Tamoxifen

rnssp74

Hello everyone,

This is my first time posting. I have found such comfort in other posts - thanks for sharing!

I started Tamoxifen 2 weeks ago and have noticed several side effects - dizziness, fatigue, and mood instability. In regards to mood, I find myself tearing up very easily and being very sensitive to things/circumstances that normally do not elicit such a response. I don't feel sad or anxious, just really sensitive. I have a mental health history, and I am a mental health professional, so I am very familiar with the signs/symptoms of depression, anxiety, etc. The mood changes are more consistent with the symptoms I previously experienced just immediately prior to my period.

I am doing a great job with self-care - exercising daily, eating healthy, seeing a therapist, tending to my spiritual needs, etc. I am hopeful the mood symptoms will fade with time. But I would love to hear what others have experienced.

Due to my age, my MO has told me a hormonal therapy will be necessary for at least 10 years.

Thanks in advance!!

Sara

Curlykat

Sara,

How long has it been since you finished radiation? I'm wondering if the mood symptoms are stress-related. I haven't had any noticeable mood issues on 20mg tamoxifen, but maybe someone else will chime in with more feedback. Hopefully, if it is from the medication, it will diminish as you get used to it.

Good luck!

Kat

ksusan

My experience is similar to yours in terms of mood. I find it comes and goes, but I'm definitely more sensitive and have less ability to tolerate frustration on Tamoxifen.

farmerlucy

I added in Effexor to help with hot flashes and moods. It just takes the edge off. The dizziness and fatigued improved pretty quickly. Even the hot flashes went away after a bit. I tapered down from 75mg Effexor to 37.5 after about a year. Then I switched to an AI. Fun city. Best of luck.

rnssp74

Thanks for the feedback. It has been almost 5 weeks since I completed radiation. I had significant fatigue during radiation but no mood changes.

The impact of the diagnosis and the risk of recurrence have definitely hit me since completing radiation. I have these moments where the diagnosis feels brand new and I realize "holy crap, I have breast cancer".

I had lots to do during the active phase of treatment (like we all do)- running to this appointment, having this test, talking to the insurance, genetic testing, surgery, radiation. Now all that is done and I am left just being! I'm now learning to live as a breast cancer survivor, and I don't really know what that looks like.

I think the mood changes are a combination of the effects of Tamoxifen along with the feelings described above. I am actively giving myself permission to grieve, feel what I feel, and just be.

Thanks so much for your input! It is helpful to talk with others who have been there.

rnssp74

I have noticed the symptoms come and go as well! I have had two really good days in a row, and I am hopeful, with time, the good days/moments will outnumber the bad. I had reservations about the Tamoxifen prior to starting because of a history of mood changes related to hormone fluctuations (with birth control pills, depression after having a baby, and PMS). Nonetheless, the side effects are not a deal breaker.

I am glad to hear someone else has a similar experience as it helps me know I'm not alone!

Thanks for sharing :-)

rnssp74

Thanks for the information! I am hopeful side effects will decrease with time. I am glad to hear Effexor worked well for you. I have spoken to several women who reported the medication was very helpful especially for the hot flashes. As of now, I have had very few hot flashes - that I am so thankful for. More cold flashes/cold intolerance than anything else. Going to monitor the cold intolerance and fatigue since I had radiation and have a family history of hypothyroidism.

This road is a tough one, but I am so glad to hear from others who are walking it too!

Blessings,

Sara

macb04

Hi, I was on tamoxifen for 9 months. I remember the mood swings, had extreme emotional lability. I would fly into a rage, over nothing. I broke a tablet, my cell phone and my pressure cooker. I developed insomnia, had an Ah Ha moment when I realized that when I didn't take L Tryptophan I wasn't able to sleep. I researched Tryptophan depletion, and found 2 neurosychiatric trials that used tamoxifen to cause rapid tryptophan depletion, one of the studies was for treatment of mania. No wonder I was going crazy, tryptophan depletion is known to cause anger and other problems.I didn't have issues before the bc, but I have been very upset by much of the misery of bc "treatment" Just my two cents. wasn't good for me. Much better without it. It was destroying my quality of life.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17845270

rnssp74

Thanks so much for sharing this information! No wonder I feel so crappy. As a mental health professional, I have never heard of tamoxifen being used as an anti-mania agent. Very interesting.

I have not really experienced the anger piece (very thankful for that) more so sadness, emotional sensitivity, and being easily tearful. Up and down - not a fan!!! However, these symptoms have gotten much better with time. Definitely more good days than bad.

In my case, I think the mood issues are partly due to the Tamoxifen and also because I am grieving - learning to navigate life after a breast cancer diagnosis. Wishing my life was the same as before, but it simply is not. I continue to have those surreal moments where it hits me "I was diagnosed with breast cancer!!!" Learning to just feel these emotions and be gentle/patient with myself. Also setting boundaries with toxic people - amazing how self-focused family members can somehow make a breast cancer diagnosis about them.

Thanks for the information!

Sara

Yan

I am so glad to read the shared experiences of yours on tamoxifen.