Tamoxifen Brands

[JB]

An update - been taking Teva for 11 days.    Yes still getting hot flushes and sweats but after the morning ones, they tend to be a bit more manageable (fingers and toes crossed).     Ankles still a bit sore but other aches have gone, the low mood seems to have gone too.    I'm hoping that as I get used to Teva maybe the flushes will die down a bit.   My GP and pharmacy have noted that I dont want Relonchem under any circumstances and hopefully should continue to get Teva.

[Butterfly318]

The Pharmacist is absolutely correct, the active ingredient is the same 20mg Tamoxifen.  It is the additives that usually cause the different / increased side effects such as itching, cramp, headache  etc.  The Tamoxifen blocks the Oestrogen which causes the hot sweats / aching joints etc  My Pharmacist is really helpful and orders TEVA.  I work in Mental Health Services and it is very similar with a number of medications.  The enteric coated ones are often better for the stomache but give different side effects to the non enteric coated versions.

Take Care  Gilly x  

[lottie63]

I was fortunate my chemist understood totally, when I asked the assistant why I had a different brand and that it would affect me he overheard, came over and said Oh its tamoxifen I will try and get your usual brand for you wait while I make a few calls, I have to say I was very grateful & somewhat surprised as most poo hah the idea that different brands affect you differently , and sure enough he found my brand for me 🙂

xx

[jenny29]

I dont know about anyone else but ive had some funny looks from chemists when ive requested different brands. They tell me that there shouldnt be any difference as the active ingredient is the same.

[Butterfly318]

diatEvening JB

I have never had Relonchem but did suffer really bad side effects with Wockhardt.  Stiff joints, hot sweats, low mood etc........Changed to TEVA after a few months, been on it for 12months now and all side effects have reduced.  Strangely i had to stop for 5 weeks (2 weeks before and 3 weeks after reconstruction surgery due to increased risk of clotting during surgery).  and i have suffered very few hot sweats since having gone back on the drug..  t drives me a bit mad sometimes but i just try to remember it is hopefully preventing any recurrence.

Hope you manage to get the TEVA from Pharmacy.

Take Care  Gilly x

[JB]

After bein on Wokhardt for 14 months, my last prescription from the pharmacy gave me Relonchem, but I thought I'd try them.   Day 1, was like a constant hot flush all day - not good.   Then seemed to calm down a bit, so thought maybe I'd be ok with them, however from day 5 of this brand, my ankles and wrists felt so sore, I got cramp during the night, sweats were horrendous - just dripping down my neck and side of face - hair stuck to my head, a headache that seemed to be there constantly, and as daft as it may sound a really sore tongue,. but the thing that really did it for me was how tired and low in mood I was - really tearful.  I stuck it out for 2 1/2 weeks then I got an appointment with my GP and asked her to give me another prescription - at first her response was that they just had to prescribe tamoxifen and it was up to the chemist which brand they provided, but I said I couldn't cope if I had to be on the Relonchem for the next 3.5 years.   She called up all the different brands on the screen, and I asked if I could try Teva.    Pharmacy didn't have them in stock but because GP had actually specified Teva, arranged to order them for me.    Will take my first tomorrow morning, so fingers crossed that s/es reduce!   Will see how I go on.

[lottie63]

Hi Katzygirl

                    I went in to the pharmasist yesterday after 3 nights of hardly any sleep due to severe leg cramp and the worse headaches ive had for an age and he has located wokhardt which I picked up today 🙂 he has made a note to supply these from now on so fingers x, it was an awful few days on Teva but I was frightened not to take them so had to while I waited for the other brand.... strange how it can make so much difference

x

[katzygirl]

Hi Lottie

I think a couple of the brands were in short supply a couple of months ago including Wokhardt but that has been resolved for about 4 weeks. It shouldn't make any difference where you are in the country as this is a foreign company so the problems were with the drugs coming in to the country. Do what I do and say the diffent ones make you ill. Boots in our village go out of their way to get me the correct one now 🙂

[lottie63]

Its getting ridiculas where I live, was on Teva for last 2 years, then they were hard to get so been on Wokhardt for last 3 months and s.e's seem slightly better ? went yesterday to pick up prescription and low and behold back on Teva as apparently wokhardt now in short supply ?? I have explained that its not good to keep swapping although my onc did say a change now and then is good, and have been told to see how I go over next few days and report back if the side effects get too bad !! too right I will lol... not tried Relon yet but Im sure it will be given to me at some point at this rate ....

xx to all

[JB]

I've been on Wokhardt for 14 months and have had s/es hot flushes sweats joint aches and a lot of weight gain, for the most part have put up with them but for the last couple of months s/es have been worse.   Then I read the horror stories about Relon, spoke to my onc who suggested that I ask GP to prescribe different brand as she said there were different s/es with each brand and I might be better on a different one.    Opened a new packet from the pharmacy and found that I'd been given relon.    Really scared now that I'm going to feel worse than I do already with the s/es.    Will try for a week, but if s/e's bad I will go back to GP and demand a new prescription.   I would be too scared not to take tamox, but I don't see why we have to put up with s/es that affect our quality of life so much.   Anybody had any good reports about Relon?

[Michelin]

Thanks Lynda, I hope so too.  Out of all the things that have happened over the past few months, taking Tamoxifen is the thing I dread most but I know it has to be done!

[Lakeslover]

Hi,

I've been on tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years now and in that time I think I have had all the brands.

I have had some hot flushes but no other side effects, and I can honestly say I have not noticed any difference with different brands.

So I think it is a very individual thing, just try it and see how you get on.

I hope you find it as easy as I have,

Lynda

[Michelin]

I've just picked up my first prescription of Tamoxifen and it is the Wockhardt brand - is that bad?

[Tracy1967]

Well there's a definite shortage of Teva tamoxifen. My local pharmacy can't locate any so I've called around 15 pharmacies and no one has Teva in stock. I finally managed to find a lovely pharmacist who located me 38 Teva tablets and is going to see if he can locate anymore. It is crazy that we have to worry about brands and their side effects.

[Gilikd]

I've tried several brands, all with horrific side effects apart from teva, I feel human again on this brand....I'm now struggling to get any, all pharmacies out of stock ???
We shouldn't hav to fight every month to get the brand we need, it's bad enough coping with the fact that we hav had breast cancer!!!

[jenidyson]

I am just about to report to RelonChem about side effects using their Tamoxifen.  This came about because I called TEVA as I wanted to take their brand which seems from some of your comments to be better with regards side effects. TEVA asked if I minded that I report to RelonChem so I said do it.  I called TEVA again to enquire about availability but they said that they weren't making them again until August 2014 so my prescription was Relon again. I got an email from Relon asking me to let them know about my side effects.  Funny though that they don't know about how women are really affected by taking their drugs.  I wonder if they've ever done any research in the 'real world'.  Will let you know how I get on......

[JCJ]

My first three packs of Tamoxifen were Wockhart - provided by the hospital. My local chemist has given me everything but that one. I actually WANTED Wockhart as I was worried other brands might cause me probelms that I'd not had on W. It just goes to show we are all different, which is what makes it so hard to pin down what's actually happening.

It is true that menopause does bring lots of conditions that appear to be SEs of Tamoxifen - (which is why so many women take HRT after all!) Our problem is that we are launched into these sypmtoms chemically rather than naturally, so it's harder to accept. My onc was lovely she said "It's what we've done to you" when I moaned about my aches & pains, brittle nails and dry hair.

If you have a serious concern about any brand of tamoxifen you could yellow card it - a scheme I read about on here, where you can report SEs of drugs. If enough people report the same SEs, maybe something will be done to change the way the drug is manufactured?! Here is the link:

http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/_assets/files/Member-of-Public-Yellow-Card-Reporting-form.pdf

[Janet_BCC]

Posted on behalf of new user Linda

Had a terrible allergic reaction to Wockhardt when first starting Tamoxifen. That was the brand I was given and my face and eyes and throat puffed up with extreme itching. When I told my consultant he didn't want to believe it was the Tamoxifen and said it was extremely rare to have a proper allergy to Tamoxifen and was very dismissive. The following month, I got a different brand of Tamoxifen and the problems went away. I just assumed my body had adjusted to the Tamoxifen (I didn't realise there would be any difference in the brands) Then, just before Christmas I was given the Wockhardt brand again and my face eyes and neck puffed up on the same day and didn't go down even on antihistamines. It then dawned on me that it was the Wockhardt Tamoxifen. I have tried everywhere to get my usual brand(Teva) but it is out of stock. I am really angry that my consultant dismissed my claims and didn't suggest trying another brand.

[DaisyGirl]

I agree Swiss Annie, it makes me really angry that they are happy to supply us with drugs that cause completely avoidable SEs and it is down to the few of us who are in the know to ask for something else. From what I can gather W***t is the cheapest on the market and so that is what is always dispensed. The number of E numbers in them is shocking!
I think it would be great if BCC was able to take this up on our behalf?

DGxx

[DaisyGirl]

BTW, when I raised the matter of aching joints etc. being caused by Tam with my Specialist, they advised that this was probably down to the Menopause and not Tam as this was not a know SE and to go back to my GP for tests to see what else might be causing it. I think there are a lot of Ladies on here who would agree to differ but as our experiences are "anicdotal" no one recognises the reality.
DGxx

[Guest user]

Strange isn't it, I was fine with Wockhardt and worse with several of the others which give me aches. Currently I'm off all of them because they gave me endometrial thickening which they are having to investigate. And believe it or not, SEs or not, as I've been on them two years of my planned 5, if it turns out to be nothing sinister, I'll be back on them like a flash. It feels very scary "flying solo" without any treatment when I'm e+ 8/8 and p+ 8/8. The brands are bulked up with different things which agree or s disagree with different people, so I'd experimneil between the 4 or so different brands until you find the one which has least SEs for you xx

[Ramsfan55]

SwissAnnie, I get the same symptoms as you so maybe I should try a different brand? I am going to speak to my doctor x
merry Christmas to all x

[SwissAnnie]

Same here, I have allergic reaction with Wockhardt, get terrible hot flushes, all my veins get swollen and hard, you can see all of them on my legs as wells, I'm bleeding when I have bowels movements, all my muscles and joints are aching like mad I can hardly walk – I’m only 46!!!! I hate that brand and can’t believe it’s still on the market. When are they going to do something about it????? It’s disgraceful not to recognise the issues with different brands of Tamoxifen

[Nottsgal]

I can't stand Wockhardt either. I end up with hot flushes constantly and sweat dripping down my face (not a good look). I had a repeat prescription arrangement with Boots and they had it on file that I had to have APS / Teva. However, last time I went in they could only get Wockhardt so they gave me the prescription to try elsewhere. Having tried 9 chemists on foot, I got on the phone and found one with Relon. The second day of taking it I had hot flushes (but these might have been related to the fact I'd had a diep reconstruction the day before) but after that no flushes and no problems.

[DaisyGirl]

Hi Everyone
I have had the same problem, my local chemist can’t get it and Boots advised that both their suppliers are being advised that there is a long term shortage from Teva. I was mortified by the prospect of taking W****t brand as the side effects were much more severe & OH had been advised that he is likely to get a screaming nutcase who may spontaneously combust for Christmas!
Anyway, my prescription says I must have a lactose free brand rather than Teva/APS (W****t has lactose in it) as this was the only way I could persuade my GP to avoid being given W****t. I took my latest prescription to S***brys and have been given RelonChem brand. This has far fewer extra ingredients than either of the others plus two that they don’t have.
I will keep you all posted on how I get on!
Happy Christmas everyone!
DaisyGirl xx

[Guest user]

Cathy - my tablets have always come in a coloured box with the brand name clearly visible. If you are getting a plain white box I suggest you ask your pharmacist which brand they are.


ok will do Foxyferret - thank you x

[CheshireCheese]

At last! Supplies of Teva/APS branded Tamoxifen have started trickling through. Couldn't get the 20mg Teva stuff, but the pharmacist managed to track down some 10mg APS (which I noticed was manufactured 05/2011). Don't know what the problem has been but I'm hoping this is a return to normal supplies available.

[foxyferret]

I have not stopped the tablets and am now feeling my normal self again, so maybe I was too quick to blame the change in brand for my mood. Or, maybe I've just got used to them. Who knows?? But anyway I'm ok now.
Cathy - my tablets have always come in a coloured box with the brand name clearly visible. If you are getting a plain white box I suggest you ask your pharmacist which brand they are.

[DJ007]

I had very few SEs on APS, got swapped to Teva for the past 3 months - again no probs with SEs. Went to pick up my new lot yesterday and was told they couldn't get Teva.

I've now got Wrockhart and and comtemplating them with trepidation.....

[Guest user]

How do you know what brand you are taking as mine come in a plain white box??

[CheshireCheese]

Oh no, this doesn't sound good! I'm dreading having to switch to another brand after I've finally got used to the Teva/APS version. I was even starting to sleep OK most nights on it. It took me a while on the Wockhardt stuff to realise what was wrong - major hot flushes, day and night when I previously only got them at night, and serious mood swings and getting tearful. I don't want to go down that road again.

Can anyone tell us what the problem is with the supply of Teva Tamoxifen?

[lincs_lady]

Oh god don't say that!? I cand take w at all I was bed ridden with it
when they stopped my aps and gave me the teva I asked them if I was going to go through side effects and then they would stop teva! They said that teva took over aps and there would be no supply problem!!!!!!!

[foxyferret]

My pharmacist told me that there is a nationwide shortage of Teva and that no one can get hold of it!! Hence after three months on Teva and little side effects I've now been put on Relon. After 10 days I am so depressed it's unbelievable. I am sure it must be the tablets as I've never been depressed before in my life!

I am seriously considering whether to stop them (to make sure it IS them) before taking any further steps/brands.

[CheshireCheese]

I've been settled on APS/Teva Tamoxifen for several months, and the side effects have settled down, but now I'm being told that there's a supply problem with that brand and they can only offer me Wockhardt. I had a lot more side effects with that brand, so I've been phoning round to find Teva brand instead. Previously I've fairly easily been able to track it down, but this time it was difficult. I finally found a pharmacy with some packs that had been ordered in specially for someone else who then moved.

Has anyone else been having this problem with getting Teva Tamoxifen? I really don't want to take the Wockhardt version again.

[KazzyK]

Hi All,
Ive been on Relon for nealy 3 months now - I can't remember the last time I slept all night! Usually wake at 3am for couple of hours. Also am suffering from joint pain - the worst places are my elbows and knees - really struggled to walk up and down the stairs today. I'm 51 and have always been fit but am struggling to play my sport at the moment due to my knee pain. Hot flushes at night too, but I can cope ok with them at the moment. I've not been on any other brand but will see if I can swap as walking like a 90 year old (no offence to 90 year olds) doesnt appeal to me just yet!!
KazzyK

[Guest user]

I have been on tamoxifen for 2years. Was on BP brand, not too many side effects,though I do have a lot of aches and pains that my doctor says is nothing to do with what tablets I`m on.Just got a new prescription and have been given Relon.
Will be interesting to see how everyone gets on with them.I have only had them for a couple of days.I dont sleep all through the night anyway.

[Zuzy]

I've just been given Revlon. Not sure what previous ones were, have only been taking them for 6 weeks! Also getting Zoladex injections. so far I've not had any obvious side effects I was wondering if they tend to increase with time? Also I'm taking them presurgery to try and shrink my tumours, has anyone else had this, how long for and did it work?! Sorry to divert a bit from the original comment but any thoughts appreciated.

[applestreet]

Thanks for replying Katy..can't be doing with waking at 4 it's doing my head in!..

[katytc]

apple just saw your post in Benchland, 4 am a coincidence or what??? xx

[katytc]

That's really odd apple because I have been taking them for almost 1 month, first week ok, next two weeks I kept wakening at 4 am, this week back to normal, hopefully! I do usually sleep through the night so did start to wonder about the Relon??
As for joint pain I can hardly walk today but that may have more to do with other issues than the Relon. xx

[applestreet]

I'm glad I found this thread..have been taking tam for 5 months now and have been largely OK..have had Teva..Wockhart..APS..but now got some marked Relon..they're driving me up the wall!!!..I can't sleep properly..I feel quite down all the time which is unusual for me...and I have joint ache..I feel 90 and I'm only 54!!!..I am going back to the chemist today to see if they have any different brands to this one...Katy..I can see you have Relon..are you ok with them or is it just me?

[Buffycat]

Hi Katytc
I've also just been given Relon,and will give them a go as although I usually have Generics brand, I've noticed the side effects (aching joints) have got worse over the last couple of months, even though I'm a year into treatment now.
Can't comment on the hot flushes as those have been much better since I've been having acupuncture.
I'd also be interested in how other ladies are getting on with this (new)? Relon brand.
Take care all.
xx

[lincs_lady]

Hi, I've been swapped onto teva for a few months now and thank goodness the swap has been fine

[katytc]

Have had APS, Generics and Wockhardt now am taking Relon??? Anyone else have these? xx

[Guest user]

Hi everyone
Just wanted to say I have been taking APS for 18 months and have just been told by my pharmacist they are unable to source it. After a bit of searching and help from someone in boots I have found that Teva took over APS a few years ago but are just changing the packaging. Just to be sure I got in touch with Teva who said exactly the same thing. The ingredients in both are exactly the same. I have been taking them for 2 weeks and SE are no more or less than before. Hope this helps.

[RoadRunner]

Hi Cathy1802,
The active ingredients are the same in all brands, but the bulking agents can be different. Through trial and error some of us find that one brand suits us better than another, as the side effects can be different. There is no good brand and bad brand - it is all down to how each brand affects each person, so what is good for one may be bad for another and vice versa. If you find, over time, that one brand gives you less side effects, it is worth coming to an arrangement with a friendly pharmacist so they always get the right one in for you. If you go to a large Boots, say, you will probably get whatever thay have in that day, but if you go to a smaller local place you are more likely to find a pharmacist who will help you.

[Guest user]

i'm going to get my prescription today - is there a big defference between brands? is there good and bad ones???
thanks xx

[Guest user]

Hi again ladies, I have been taking the Teva brand for over a week now (previously on APS) the symptoms are exactly the same, not less and no more. Just the usual hot flushes and a bit of joint stiffness. So glad there is no real difference. Hope this helps.
Lisa x

[lincs_lady]

hows everyone getting on with teva ive a few more days before i have to start them and im very tempted not to to be honest. other brands make to so ill i cant work
who can i ring to have an honest comparison for this and aps

[tors]

Exactly the same same here, had aps for 2 years now and changed to teva this time. Pharmacist explained they'd owned the factory and business for ages but were only just rebranding. He swore they were the same tablets made the same way with the same stuff in. My hot flushed haven't been worse but I have been having more aches and pains. Good luck with them
X