Neuropathy, dizziness, spine problems from Tamoxifen or AIs?

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heartnsoul76
heartnsoul76 Member Posts: 1,648
edited April 2015 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I had to quit Tamoxifen because of 20-30 episodes of vertigo each day, increasing numbness in my toes but worst of all sudden incidents of back pain along the spinal cord - like being slammed in the lumbar region and I would have to drop like a puppet at the waist. Kind of like spinal stenosis. Anyone else here notice neurological side effects from Tamoxifen or AI treatment?

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  • fizzdon52
    fizzdon52 Member Posts: 568
    edited April 2015

    I stopped Femara 8 weeks ago because it made me feel so unwell, mainly heart problems. But a few weeks ago I noticed my fingers and feet were becoming numb. Have appointment with Ocologist on Wednesday and they are probably going to put me on Tamoxifen?

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  • heartnsoul76
    heartnsoul76 Member Posts: 1,648
    edited April 2015

    At first, I blamed the numbness on the chemo I had but it wouldn't be increasing 4 years later. After chemo I had two numb toes, now I have 8 numb toes. And since it looks like you didn't have chemo, what else could it have been but the Femara? I haven't had any AIs, only Tamoxifen. I'll be interested to see what your oncologist says about the numbness. So many side effects they don't talk about. Or acknowledge.

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  • fizzdon52
    fizzdon52 Member Posts: 568
    edited April 2015

    Because of my reaction to the Femara, I am now on pills for my heart (palpitations), cholesterol, stomach, voltaren, antidepressants and blood pressure, so I guess it could be any one of these. I really thought being off Femara for 2 months on a drug holiday that any nasty side effects would have subsided by now. Hopefully the Oncs can shed some light on it.

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  • heartnsoul76
    heartnsoul76 Member Posts: 1,648
    edited April 2015

    Yes, it could be any of those - ugh!

    The dizziness was the last thing to start and I was getting scared to drive. So I just stopped abruptly and about a week later my dizzy spells had decreased to about 5 per day. It wasn't until 6 months later I noticed they were completely gone. So it took a while.


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  • windingshores
    windingshores Member Posts: 704
    edited April 2015

    I had these problems with my first dose and even with 1/2 dose. I read on the Femara drug info site that 20% of the 2.5mg dose is effective. Has anyone taken 1/4 of a pill? ( easier to get 25% than 20).

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