Also there are things you can try if the side effects are really problematic that might help you keep taking it. You can ask your GP and they can prescribe a low dose anti depressant that works for a lot of people. Unfortunately the hot flushes are a result of tamoxifens hormonal impact, so changing brands is unlikely to help. Mine did settle over a few months and are a lot less severe now, but I don't think they will ever stop completely. Hope you manage to find a way to cope so you can continue taking them, but do ask your onc about the benefit to you.
I have taken Wockhardt Tamoxifen since 18.04.15. Only side effects have been a few hot flushes each day (in the evenings and early mornings) and my legs ached for approx 2 weeks in July. I do not have any more flushes than my friends/colleagues who are the same age as me (early fifties). I have less than some.
The first month I had no flushes. When it was warmer weather in June I did have more hot flushes than usual. I keep a supply of small cheap ice lollies in the freezer so if I get a flush in the evening I'll have a lolly if required to cool me down.
I was given Mylan from the hospital pharmacy for my 1st prescription. The hot flushes were horrific. I finished those and was given Wockhardt but I've not touched them as I decided not to take any of the hormone drugs. The side effects are too much along with the menopausal symptoms I now have thanks to chemo. I've accepted there is a higher risk of recurrence but quality of life is important too.
I have Teva brand, going to give them a few months and see how things settle.My joints are really painful but I have had that before related to things I have eaten or drunk.
Hi Sheena, I'm just halfway through as I'm having 23 altogether - 15 followed by 8 boosters where they target where the tumour was. My last one is 19th August, I'm seeing onc next Friday 14th August for a completion review even though I will still have a few more to go. I think you get a follow up appointment several weeks after finishing as well but I'm not sure. I go on holiday on the 23rd August to Zante so will have to be extra careful with the sun. Be nice to have a week away to chill out and relax after all the appointments! Good luck for Thursday - you soon get used to going and knowing what to do!
Hi hayley do you have an appointment to see onc soon? Some folk take a break from it and I have read that some folk are given a % of the benefits of taking it, but I don't know how they figure that out, maybe someone else knows? X
think I will stick with the mylan brand for the meantime just to see if I settle down with it, see if a regular pattern emerges, also because they have the fewest added extras like lactose and gelatine. Pharmacy has kindly ordered mext pack amd put my name on the package lol
I have metallic taste too .I think it is hard to tease out what are side effects of tamoxifen and what are psychological effects of having cancer ,also as most of us start taking it at about same time as radiotherapy what is connected to that too.
Hi I'm taking Teva brand. Found when I first started it I had nausea, hot flushes, insommnia, palpitations and dizziness. I have since had lower pelvic pain which was severe enough for me to see GP. I have a strange metallic taste in my mouth sometimes too. I switched to taking it in the morning now and have found this helps a bit with sleeping. The other side effects do seem to have settled down a bit now. I have felt constantly tired since taking it - just not feel my normal self but I'm in the middle of rads at the moment so can't blame it all on the Tamoxifen! I have been taking it for two months now. Im going to mention all the side effects to the oncologist at my next appointment. I don't know if I can put up with this for the next five years!
Sheena, may be worth trying different brand?It could just be coincidence as a lot of us are feeling a bit like you describe and it could just be the stress catching up with you.Def worth trying a change though.If I had started tamoxifen a few weeks ago when I was first given it I would have attributed low mood and tearfulness to Tamox when it was just part of dealing with all of this.
Hi Jill Intermittent posts from me due to this new site, keeps kicking me off grr rrrrrr I have been vv naughty and didn't take it for a few days, felt like my old self again, took one last night and had a dreadful night so am going back to 1st thing in morning. I feel slightly nauseous, headache and hot flash at 9pmish every evening, but the main thing is I just don't feel like me on it x
Hi j I looked at the other"ingredients" in brands and MYLAN appears to have the least amount of added extras. I've only been taking since 7th July, mylan brand
Hi Jenkins,a lady I speak to in the forum did some research and found that the Teva brand seemed to have generally less side effects ,but everyone seems to respond differently and some people find certain brands suit them better than others ,whilst other people find no difference between brands.Def worth trying another brand for a couple of months and see how you get on.You can speak to the pharmacist and ask them to order in a particular brand.Good luck ,you seem to have more than your fair share of side effects!
hi, does anyone have a preferred brand of tamoxifen they use. I have been taking Wockhardt for 20 months and I am really not coping with side effects especially the hot flushes. I am also suffering bruising, cramping, insomnia, itching and have gained about a stone in weight. This is really starting to get me down now and I am even considering not taking anymore. I will see my oncologist before I decide this but was wondering if changing to a different beand would help. Any advice would be greatly accepted as losing the will on these damn tablets.
