What time of day do you take your tamoxifen?

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39andhip
39andhip Member Posts: 164
edited October 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I finally got myself to start taking tamoxifen. I started on Monday, and the world hasn't ended, so basically it is not as bad as I thought it would be. :) I do think I feel more tired than I should, but I don't know if that is psychological. My MO told me to try taking it at different times to see what works the best, so I am just curious... for those of you taking tamoxifen, what time of day works the best for you? So far I've only done it first thing in the morning, but that's because I had to do right away, before I could start making excuses not to.

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited October 2015

    I take it at night before bed since it initially made me nauseous.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    At night, because it increases my vertigo.

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited October 2015

    I initially had ovarian suppression and Tamoxifen. I had some daytime flushing, so the doctor suggested I take the Tamoxifen at night. I felt better taking it at night. Less flushing during the day.

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  • Midgiemoon
    Midgiemoon Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2015

    I take mine at 6PM daily. I have been on it for about three weeks, and haven't had too many side effects other than some night time flushing, and some general fatigue.

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  • Free123
    Free123 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2015

    39andhip, I'm kinda like you- I think I expected the world to end when I started taking it, but…it didn't!

    I take mine at night- I just leave them on my bedside table. I read somewhere that it "peaked" in terms of your body metabolizing it at 5 hours, so I figured I would sleep through the worst of it. I keep a half of a Dramamine on my nightstand too in case I wake up and can't sleep but I usually don't need it. Psychologically it make me feel better knowing I can take it if I need to, which in turn helps me sleep better. This whole experience brings new meaning to "it's always something!"

    I do also put a reminder to take it on my phone which I have needed a couple of times! I may have a couple of tiny side effects BUT if I didn't know I was taking Tamoxifen, I probably wouldn't notice them! I've been on it 2 months and no weight gain, no hot flashes, and my brain, although pretty terrible, is no worse than it was before!!

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  • molly1976
    molly1976 Member Posts: 403
    edited October 2015

    I take mine first thing in the morning. I took a birth control pill first thing in the morning for 20 years before diagnosis so it's a familiar routine for me.

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  • grammakathy
    grammakathy Member Posts: 407
    edited October 2015

    After dinner every day.

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  • Professor50
    Professor50 Member Posts: 220
    edited October 2015

    I take mine in the morning. I was having a touch of nausea but I think overall I prefer a smidge of nausea during the day to hot flashes waking me up at night. And the nausea has pretty much gone away. The last three nights I have slept really well. In the morning I have: tamoxifen, baby aspirin, calcium+D, and Vitamin B complex. Then before bed I have magnesium. So far so good.

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  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2015

    Thank you, all, for your input. I'm going to try taking at night to see if my fatigue improves. My MO had actually suggested the morning (based on input from other patients, I assume) because of the hot flash thing. Since I already have terrible insomnia, I figured I didn't need another thing interfering with my sleep. But so far... no hot flashes.

    @Free123 - Yes! So much less traumatic than I was expecting!! I do have sleeping pills, so I think I will keep some of them handy, just to make me feel better. :)

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