Is it possible to lose weight while on Tamoxifen?

What are your measurements showing? Getting larger or smaller? Remember muscle tissue weighs more than fat does so as fat turns to muscle, you can gain weight bit drop size. Weight is only part of the issue. Do you have more stamina/endurance/ 'tone'? Perhaps a different trainer is in order.

I haven't been on Tamox but have been on Femara/letrozole 5+ yrs without any weight gain.

Weight loss is listed as a possible side effect for Tamoxifen in the patient brochure that I received. I lost twenty pounds in the six months I've been taking it. Without making any deliberate diet or exercise changes, so it is possible.

I always gained weight when I was on birth control pills, and dropped it when I went off them, so I guess I'm one of those women who react to hormonal medications with weight fluctuation.

Jennie - that sucks plain and simple. One of my good friends is also gaining weight on Tamox. I have not had that experience, but I also asked my pcp to put me on metformin when I was diagnosed. I had taken it earlier in life for pcos, and had read some studies that it was being investigated given evidence that women with type 2 diabetes have a lower incidence of BC. I have often wondered if that has countered the Tamox re weight gain. Could you get your metabolism tested? I'm not sure if you are interested in adding another drug to the mix, but eating 1,000 cal per day can't be too much fun.

I'm so glad to have found this thread...I just got my Rx for Tamoxifen (Mylan brand) today, and will take the first tablet tomorrow morning. Since my younger sister gained about 35 lbs. or so after starting it (she is now in her 6th year on it, and still can't lose the weight), I've been concerned that I'll gain as well. Well, actually also afraid that I won't be able to continue losing as I have been since last summer. 

The differences between us (besides age) is that she is on it because she's already had BC 6 years ago, but is pre-menopausal and is on it for continuing therapy. I'm going to be on it because of my red flag family history (besides my sister, my Aunt had BC many years ago before menopause, and then again last year post-menopause; and my Mom had it a couple of years ago post-menopause). I'm post-menopausal--since 2001.

Another difference is that my sister doesn't watch calories, carbs, sugar, etc. on any regular basis. Her weight has gone up and down, but never shedding all the extra 35 lbs. since starting Tamoxifen. She's always been able to eat whatever she wants to and not suffer any consequences. I'm the opposite: I've had to watch my weight all my life since teenagerhood and have been careful with my carbs, sugar, starches, grains, etc. since 1999.

I've recently knuckled down and started watching my calories, too, since June 1st, 2014 and have lost 22.5 lbs. since then and I exercise 5 days/week for 1 hour/day most weeks. My sister doesn't exercise, but is active in her job. I would hate to not make it the rest of the way to my goal (only 2.5 lbs. to go), and then gain more weight besides. I also wish I didn't obsess over this--an obsession that began last November when I first saw my Oncologist and began the process that led me here tonight with a bottle of Tamoxifen on my counter ready for tomorrow morning {{{{sigh}}}}

But, I'm happy that my Drs. all got together to encourage me to take my family history of BC seriously and to look into whether I should finally protect myself...a couple of mammograms, an MRI, and a BRACA test later, I'm testing negative all around, and now is the time to do the prevention that I need to. I turn 62 this August, so it's time...

Two years on Tamoxifen and have the inevitable weight creep. Lost 20 pounds in the 10 months before diagnosis and then gained back just a few with my surgeries. Stayed there for about a year plus. Then had a total hysterectomy (thank you Tamoxifen!) and the weight is packing on! I had the surgery in January and have gained about 7 pounds in 3 months. This is crazy. I watch what I eat. I lost weight the first time with Weight Watchers but that doesn't work anymore. I now use My Fitness Pal which says I'm doing a great job and will lose 15 pounds in 5 weeks but the scale is still going up. I work out every day for an hour or more. I do yoga, run on the treadmill, lift weights and do aerobics. I also work with horses so am kept pretty active. I've taken my measurements and find they are creeping up ever so slightly so it's not all just gaining muscle. By the time I hit 10 years on this stuff, I'll be huge! All my doctors tell me it's just something I have to live with cause this is what Tamoxifen does. And then last week I find out that it significantly decrease your cognitive abilities! Good lord! I debated going on an AI now that I'm post menopausal but my doc said the muscle/joint/bone pain was pretty brutal and he'd suggest I stay on Tamoxifen since I do "well" on it. Don't think I'm doing that well! What would they say if my BC came back because I had too much fat?!

I gained 20lbs since my dx, 13 of that was after I started Tamoxifen. My MO told me that more women lose weight than gain it after starting Tamoxifen. He's all about statistics! In an effort to prove him wrong I joined a fitness challenge at my gym, increased my workouts (and intensity), joined My Fitness Pal (to log food, exercise, weight), started weighing my food and also got a fitbit to keep track of my steps. Well...in 3 months I lost 20lbs and several inches! I was grossly underestimating my caloric intake and overestimating my caloric burns. I had my exchange 2 weeks ago and was terrified I was going to gain weight again while convalescing. I talked with my GP about my goals and we came up with a plan. I'm continuing to eat better and work out (within limits as I'm recovering still) and am planning to lose another 10lbs to get into my healthy BMI. In all actuality I'm not even concerned with the number, but rather my body fat % and how I look! I had to cut my carbs drastically as I just dont do well with them. I know this next ten pounds will be harder to lose...weight loss is very slow now despite my serious efforts. I'm pre-menopausal, but not sure if that makes any difference.

Apr 16, 2015 09:00PM         kayb wrote:    

Diane - your osteopenia is most likely the main reason your doctor chose tamoxifen for you. Drugs like Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin (called aromatase inhibitors or AIs) can only be given to postmenopausal women but they also cause bone loss. Tamoxifen doesn't do that so it's safer for your bone health. You'll find lots of postmenopausal women on BCO who take tamoxifen for that same reason.

Thanks for the information, kayb

I've been taking the Tamoxifen since 4/15/15 (so today is my 7th day), and I am down about 1/2 lb. today (I've been "stuck" between 127.6 & 128.8 since April 3rd). Though it won't seem like much to anyone else, I weighed in at 127.2 this morning--still shooting for 125.0--and this is the lowest I've weighed since like 2000 or so. It doesn't feel like water weight that was lost; my waist is about 1/4" smaller than last week, so the trend is down, again. 

And just to document it, the side effects so far on this medication seem to be that I'm getting the warm, tingly "pre-hot flash buzz", but so far no hot flashes. It's happening a few times per day, so I'm curious to see if they get more frequent and if they progress to full-fledged hot flashes eventually. There may be other side effects happening, but since I'm already prone to lots of them I can't tell if they are just normal for me or being instigated by the med. But, so far, so good

hi ladies, not too sure where to ask this question, do thought is post it here as this is an active forum.....I know to take it at the same time everyday, but does it matter what time of day to take tamoxifen? I take my synthroid in the morning and was thinking if taking tamoxifen at night before bed.

Thanks!

Teri

I thought I'd give a little update, because I'm really surprised by my experience on the Tamoxifen. After reading so many comments about weight gain, I was really afraid to start the med when my Oncologist wanted to prescribe it to me a few months ago. I'd been working on losing weight since 7/1/2014 when I hit my high of 150 lbs. Since I'm only 5'2", I wanted to go back to my "comfortable" weight of 125 lbs., and had a really difficult time losing the last 10 lbs. or so. My Oncologist gave me 3 months extra to get to my goal of 125 lbs. (we were both concerned that I would either gain weight or stall in my losses, once on the med), and wanted me to start the Tamoxifen in April.

I didn't make it all the way down to the 125 lbs., but started the med anyway on 4/15/15 at the weight of 128.8, hoping that I could eke out the last almost 4 lbs. anyhow. Well, amazingly enough, I haven't gained weight, and even my torturous "up-down-up-down-stall-stall" process that I'd been in from January 1st of this year all the way up to the day I first took the Tamoxifen, has become a consistent downward trend (128.8 lbs. on 4/15 start date; 127.2 lbs. on 4/21; 127.0 lbs. on 4/25). 

Two days ago I'd lost again, and reached 126.6 lbs. (I haven't seen that weight since I was in my 40's, and I'll be 62 this summer!), and now today I've reached a new low of 126.4 lbs. So, since starting the med on April 15th, I've gone down from 128.8 to 126.4--practically 2.5 lbs. lost in a constant downward trend. And that trend is very opposite of what I'd been dealing with (pre-Tamoxifen) for the previous almost 4 months. I took my 16th pill today.

I'm not saying that this will continue, or that I won't gain weight back or stall in my loss in the future. It's only been a little more than 2 weeks on this med, so anything can happen. But I still am very careful with the foods I eat, the calories I consume, and the consistency of my exercising, in order to maybe head that off at the pass. We shall see...But I wanted to let everyone know of my experience, to maybe allay some fears that might be haunting you and causing stress, or affecting your decisions regarding this medication...

Thanks, grammakathy (sorry for taking so long to reply!)   I'm glad you were able to lose weight and keep the weight off while on those meds...I, also, have been continuing to stay away from sweets (and all of the processed foods and carby things) and exercise regularly and routinely. I hope you are able to lose the last 10 lbs. this summer--good luck! And, yeah...knowing that extra weight can effect our estrogen levels sure is a motivator!

As of today, I've been taking the Tamoxifen for 4 weeks and a day, and things aren't bad at all...I did stop the constant downward trend a couple of weeks ago, bouncing from 126.4 lbs. to 127.8 lbs. and back down again and up again, till I finally landed back on 126.4 lbs. yesterday and stayed there today. I am determined to reach my goal of 125 lbs. (and yesterday at my Drs. appointment we talked about maybe lowering my goal to 120 lbs. once I reach 125; her records show that I was 120 lbs. in 2005, and my numbers and health were very good at that time). I may adjust my goal to that and just see what happens. If nothing else, trying to achieve that should keep me on track; I do better when I'm working on losing weight and not just trying to maintain it. Weird, I know...

The side effects--hot flashes, leg and foot cramps, insomnia, irregularity--have been kept at a minimum with Turmeric Curcumin and Magnesium Carbonate powder. I take the Turmeric with my other vitamins after dinner, and the Magnesium powder (tastes like raspberry lemonade) before bed. So far, so good...Just letting anyone needing to start on Tamoxifen know that it doesn't have to be a terrible experience, and the weight can be managed--at least at this early timeframe for me, this is the case

*Edited to update: today (May 15th), I reached a new low for me this go around: 126.2 lbs. Not a lot, but the trend seems to being going down again...Just mentioning it because this is happening while on Tamoxifen

It's interesting that you say this, lala1

I had a one-month follow-up appointment with my Oncologist today--she prescribed the Tamoxifen for just one month for me, with the assurance that if the side effects were too bad for me, then I could try something else. When she asked me how I was doing, I told her about the side effects that I had been having, and then told her what I was taking for them and how much better I was feeling. She was really interested in my experiences, and asked me to bring in all of my bottles of stuff (I also take a Multi Mineral supplement and Yucca capsule now, along with a topical Natural Arnica Gel that I massage into my hands, shoulder, knees, calves, feet--anywhere I get an ache or pain) so she could record them and suggest them to the rest of her patients with the same complaints.

She was thrilled to hear my "success story" and anxious to be able to help her other patients. It actually surprised me to realize that she didn't know of these natural treatments, and that she was having problems helping some of her patients. I like her a lot, though, and she has no problems with homeopathic or natural treatments, and told me to keep her up to date with what I learn and find success with, so that she can pass the information on to her other patients. I do plan on taking the Tamoxifen for the next 5 years, so I will be sure to keep her updated

It was my understanding that turmeric / curcumin was a big no-no with tamoxifen? There's a thread on here somewhere, let me try to find it.

Thanks, Jennie93, for the information and link to that thread...

My Oncologist, Breast Specialist, and Pharmacist all gave the thumbs up on using the Curcumin Turmeric (for hot flashes, antioxidant/anti-inflammatory purposes, and my arthritis in my hands, shoulder and knees). I'd been using it for a few months prior to taking the Tamoxifen, which brought back my hot flashes as "warming buzzes" and made the arthritis worse. I'd specifically requested their knowledge of an interaction with the Tamoxifen, and they all researched and said there was none...

That thread did confuse me a bit; I am post-menopausal, using the Tamoxifen as a cancer preventative (family history is terrible, by I have not had cancer myself), and tested negative on my BRCA test. Not that it would necessarily change my chances of a Turmeric/Tamoxifen interaction, but that is my situation. For now, I'm planning on stopping my usage of that supplement to see if my symptoms come back, or if it won't matter in the long run if I don't use it. That thread did make me think twice, and I don't mind saving the cost of the supplement if not taking it doesn't make much of a difference in my symptoms.

By the way, the supplement I've been using is sold at Vitamin World, and is their own brand of Turmeric Curcumin, 1,000 mg (Turmeric--Curcuma longa--root: 900 mg; Turmeric Extract--Curcuma longa--root: 100 mg; Bioperine Black Pepper Extract: 5 mg). I was taking one capsule with my other vitamins at dinnertime, while I take the Tamoxifen in the morning. Color me confused at this point

I've lost weight ...but in all honestly I think it's just stress. I'm now at my pre-baby weight of 125 lbs...and my baby is 19yrs old. That is the ONLY good thing for me with all of this. I'm paranoid about gaining on the crazy drug