Taking 10mg daily of Tamoxifen...Anyone Else?

Options
Jul1970
Jul1970 Member Posts: 20
edited January 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi everyone. I started Tamoxifen in September. My MO told me to start with 10mg daily since I was very afraid of SEs and the risks. The majority of SEs went away after two weeks. I have hot flashes now, mostly at night, and my period has stopped. I was not menopausal before taking Tamoxifen, so I am assuming the drug has stopped my period. If so, it seems that 10mg is making quite an impact.

My MO wants me to take 20mg now, but I have kindly refused because I worry more SEs will occur. I plan to ask her if there is an estrogen level blood test that can be done to see if 10mg is making a good impact. If 10mg is blocking enough estrogen, why increase?

I am a naturalist. I'm very conservative when it comes to drugs. I'd really like to take as little as possible.

I'd like to hear from anyone who is taking 10mg daily or your experience of increasing from 10 to 20mg. Thanks!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited November 2016

    Hi there. I don't take anti hormones but I understand what you are saying. There are not any studies on women taking 10 mg so you won't get the OK on it from your doc. Also I have said numerous times on this forum that our hormone levels should be tested before during and after anti hormone treatment. Most MOs do not do this but you could find a naturopath doc that would. I think its ridiculous that everyone takes the same dose and hormone levels are not tested. Good luck to all...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poopysheep
    poopysheep Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2016

    how it's been explained to me is that tamoxifen doesn't actually reduce your estrogen levels, more it blocks/binds with the estrogen receptors in possible cancer cells/tumours as well as estrogen responsive tissues. We still have estrogen - that tamox is just playing a jedi mind trick on it. likely this is why no base level estrogen counts are ordered.


    or this is how it was explained to me by a medical oncologist as well as a naturopathic oncologist, both of whom reccommended i take the tamoxifen - the MO said that it doesn't even exist in a 10mg pill and that I was ridiculous to think that... the NO suggested that if I could only get 20mg pills i could cut them in half and ease my way into taking the drug since there isn't any other alternative treatments at this point for tamoxifen and if taking half a dose made me feel better than it's better than taking nothing. i agreed with him.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited December 2016

    Tamoxifen is(or was) available in 10mg tablets. I started on 20mg & complained about too many SEs. My MO suggested I take 10mg. The side effects weren't much different on the lower dose. There are studies saying 20mg is just as effective as 40mg. I couldn't find any studies pertaining to disease free survival with the 10mg dose. So, I went back on 20mg.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited December 2016

    I took half doses for my entire time on Tanoxifen (except maybe the first couple of months). It was sufficient to prevent anyprogression for quite some time (more than two years). Keep in mind I'm a Stage IV patient. I was using Tamoxifen for treatment, not as a preventive. I see you've had both breasts removed. I say this with respect and admiration: Do whatever the fuck you want. There's no requirement that you have to even take Tamoxifen. I'm tired of doctors pressuring women who have already endured more than enough. You are in charge of your body, not your MO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kat104
    Kat104 Member Posts: 30
    edited December 2016

    Hi Jul. I haven't reached the Tamoxifen stage of treatment yet, but I've taken other medications at what are deemed "subtherapeutic" doses by most doctors. The key is finding a doctor that will work with you and personalize the treatment. I am on an unrelated med right now, and I've had other doctors completely dismiss that it's doing anything for me because the dose is so small. But the prescribing doctor understands my sensitivity to it, both in efficacy of the therapy and with regards to side effects upon increasing the dose. I'm ~95 pounds and just sensitive to medication, so I view it as similar to treating pediatric or elderly patients. Of course Tamoxifen is a little different, because the concern is much greater if it's not being used effectively, but my wish for you is that your doc continues to work with you on it. Good luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bethanygb1
    bethanygb1 Member Posts: 31
    edited December 2016

    I met with my rads doctor and he didn't bring up tamoxifin. He asked if I had an oncologist and I said "Not here." I met with one in Michigan before the rads. I had DCIS so I am not going to do it. Nothing had spread and I did the rads. It's good enough I think. The idea of meds for 5 years scared me more than the rads did! Michelle I agree with you, if you do not want to do something, don't do it. I hope you are doing well!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mcsulli
    Mcsulli Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2016

    I just started Tam eight days ago at 20 mg. Not sure why I'm on 20 rather than 10, whic now I understand us more the norm. I didn't realize that when with my oncologist or would have brought it up. Just wondered how long before I should expect side effects. I've had some bloating abd heavy feeling in lower abs and constipation but I think it is subsiding. I work out a lot and sailed they menopause I need my 50's. Now I am nearly 69

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Misty879
    Misty879 Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2017

    I asked my MO about a test to check my estrogen levels and he said that on tamoxifen there is no such test because it doesn't stop estrogen, it just blocks it so it will not feed any cancer cells that are in your body. It basically is used to starve cancer cells so they do not turn into tumors. He said that if someone was on ovarian suppression shots they would check estrogen levels every 6 months to see if the drug was working because the shots stop the production of estrogen and throw you directly into menopause.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories