Tamoxifen and dizzy spells/"brain zaps"?

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center1
center1 Member Posts: 21
edited February 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I started taking Tamoxifen about a week and a half ago and I'm having weird dizzy spells or - as some call them -  "brain zaps".  They are exactly what I experienced when I came off of Cymbalta several years ago.  It's like someone is wringing out my brain every few minutes.  Has anyone experienced this?

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  • clmtootie
    clmtootie Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2014

    I am on day 7 of Tamoxifen.  The first two days I had some vertigo upon standing or if I bent over to pick something up.  Nothing now at all.  So I have no idea if that was from the Tamoxifen or just plain vertigo.  Good luck with your treatment on Tamoxifen. 

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  • alizbeth
    alizbeth Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2014

    I was on tamoxifen for about 6 weeks prior to my reconstructive surgeon requesting I stop taking it 3 weeks prior to my exchange surgery, which was last Friday.  I definitely noticed light-headedness and dizzy spells while I was on tamoxifen.  They have dissipated for this time period that I have been off it.  I will have to go back on it again in about 2 weeks.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited October 2014

    My dizzy spells have gotten much better. Currently my balance is just a little off. I'm approaching the 3 year mark on Tamoxifen. Sometimes I think a small earthquake is happening but when I check online/ no seismic activity in my area & nobody else felt it.

    Early on, the room would spin. I swim laps & wouldn't be able to tell which way was up. I'd have to hold on to the side of the pool or lane line until it passed. I'm still too afraid to swim in the ocean.

    Hope yours lessen or go away completely

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited October 2014

    I had positional vertigo (dizziness) the first month on Tamoxifen.  I would get it when I sat up, laid down, or tilted my head to the side.  It went away after that month.

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  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,426
    edited April 2015

    I finally found a thread that describe exactly what I am feeling. Took me a few days to find it. This board is so awesome as I have had some "not so common" SEs and I can always find a group of gals that have had similar SEs. Ok now to my issue -- big smile.

    I have been on Tamoxifen for about 4.5 weeks now. On Friday I started to feel what I would describe as brain zaps or as center1 explains as if my brain is wringing itself out -- not constant but enough that I notice. Is there anything to manage the SE? I haven't experienced "vertigo" or any "spinning. Also no brain fog or nausea associated with the dizziness. How long did the SE last for most of you. I go back to work on Monday and have a ways to drive and a little nervous with this SE and driving. I also posted this question on the bottle-o-Tamoxifen thread.

    Also, is this an SE that I should report to my MO now instead of during my appt in 3 weeks?

    Thanks in advance all for your input.

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  • center1
    center1 Member Posts: 21
    edited April 2015

    the feeling went away for me shortly after I posted this. Hopefully it will for you too

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited April 2015

    I didn't think that the dosage of Tamoxifen that we take would be enough to pass the blood brain barrier. Something to check out.

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  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,426
    edited April 2015

    I spent most of today searching different topics and found that dizziness is definitely an SE of Tamoxifen that many experience and seems to go away with time. I will also bring this up with my MO just to be on the safe side! Thanks all.

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  • sandylo
    sandylo Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2016

    i have only been on tamoxifen for ten days and my head is terrible really giddy darent drive how long does this to on for I couldn't stand five more years of this . Sandy

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Dizziness/vertigo can be a SE of Tamoxifen. I have this, some days worse than others. It helps to be very intentional when standing up quickly, and sometimes a rocking chair cancels it out.

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