Tamox almost 2 yrs and new hair thinning with Watson man.

lmlola59

Hi,

I have not been on this site for some time since my treatment as I have been simply trying to live my life and all has been good till about 3 weeks ago. I started Tamoxifen in August of 2012 with the Teva manufacturer with no problems at all. I switched insurance and started receiving the Watson brand I think about 4 or 5 months ago and noticed that I am really shedding my hair for the past 3 to  4 weeks. I did for the first time on May 22nd  2014 since my new hair arrived get a professional dye job ,I had been up to that point doing it with Naturetint (very low on chemicals) with no issues,but had a big family wedding and wanted to look awesome . My hair did come back with the chemo curls and seemed much thicker than my original hair before treatment,but not sure if it really was or simply seemed it because of its new curls and texture.It is in really good shape due to the lack of processing and styling and my scalp is also free of anything that might cause this so I have eliminated this.Nothing else has changed in my diet etc.I have read from other forums that the hair sometimes goes back to its original state about this time frame and it does seem flatter on the top.

I am really getting concerned since I can see it is much thinner though no noticeable balding ,but at this rate I feel it is simply a matter of time.

 I have also noticed I bruise extremely easily which I don't recall before and should also mention I am fully menopausal now .I am on my 2nd day of not taking it and will call the DR,but I don't think they will agree with my prognosis.We were trying to make the 2 year mark and switch to the next drug ,but I am also worried about those.

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with this manufacturer?

lmlola59

farmerlucy

I'm on Watson. Initially my hair did seem to thin some, but now It is back to where it was or even better. I haven't noticed an unusual bruising.

Ridley

Interesting - I'm on Teva, and had hair thinning that started a few months after taking the drug and has actually now stopped (knocking on wood.). I did start taking Biotin - not sure if that helped or not.  

lmlola59

Farmerlucy do you recall how long before it seemed to stop thinning? You have been taking Watso since you began on 4 /2013?

Ridley I have been taking Biotin since June 2012 after chemo was thinking of doubling the dose on this but not sure if  you can take to much.

Lenn13ka

Imlola- about 4 months into Watson my hair starting thinning BIG time. I wasn't sure what is was something I was eating, too much shampoo- I had just cut my long hair). It has since slowed down. I am careful to not wash it to much . I get to switch back to the much better Mylan brand next month. I also see a naturopath and will ask him about it as well.

farmerlucy

Seems like I really noticed it last fall, and it has been just lately that I noticed it was thicker. Yep - Watson all along.  I ask my onco in April about using biotin. She okayed it but then I never bought any.  Now I'm not going to. 

lmlola59

Lenn13ka so you stuck with the Watson? Did it get bad enough to be noticeable? I also don't shampoo every day and cringe when I empty the hair catcher thingy that we have in the drain.It has gotten to the point where I simply run my fingers through my hair and come out with several strands,having flashbacks to Chemo.Was Mylan the one that was off the market for a while and coming back?

 Farmerlucy do you know how long it took your body to adjust to it?

I tried to just keep going but I am afraid i will have bald spots before my body adjust if this is all it takes.Stopped on Sunday been doing the dimm and curcumum instead along with other supplements and foods that are suppose to be good for BC. Since I am menopausal and will hit the 2 yr mark on Tamox on  Aug 1st I think my Onc will be changing me over when I see her in Sept. I am not sure how long you have to stop taking a drug before it starts to get out of your system though so I can see if it is truly the drug causing this,but I would put money on it. Also afraid of having this same problem on the next stage of meds,been hearing bad things about them.

Thanks you all for the feed back 

farmerlucy

Initially I tried it for ten day in 2012 but I felt like I couldn't tolerate it so I quit for a year. The worst SE of not taking it was knowing I wasn't doing all I could to prevent recurrence, so I tried again in 2013 and it was fine. The big difference was that I was emotionally ready to do it. I have periods of week long HF (i am very near menopause) and then they go away for weeks. Right now my fingers and toes are swelling in the morning but it could be dehydration, weight gain, or T. I'll just figure out how to work through it. 

Ridley

Imlola -- I read on the net somewhere (so add some salt) a post by a doc stating he had seen results with taking 2,500 iu or mg(?) of Biotin twice a day.  I have been taking 2,000 in the morning (when I take my tamox) and when I remember I take 2,000 at night as well.

I was really worried about the thinning -- thinking that if it continued at the rate it was going, I would be close to bald by the end of 10 years.  I was cleaning out the shower drain daily as well as my hairbrush, and finding hair everywhere in the house (which was so irritating.)  I'm not sure why it stopped, but it has, thankfully.  If I had to guess, it lasted about 2-3 months or so, and started about 3-4 months after I started taking tamox.  I've been getting highlights to hide the grey for years, and have not stopped during this process or otherwise changed any products, added any new drugs, etc., so I'm thinking that it has to be either my body adjusting or the Biotin.

I hope your side effect is temporary as well.

Ridley

 

abigail48

my hair seems to be getting thicker, not at all sure why I stopped taking bee pollen awhile back perhaps that was it

lmlola59

Ridley sounds like the same time frame as me from when it started,but don't think I will have any hair left if it takes 2 to 3 months to stop. I am very torn as to whether to try and ride it out or not since I believe my Onc will be switching me in sept. I hit the 2 year mark in Aug and with the menopause. I worry about getting ovarian or cervical cancer  (which ever one it is) from it.Had some spotting already after over 2 years with nothing.Went to my OBG and had some test done but she said all looks good so just keep an eye out ,but it is enough to give me concern.Have also been looking for work again since March and have an Executive interview tomorrow with CFO maybe the extra stress has something to do with it. I have also noticed my scalp has that itchy prickly feeling like when it was coming out with chemo the past 3 days or maybe its just flashback induced 

farmerlucy please watch out for the swelling that doesn't sound good to me.I know my Onc checks me for ankle swelling every time I go to see her,though I think this is a concern of blood clots.Not sure if fingers and toes are connected.

abigall48 how long have you been taking it? Looking for some hope here. 

abigail48

taking what?  sour cherry juice?  weekor so.  otherwise I'm totally undiagnosed, alternate/ going on 4 years depending on how you count.  may not even be cancer though it's growing, bleeding, takes a lot of time dealing with it.  I.m 77

farmerlucy

thanks for the heads up about the swelling. I'll ask my onc about it in August. 

Lots of ladies are allowed a tamoxifen break by their docs. The half life is about ten days, so it may take a month to leave your system.