Supposed to start Tamoxifen. Positive experiences welcome!

I have been on tamox for a little over a year. No real side effects. I have gained 5 pounds... But if that is the worst of it to keep me healthy it's worth it. I also have 4 other friends on tamoxifen and they are all handling it well too..some hot flashes but nothing terrible. My BS and MO told me most women handle it well with no real side effects...hopefully that will be the case for you too.

I was put on Tamoxifen as a first line of treatment for my stage iv BC. It shrank all my tumors and actually cleared up the mets in my lung and bone. It is a powerful tool in this BC toolbox. My side effects were minimal. I lost weight on it (15 pounds) and had to buy new clothes.

I have never had bad PMS or unbearable menstrual cramps. I do wonder if there is some correlation between severe PMS and Tamoxifen intolerance. I wonder if anyone has even done an informal poll.

Also, it seems, from these threads that those having the worst experience with Tamoxifen are often the younger women who are further away from menopause. (I was 54 when I started it, but not yet menopausal.)

How about this for a positive experience? I can't remember how I felt while taking it--(I took it for a year)! That tells me that I had no adverse affects at all from it, because I would have remembered (I will never forget the short time I spent taking Arimidex, ack). Tamoxifen was a non-event. I hope it is for you, too!

Claire in AZ

glad this post was started & more importantly that I found it ; I am minutes away from taking my first Tamoxifen and needed some positivity; so this was right on time.. Thank you!

I started tamoxifen on August 10th and so far no side effects...and I am gaining confidence every day that I likely won't have any side effects! Good luck!

No bad side effects here either. Even have been able to lose weight. Good Luck

I've been told that I'll need to start it also, probably in October. I'm scared of it, but my onc tells me that 90% of his patients either don't have symptoms, or have symptoms to which they easily adjust without disrupting their lives. I'm holding onto those words -- and the positive experiences that you are all sharing. Thank you!!

I have been taking Tamoxifen for about a year and a half with no side effects. I just turned 50 this past summer. I don't know if I am in regular menopause or not because I have not had my period since chemo. My MOmsays that only 25% of her patients have any side effects from Tamoxifen, and only a handful have severe side effects. Good luck to you, and I hope,that you avoid side effects

I'm on the TEVA version from the Kaiser Pharmacy. I'm an Ultra-rapid metabolizer of Tamoxifen (so should have lots of SEs).. but I have NONE... ZILCH... NADA... It's like a sugar pill. Ill take it. : )

Starsarestars; I am on Mylan (the epipen people in trouble) and it is going well. I think I may have been having a small hot flash here and there this week but I am also fighting a virus so maybe not either way I am pleased with tamoxifen as no real issues to even worry about! My only complaint is sometimes the pill gets stuck at the back of my throat and it tastes icky! :

I've been on the Watson brand since January with very little side effects. Hot flashes and chills for the first two weeks and then it went away. I sometimes get very warm while sleeping, but just throw the covers off for a while.

Hi Lisey,

Just wondering, what do you mean when you say ultra-rapid metabolizer of Tamoxifen?