Tamoxifen causing numbness/feelings of flatness

rokel

Hi- I began Tamoxifen last October and almost immediately felt that it affected my mood. My oncologist prescribed Effexor for me, but I only took that for a week or two. It gave me awful headaches and made me feel terrible. When I stopped taking Effexor, I felt a lot better so I stayed on Tamoxifen for awhile and perhaps didn't notice that it was affecting my mood. Last spring I began to notice that I was feeling very numb- not depressed exactly, but not happy about things. I remember googling it but I didn't make the connection that it may have been caused by Tamoxifen.

Fast-forward to this past July when I fell and had a terrible ankle break. I had to have an ankle fusion surgery with 8 screws, a plate, etc. I was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks and I'm home with two little kids and had to cancel all of our summer vacation plans (vacation plans that were supposed to make up for last summer when I was newly diagnosed with cancer). It was awful. I was also in a new town where I didn't know anyone. I cried every day for the first two weeks. I had to go off Tamoxifen because of my high-risk for blood clots. Lo and behold, about 3 weeks after my break I actually started to feel quite happy (despite my dire situation). I began to wonder if perhaps Tamoxifen had been affecting my mood significantly. I tried to go back on it in September, but I do think it is impacting my mood. It's like I lose the ability to feel positive about things or looking forward to the future. It's hard to describe exactly.

Anyway I'd like to go back on Tamoxifen, but I wonder what my other options are. I see my oncologist in a few weeks and I know she will suggest going back on Effexor or going on the stronger hormone drugs and inducing menopause but I don't want to do any of those things. Are their any supplements I can take that may help with mood? I assume this has to do with Serotonin production? Thanks for reading.

Cpeachymom

rokel- I don’t have any advice, but wanted to let you know you’re not alone. I also have a little one, took a three week break from Tamoxifen for surgery, while also being on a three month break from OS. Man, the world looked so much brighter and shinier! I hadn’t realized how different I felt on it vs not on it. I did go back on it and a new OS, but I’m really trying to hold on to those feelings. I was trying to look online to see what I could find about estrogen and feeling like a “mommy”. Not a ton of info out there.

So hard. Hugs to you.

Peregrinelady

Tamoxifen caused me to be depressed. “Natural Calm,” a magnesium supplement, helped me immensely.