The pill looks just like the Teva one....small, white pill with the same number marked on it...93 and then below that is 782. The lady at Mayne insists it's the exact same pill, fillers and all. I still have a Teva pill so I compared them. Cannot tell any difference.

jojo9999

Thanks for checking!

wke

I am assuming most people are taking 20mg Tamoxifen. I had pretty bad side effects, aches, nausea and night sweats and I have found the only way I can tolerate it is a half dose of 10mg. I even split the 10mg tablet in half and take 5mg at bedtime and 5mg in the morning. I still have SE's but it's tolerable. I figured it was better then stopping it altogether.

Did anyone else try a reduced dose?

My MO was not happy about it at first but after 5 months of the lower dose my period suddenly completely stopped so now she is happier knowing that the lower dose is clearly still having an effect.

NormaJean65

wks....what brand of Tamoxifen were you taking?? I can't take the Watson brand w/o all kinds of se.

Tresjoli2

when I picked up my tamoxifen today, it was in a regular prescription bottle, not the usual light block bottle that is all sealed up. I wonder why that would be

dctexas

lala1, thank you so much for all of the research on the Teva replacement. I'll definitely ask for the Mayne brand for my next refill.

Cwill

I finished radiation on November 21st - now onto the next phase of treatment....Tamoxifen. I am really nervous to start. I've had my rx for almost a week but am waiting until after Christmas to take it. Question is:how soon do side effects start? Is it immediately or do they develop over time Hoping and praying I'm one of the lucky ones with no SE.

lala1

My SEs started at about a month for joint pain which I've reduced greatly with turmeric and ginger. About a year into it, I had nausea and dizziness along with burping and bloating. I found a really good probiotic and got rid of all that entirely. Looking back I think those SEs were a result of my surgeries and anesthesia. I still get slight sinus issues periodicallywhich I never had before, mostly when it's rainy, but using the NeilMed on a regular basis helps with that.

gardengypsy

lala-

What is your brand of probiotic?

gardengypsy

Cwill~

I have been on Tamox since June. Joint pain is helped by the Turmeric, although the pharmacist page at Sloan Kettering says that Tumeric interferes with Tamoxifen's effectiveness.

I take Gabapentin and Lexapro. I think they are helping with the dreaded hot flashes.

I believe my mood is effected by the Tamoxifen. Still trying to figure that out.

Best of luck to you!

wke

I did not know there were multiple brands out there. My bottle does not specify so I will have to ask my pharmacist. I'm in Canada

Catkin

Cwill: I've been on Tamoxifen for a 13 months. It stopped my periods after 2 months, but I was getting irregular anyway (50 years old). My sensitive lower back got a little worse, again after a few months, hard to say. I was already quite anxious/low before the Tamoxifen, after surgery plus radiation, plus due to various things going on, and I believe the drug has kept me in an on average low mood right from the start. I don't have hot flushes, yay! I do have foggy thinking sometimes but can't say when that started. I hope you have minimal/no side effects. Best of luck and go for it.

Mom2fourplusmore

side effects came on quick for me. It messed with my moods within days but the other side effects really hit about 2 weeks in. But some people never get them or they get them and they get better and then again some people seem to get the side effects years later. You won't know your story until you go down that path. Seems to be the reoccurring theme in this breast cancer journey...it all seems to be very individualiz

Carlsoda

Cwill, no real side effects for me. My only complaint is Charlie horses in my calves and feet at night but magnesium helps. No real hot flashes, no joint issues. My MO told me SE's usually start at the 2 week mark. I have been lucky . Good luck and don't be scared of the tamoxifen

tbalding

Cwill, my story is same as carlsoda. I've been taking tamox since mid July and no noticeable se. Hopefully you'll be the same as us.

Carlsoda, funny you should mention Charley horse, woke up with one last night in my hamstring. But they don't happen regular so can't say that it's from tamox.

Variable

Picked up my prescription yesterday. MO told me to take it at night so I can sleep through the side effects while my body adjusts to it. I am very nervous to start. Anyone willing to share their struggles with taking that first pill or have an inspiring self talk phrase they use to choke it down each day??? I need some rational veterans to talk me through this