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Tamoxifen tiredness - will this get easier?

Slickvic
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Hello

I am 40 years old and am in my second month on Tamoxifen - preventative due to my high risk of breast cancer.

I am (or was) a fairly active person and work shifts including nightshifts (often 12 hours). The only side effect I am experiencing so far is tiredness but it has knocked me for six! On days off I could sleep for 9-12 hours (it used to be 7) and when I'm working I go home, eat and go to bed to do it over again the next day. I'm finding it hard to find either time, energy or motivation for exercise or anything really.


I would be grateful if anyone could reassure me that this will get better over time, or suggest any tips to help manage it. I know many people on this forum are in dire situations and being tired isn't the end of the world. I am very thankful that at present this is all I have to deal with and I certainly don't take it lightly. However I don't know anyone else in my situation to talk to about these things. 

Thank you for reading and take care

  • Offline

    Hi stick 

    I'm on month 7 of tamoxifen 

    I had tiredness on one month only one brand which I won't take now I didn't experience tiredness for first 4 months had a new brand these wiped me out I take timomed brand absolutely no side effects tiredness at all wgat brand are you on is it the one beginning with w workhhrst or something I found them horrendous put them in bin 

    tillomed brand are amazing 

    hete to chat love lara ️

  • Offline in reply to laraj

    Thanks for the reply Lara

    I just checked the box and it is Wockhardt. It might be worthwhile for me to ask my doctor about the other one in that case, although I know it is very early days. 
     

  • Offline in reply to Slickvic

    It's deffo that brand I was a right state on that brand only had it 2 weeks couldn't understand what was happening to me flushes couldn't get off sofa ect weepy I don't have any of that at all it was only that 2 weeks on that particular brand 

     

    if you ask your chemist they are good try tillomed boots mostly akways have that brand but most chemists are understanding day you have been unwell on that brand 

    please let me no how you get on akways hete to help or chat with you lovely good luck I hope this helps x 

    love Lara ️

  • Offline

    Hi Slickvic,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am sorry to hear that you are having these problems with Tamoxifen. This cannot be easy when you are working 12 hour shifts. Lara is right, some brands of Tamoxifen have worse side-effects than others. Have a word with your pharmacist and see if another brand will help. Taking your tablets in the evening instead of the morning is something else that you could try.

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer. I took Tamoxifen for the first bout and Letrozole for the second. I was particularly exhausted with Tamoxifen. I finished taking all cancer medication in 2017 and I no longer feel as tired, so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline

    Hi 

    I'm in my 5th year of tamoxifen. I've had several brands over the years but my tiredness has never improved.

    I'm OK on some days but I burnout very easily and at least once a week I'm like a zombie and I can't do very much at all. 

    I'm learning to accept it and live with it but it's not ideal as you can appreciate.

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