Starting Tamoxifen - Fall 2011

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  • hondagirl
    hondagirl Member Posts: 74
    edited November 2011

    I just met with my Oncologist today about my side effects which are irritability, weepiness, shortness, sleeplessness and the list goes one!  She did prescribe effexor which I am hoping will help.  I have only been on for about 5 weeks and she said that once my body settles into it, the SE should go away too. 

     She did ask about hair differences although I haven't noticed anything yet. But if she asked there must be something to it.

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  • ANA_424
    ANA_424 Member Posts: 109
    edited November 2011

    hondagirl - I started taking Effexor about a week after I started tamoxifen. I started it because of hot flashes from chemopause. I've noticed a decrease in the hot flashes and some improvement in mood. But I didn't really notice the improvements for 4-5 weeks, so give it some time. I hope it helps you as well.

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited November 2011

    I am weepy and irritable and tired but I'm blaming it on dealing with rads and a lot of stress at work and in my relationship. I started therapy to help with that, and I would take something if my therapist recommended it. My partner has started taking Effexir for depression, recently. I'm taking some Benadryl stuff to help me sleep.



    Hondagril - really hope the Effexor does the trick for you soon!



    So far the only side effect I'm having from Tamox is vaginal discharge, but it's not enough to soak through my undies or anything so I can deal with it. I just saw my MO for a follow-up and he seemed pleased. I'm going to see him in another 3 months, after I recover from rads.

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  • hondagirl
    hondagirl Member Posts: 74
    edited November 2011

    ANA 424-

    I see you are a fellow Tennessean.  My alma mater is UTK so of course my blood runs ORANGE :-)!  Thanks for the tips on the Effexor.  I am 12 days out and I do think I am noticing some improvement in mood and not as many hot flashes.  Although, I still seem to wake up in the middle of the night.  Not sure what that is about- but it is the same time every night.  Most of the time I can fall back to sleep though.  I hope things continue to improve on the Effexor.  I am encouraged so far.  Glad to hear that you have experienced some relief with this drug too!

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  • hondagirl
    hondagirl Member Posts: 74
    edited November 2011

    Natters-

    Thanks for the words of encouragement.  These mood swings sure are a pain along with all the other stuff we have to deal with- huh!  I too have the vaginal discharge which I actually went to my GYN for.  I thought something must be wrong with me.  But lucky me-just one more side effect from the Tamoxifen.  The gift that just keeps giving! 

    Be careful with the Benadryl as it is supposed to interfere with absorption of the Tamoxifen.  I have also been using Melatonin for sleep which my MO recommended too.  It seems to help and doesn't make me feel groggy when I wake up like benadryl does.  Hope this helps.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2011
    I am 2/3 of the way done with radiation, and trying to make up my mind about tamoxifen.  I have been depressed today thinking about adding another pill to the handful I already take. It makes sense to take it though if I don't want recurrence.  I'm just not thrilled about side effects either.  It seems to be a toss up.......
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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited November 2011

    I've been taking Tamox for a month now. I'm getting headaches. Hope they go away & don't get worse. Also find myself tearful. Working out seems to help me. It's the only time I feel good. The stress incontinence I've had since giving birth has also gotten a little worse...ugh!

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited November 2011

    Honda, I asked my MO specifically about the Bnadryl and he said it was fine. Maybe I will talk to my pharmacist again, though. I'm pretty sure he said it was ok.



    Coral - that sucks about the headaches - hope they are just temporary :(



    Suzanne, there are lots of women on Tamox with no SEs so I figured it was worth a try. Ialso think it depends on your personal risk. I've read on here of some ladies with only a 10% risk even before they start rads, then maybe 5% after, so they are already pretty low-risk. They figured my risk was more like 20% so I'm doing everythin I can to get that number down. My partner wants me to be aggressive and take everything I can get my hands on. Why is your husband so concerned? Tamox isn't an experimental new drug - they've been using it well over 20 years, I think.

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  • Gelatimom
    Gelatimom Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2011

    Hi

    Just started Tamox last week! First few days no problem. However, now I'm beginning to have some

    vaginal discharge! Also I think it may be constipating me.   Not sure if I should continue with this med.

    I had a lumpectomy & then 7 weeks of radiation. I'm cancer free at present and the Tamo is purely

    preventitive. If these SE are temporary I guess I can deal, but I certainly don't need any more problems. Anyone out there with similar SE ? I'd be glad to hear from you. Thanks

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited November 2011

    I have vaginal discharge but it doesn't soak through my undies so I think I can live with it. Since it isn't bloody, my MO isn't worried about it. I red that it's a common side effect, so I wasn't too worried myself.



    Don't have constipation, but maybe somebody else ca speak on that. Is it one of the possible SEs listed?

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  • hondagirl
    hondagirl Member Posts: 74
    edited November 2011

    I have the vaginal discharge too which is quite common.  When I met with my MO she mentioned constipation too although I haven't noticed that too much.  She said that it would subside as my body gets used to the meds so hang in there!

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited November 2011
    Gelatimom-I've had the constipation alsoEmbarassed Just my least favorite thing to talk about. You're not alone on that one.
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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    How is everybody else doing? I started to get hot flashes a few months in, first once or twice a day, mostly in the evening. Now I get them on and off all day long, but they are still worse at night. I am not sure if they are true hot flashes or warm waves or what have you, but I just know that I have started to dress in layers and open necked shirts and sweaters, so I can try to get some instant relief.

    I am hoping that my body adjusts to this soon and they subside, because I am not sure I can tolerate this during the summer. I also havebn't been exercising lately because of burned and swollen skin making it difficult to wear a bra during the latter half of rads, but I'm worried about getting hot flashes during workouts....I have heard that Effexor can help with hot flashes, but doesn't it come with its own list of SEs? Has anybody had hot flashes temporarily that eventually went away on their own? 

    I am supposed to see my MO in February, when I am 6 mos in, and I sure hope they are gone by then. Otherwise, I may ask him for help!

    Nat 

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  • eileenr56
    eileenr56 Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2011

    Natters,  I've been on tamoxifen for a little over a year.  I did stop it a couple times for a week or so but other than some consitpation occasionally I'm fine.

    I do, however, use 25mg of benedryl every night for sleep.  I have also asked my MO and my General practitioner. They both said it's fine.  They said if I use it all day it might be a problem, but they didn't think that one pill at night would be a problem.

    I wish I didn't have to take it.  I tried melatonin, but it doesn't do a thing for me.  I'm hoping that since I take the tamoxifen in the morning and the benedryl at night that the distance between them would help.

    I've never taken tamoxifen at night. 

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    Every night I take the Tamoxifen (full dose) and 50mg of Benadryl, at the same time. My MO didnt think it would be a problem. My GP wants me to wean myself off it as soon as I can, once I recover from rads, etc.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited December 2011

    Natters- About hotflashes & working out. My hotflashes aren't too bad. I just feel warm a few times a day, which is OK with me because I'm usually cold. Twice when working out(once running & once on the eliptical), I had one hit. I felt sluggish & noticed increased sweating. I cut my elyptical workout short because it's easy to jump off. I had to finish my run because it was the only way back. I work out everday. Most days are fine. I've been on Tamox for 2 months now & my other SEs are more problematic. Except for those 2 episodes, working out makes me feel better.

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    Coral, are you still getting those headaches?

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  • tldrose
    tldrose Member Posts: 39
    edited December 2011
    hello - I'm new to this thread, am also on June 2011 A/C and T Groupies
    unite -  and just got my first bottle of Tamoxifen today - am not sure
    if I should take my first dose tonight, or wait for in the morning...I'm
    nervous about the se's but found out when I had chemo, I had to just
    "do it" and see what happens!! I've finally finished all my treatments,
    chemo, and (3) surgeries and yet I'm nervous about starting tamoxifen -
    lol -
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  • Smithy
    Smithy Member Posts: 51
    edited December 2011

    Dxr52 I am feeling the same way. I am 45, and I have ADD - I've never taken medicine for it. However, after 4 weeks on Tamoxifen my ADD symptoms are getting worse. I have the hot flashes, as well. I know, as a general rule of thumb - women with ADD/ADHD have a harder time with their symptoms during menopause. I was going to look in to taking Effexor for help with the hot flashes, mood, and its off lable use for the treatment of ADD/ ADHD.

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    Hope Tamoxifen is treating you well. I just wanted to update that my hot flashes seem to have gone away this week, and I don't miss 'em! I am really, really hoping that this is my body adjusting to T and not just a brief reprieve. I am sleeping a lot better and I don't even need my Chillow that much. Not to mention so much more comfortable during the day. I wanted to come back on here with the update to give the rest of you hope.

    The only other new thing is that my period is late. My cycles had started to get a little shorter, but it has now been over a month since my last period. I have to admit that I don't mind that very much, as long as I get it eventually. Not that I enjoy Aunt Flo's monthly visits all that much, but I know it's a sign of good health to get your periods when you are premenopausal (and haven't gone through chemo). 

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