muscle twitching and cramps on tamoxifen

I have been having the same issues as well.  I haven't been on the tamoxifen for a year yet.  It is very frustrating experience.  It will be interesting to see what the oncologist says. I am also very active and attributed the cramping and twitching to the combination of both

I had bad leg cramps at night too. They stopped after about 5 months or so. I tried drinking quinine and that seemed to help, but I usually slept with a heating pad. Now I'm just crazy with night sweats!

Count me in for the twitching and cramps. I get the twitches in my arms and calfs.  Lately I've been getting the cramps in my shins down to my feet.  You can actually see the muscle tighten under the skin.  Mostly at night  

The Doctor said to start on Temoxifen for about 3 years then will switch me to Arimidex. She says fewer side effects this way.

????

I hope she knows what she is talking about. She also said she NEVER heard about any leg cramps etc.

Anne

I have been on Tamoxifen 3 months now and I notice if I try and stretch my legs in the morning in bed before rising... that  I have the beginnings of a leg cramp so I ease off and it seems to ease off.  I can only imagine if I don't how painful that cramp would be.  I didn't realize it was a side affect.

I am also experiencing plantar fasciitis in my left heel which is the foot/ankle I have mild arthritis in having fractured it a few times in my youth.  It didn't bother me at all, but now suddenly it hurts daily. Is anyone else experiencings heel/foot pain?

 MzJoy

Sounds like you are all in communication with your doctors about the cramps, but if not make sure you have them checked out. After 18 months on tamoxifen I started experiencing what I call "charlie horses" in one leg and would just work them out & go on. They happened a lot at night and then one night they got considerably worse. When I got out of bed the next morning, I experienced a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots in that leg. It was a shock because blood clots are usually accompanied by swelling & I had no swelling. The blood clots were caused by the tamoxifen and I was immediately taken off it. Had to take warfarin for a year as a preventative measure against further clots, but had no more problems.

I did not know that blood clots were a side effect of tamoxifen until it happened to me. Couldn't believe that the medication I was taking to ward off cancer nearly killed me. Anyway, long story short, just be very careful about any issues with your legs while on tamoxifen.

I started Tom. in May. I have had the worst leg cramps in my life!! Mostly at night but I am waking up at least 5 times a night with the cramps. Now I'm also starting to get the muscle twitching, hip pain, lower back pain, depression...ugh. I go the the dr. tomorrow to get checked out. I know there are other meds to take but from what I've been reading their side effects can be worse. I can't imagine. 

Count me in too for muscle twitching and cramps in my legs.  I read posts on the subjects where women were suggesting putting a bar of soap under the sheets at the foot of the bed.  I thought what the heck I'll try it.  And, sure enough the frequency and intensity of the cramps decreased.  The soap did not do anything for the twitching, but the twitching  less disruptiveto my sleep than the cramps.

I've been on tamox for 3 years now and have been putting up with cramping muscles in calves  and feet,almost constant eyelid twitching, insomnia and weight gain that seems impossible to loose.  I've tried the soap trick with some relief for the leg cramps excercise for the weight gain but the rest I just try to ignor....2 more years...and counting.

I was on Tamoxifen for one year.   The first five months I had no side effects and even lost 5 pounds.   Then my calf muscles began to twitch - it felt like popcorn in my legs.  I also could barely stand in the morning when I got out of bed - my ankles and back were very stiff.   Then my mood began to change - I became depressed.   My gums started to bleed; I had thinning hair and constant shivers (well constant when I wasn't having hot flashes).   I went to a neurologist who gave me a total work up - blood work and muscle tests.   All tests were perfectly normal.   After meeting with my oncologist, she suggested I go off the Tamoxifen since it could be the cause of all my side effects.   I have now been off since the end of October.   My back and ankles are better; my gums no longer bleed and the chills have diminished..however, my calf muscles continue to move after I use my legs - maybe not as much but I still think the Tamoxifen is in my system.   Hot flashes continue.  I'm 62 years old - my diagnosis was DCIS, low nuclear grade, highly ER/PR plus.  I hope I didn't make a mistake going off the drug but I just couldn't live like that.  Knowing the neurologist thinks I'm okay, makes it easier to accept the twitching muscles.  I'll be fine until I have to go for my 6 month mammo and then will get all freaked out again.  No breast cancer on my side of the family.  I have a twin sister who is perfectly healthy.

Are you still having the twitches? Mine come and go and feel like I have pop rock candy in my calves. I have terrible calf and foot cramps at night and now I am having dull aches and heaviness in both legs at night. I have been on Tamoxifen for over 4 years. I'm wondering if I can make it to 5!

I quit Tamoxiphen 2.5 weeks ago for a break. My feet are cramping more now and my eye stated twitching. Body pain meanders & changes day to say. I don't think I'm going to go back on it

Welcome to the community ssmfcco. We are sorry that you are having problems but glad that you reached out here. Perhaps you can tell us a bit more about your cancer situation so we can provide more assistance. Stay connected here and again welcome. The Mods