Hi
I saw my new oncologist last week, mentioned that I had changed my brand of tamoxifen to nolvadex d and she said that she had changed several of her patients too, and although there was no logic to it, their symptoms had improved in the main!!
claire
Thanks everyone for this information, I have had 3 so far! Not grown a beard yet and still have my head of hair but I am monitoring things! I am interested to know that Tamoxifen has more ingredients so they cant be exactly the same. Anyway I am going to give Tamoxifen a proper go and if I am not happy shall speak to Onc and Dr and hopefully change. I agree whilst this site is very helpful, it is easy to scare yourself.
Madeline x
I needed a repeat scrip for tamoxifen and decided to request nolvadex. I wrote that I was having side effects and wanted to try it. Then I simply posted it in the doctors pescription box and collected it two days later. I nearly fainted from shock when I saw I had a repeat scrip for 11 months of Nolvadex D 60 days worth on each one. This is after a year of begging from various doctors and consultants. My husband had to order it from Boots for me and I am going to take it as soon as my current pills run out so I will let you know how I get on. What’s interesting is they have still left ordinary tamoxifen on the scrip too so if I have any problems I can go back to that.
Love
Debbie
Hi Thrifty
I am rather interested that you got a prescription for 11 months, if it had 60 on each one does that mean you had 22 months worth. I think I need your Dr. It can be quite a costly business. i think it is so wrong we have to pay as we have cancer.
Madeline
Hi Madeline. They prescribed me Tamoxifen originally 30 tabs worth and at £6.85 a go I asked for a bigger prescription so they said I could have 2 months worth at a time. I have been on it for a year but have asked each time I have seen a doctor, about twice, if I could change to Nolvadex. They refused and my consultant refused even though the bc nurse was sitting there saying that some women find it better. I found the consultant (not my original one ) to be incredibly patronising telling me “I musn’t foget I have a life threatening illness” as if I could! I had about 2 months of repeats left before I had to see a doctor for a renewal. Don’t know why that is as I am on it for 5 years. As I never get to see the same doctor twice and you can’t pre book apps at my surgery just take pot luck, as a final resort I decided to write all over the repeat scrip how ill I felt and could I PLEASE have nolvadex d. I was flabbergasted to get it. So I can now have 60 days worth on on one scrip and I don’t have to see a doctor to beg for it again for 22 months. It does seem unbelieveable but the scrip is signed by one of the practice partners and no doubt he knows that I am getting 6 monthly check ups at the hosptal too. I am just pleased I didn’t give in. Haven’t taken it yet as this current batch of tamoxifen (cp pharmaceuticals) hasn’t been as bad as the others. If I was able to get the same brand each time I wouldn’t even have considered Nolvadex d but the chemist can’t order specific brands for you.
Debbie
xxxx
Hi Debbie
Do I take it that you find different brands of Tamoxifen have different side effects?
Love Madeline
Hi Madeline
I don’t know. When I first started on it I was terribly weepy but then again I had just had surgery and was still in shock. BC nurse said it was the Tamoxifen. I have had recurring bouts of sweats, aching joints, cramp, generally feeling unwell etc. Early this year my periods went to 8 weeks apart and I had awful pain to the point that my stomach looked like I was 9 months pregnant. I couldn’t urinate properly and even walking was difficult. This went on for 6 months then suddenly stopped and my periods went back to 6 weeks apart. Reading the Tam leaflet later ( I think it was aps brand ) painful periods were listed as a side effect but then also on the citalopram I take for depression. One week I will feel like I have turned a corner then the next I would feel lethargic and ill. I can’t say whether any of this is caused by generic Tamoxifen but, now that I am on Nolvadex, at least I will be getting the same brand every month. I do think, if my experience is typical, that it takes a year for your body to adjust.
Hope that helps
Love Debbie
Hi,Debbie
Are c.p Pharmaceuticals Tamoxifen and Generic Tamoxifen 2 different makes.
Ive been on the c p one for over 1week now and the only side effect up to now.is
feeling a bit sick in the mornings, which i can cope with
best wishes junex
Hi June
I think they call Tamoxifen generic and there are, so far as I have seen, at least 3 different companies supplying it to chemists in my area, Hartlepool. I think I would be ok on any particular brand if it was the same brand each time but the chemists cannot specify which brands they get except Nolvadex d which they often have to order in especially. If you are given this, the chemists are not allowed to sustitute it for generic brand. I have tried cp, aps and another one, I can’t remember name. I have had different side effects to each or maybe just my body getting used to it. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe Nolvadex as it is £3 dearer than tamoxifen for 30 tablets. If I could be guaranteed, for example, cp tamoxifen each time I got a scrip, I would be happy but I do think that this constant changing with brands is causing problems. My situation isn’t helped by the fact that I am on anti depressants for the terrible weepies that the tamoxifen is giving me and I can’t get the same batch of that each time either.
Love
Debbie
Sorry June, I meant to say. I often feel a bit sick too. Sometimes I feel nauseous eating my evening meal which is at least 8 hours after I have taken pill. I never am sick though and it passes. I need to lose weight anyway so being a bit off my food isn’t a bad thing…Lol
Love
Debbie
Hi ladies -
my cousin recommended taking Tamoxifen at night - her philosophy is that she may sleep through the sick feeling - I began taking it (just before bed) on October 22nd and so far have only had ‘tropical moments’ during the night - no sickness at all - but then everyone is different.
Good Luck
Maddyxxxxxx
Hi Maddy
I started taking it at night but was getting terrible sweats and having really strange dreams so bc nurse suggested morning. Also I found it really hard to remember to take it at night whereas I am a long time user of vitamin pills which I would always take in the morning so it was easier to remember. I now use a pill box and find this great. I have, however, forgotten to take it twice.
Love
Debbie
I switched from cheap brand of Tamoxifen (horrible side effects) to Nolvadex - although the nausea etc lessened my stomach swelled up like a balloon. I permanently looked 7 months pregnant. It was particularly bad in the evenings to the extent that I couldn’t even go out as I literally douldn’t do any trousers up!
I switched to Soltamox about 6 months ago and feel better than I have done the entire time I have been on tamoxifen. It took a while for the old stuff to work it’sway out of my system. Soltamox contains very few ingredients other than tamoxifen itself - just flavourings and a bit of alcohol. I think I must have been reacting to the other ingredients.
Can highly recommend trying it.
Bridget
Hi Bridget. I’ve just read your post with great interest, as I have been prescribed Soltamox as I can’t swallow tablets. When I took my first dose, I found that it was incredibly hot, and the burning in my throat lasted nearly all night. Did you experience that? I found your post very reassuring, as I’ve been worrying myself sick about the side effects of Tamoxifen, and I’ve been plucking up courage to take it.
Hi Lyn
I did find that I felt Soltamox was hot but I haven’t had the burning in my throat. It might be worth mentioning to your GP.
I do sympathise with you about worrying about the side effect of Tamoxifen - it’s not a particularly nice drug. I hope you find similarly to me that Soltamox isn’t too bad - it has certainly been heaps better for me than tamoxifen in pill form.
I thought about coming off it (before Soltamox) but the fear of the cancer returning was greater than my fear of and problems with side effects. Just a thought - it’s how I have managed to get through it.