tamoxifen

ozzyfish

Has anyone had issues with thinning hair, slow eye brow regrowth, joint pain or insomnia?  I think it's the Tamoxifen I  am taking?

Suzybelle

yes, yes, yes and yes!!!  On the plus side, I don't have to shave my legs as often anymore.

I am not digging any of the above (except the eyebrow regrowth slowing) and the bone pain makes me worry about recurrence, and DVT but what do you do?  I am not brave enough to stop taking it...I kind of feel like that would be a very dumb thing to do.

So I just put up with all of the above.  UGH.

jancie

i have chronic hip pain and every test has come back negative so i am thinking it is the tamoxifen.   i take 10,000 mcg of biotin daily for hair growth and mine came back with tons of volume but not my eyebrows.  insomnia is something i have dealt w/ for 30 years so i am on ambien which works wonders for me.

Barbarjud

Hot flashes indeed. Additionally, uti"s and bladder irritation.  I'm have only taken Tamoxifen for six weeks but I've had enough.

elimar86861

Mango1:  A lot of women report the symptoms lessening after a few months.  I don't know if you can hold out that long, but there is a chance that it could be like that in your case too. 

I've been on Tamox. for over one year.  After having hot flashes from hell all summer, I am not having any now.  I have some pain in my joints, but I was having that before taking Tamox., so it is hard to tell about that.  My sleep, which has been bad for over 20 years, does not seem affected by Tamox. at all.

sunangel27

I just started taking Tamox on Tuesday....  hopefully will be few side effects!

lmays

My hair thinned considerably in the beginning, but came back in a month or so.  Been on it nearly two years and have had relatively few SEs.  Eyesight changed a bit and the insomnia drives me batty.  Put on 20 pounds, which I thought I was going to have to live with forever, but recently found a diet/exercise routine that has knocked them back off.

All-in-all have been fortunate.  Wishing same for you.

lmays

Had not noticed slow regrowth of eyebrows.

o2bhealthy

I took Tamoxifen for 8 months and took a 4 month break...now I am really struggling with starting back up again.  I gained almost 40 lbs since my dx and cannot decide if the extra 5% decrease in recurrence is worth dealing with depression, achy joints, hair thinning and more weight gain...

Patinarizona

I am on tamoxifen 10mg a day.  side effects are a little better than before, i was on 20mg a day & couldn't stand side effects.  I just hope the reduced amount works!  my dr is monitering my blood.

elimar86861

o2bhealthy, I gained about 5 lbs. in the past year.  Don't know if is is strictly the Tamox., or if menopause would have put those pounds on anyway.  However, Tamox. weight gain is a bit paradoxical.  We all take the Tamox. to prevent recurrence.  Yet, supposedly keeping off excess weight (and staying active) is supposed to reduce liklihood of recurrence also.  So when Tamox. puts the pounds on, are we still at a lower risk or does the weight make us lose some of the Tamox. benefit?  I wonder...

o2bhealthy

elimar - my thoughts exacty!!!!

Barbarjud

Okay, so I over reacted.  Turns out the UTI was not a UTI after all.  The doc is thinking that "dryness" all over is a symptom of the Tamoxifen.  Hopefullly you gals are right; that it will slowly become less of a problem over time.  The constipation is new for me.  Benefiber in my coffee is not doing it for me.  I eat apples and oranges everyday, including veggies with dinner but constipation lives on.  Stool softeners make me cramp up.  Any sugestions?

AjaLou

 Did anyone have  abdominal pain from Tomox.?  My pains come and go quicklly but I am not sure if they are from the tomox.  I am always worrying.  Been taking it since Feb.2011. 

AjaLou

Did anyone have abdominal pain from tomox? The pain comes and goes quickly but I am not sure if they are from the tomox.  Been taking it since Feb. 2011

Bethie1

Hi I'm Beth. I'm on tamoxifen as well, and 3 years out from diagnosis.  Yes, I lost hair to chemo of Adriamyacin and cytoxan, but tamoxifen has given me NO problems, except stinkin' hot flashes.  I went into a chemo- induced menopause, and now I'm just starting to get my cycle again.

tricia7

Hi - I had a bilateral mastectomy 5/25/2011 for bilateral DCIS and .5mm invasion was found (see my diagnosis).  I don't need chemo or radiation (thank God), and the MedOnc Doctor has left it up to me whether or not to take tamoxifen.  I am also BRACA1 and 2 negative.  I am really struggling with this decision and may get a second opinion.  Any advice?

Pegs

insonmia - yes its terrible i feel like i am up more than i am sleeping, hot flashes but only at night which also keeps me up.  at night my fingers hurt, like if i crack my knuckles it would feel so much better, its only around dinner time, but its annoying.  I too have gained some weight I assume its the tamoxifen, at least that the excuse i am using lol  , see you are not alone

peg

Sostler

Tricia -

Did you decide to take Tamoxifen ?

I have a very similar diagnosis to yours with .2 mm invasion . Don't want to take tamoxifen