Tamoxifen

Help.... Been taking Tamoxifen for six /seven months now and have started to take citalopram to help with the hot flushes and sleeping, I've tried taking morning and in an evening to see if I feel any different. Some months are better than others and after all I've read think it may be the brand of tablets although my pharmacy doesn't agree, I'm wondering if I should go back to the doctors and tell them the citalopram isn't doing any good, I've gained almost two stone in 7 months which is causing me stress just feel at the moment I'm in a worse situation to when I was going through the chemo just feel so alone at the moment.... 

  • Hi there ...

    Oh my, the dreaded tamoxifen side effects ... your deff not alone ... it pops up here lots ..

    I lasted on tamoxifen for two years ... no one told me about the emotional rollercoaster I'd jumped on .. going from someone who was really strong .. took the masectomy and things that came with that .. to a sobbing wreck ... that lasted a couple of months .. then the last 6 months , the pain my legs and body was unbearable as I have ostio and stenosis and scoliosis in spine any way ... I was not even wanting to get out of bed ...

    So I did my homework .. they give us tamoxifen because our cancers are oestrogen based .. and that stops the oestrogen, so it gives us a tiny bit more percent in keeping cancer away .. I was told it was about 3% better chance .. so I weighed up for me, I couldn't live with that amount of pain ... so I came off very slowly .. and for me, it's helped .. I can now manage the pain, from arthritis...

    But everyone should really go into it, and discuss their thoughts with those who know .. but in the end, it must be your decision... and if you do come off and it does come back ... know there's that side too .. l just know I'd had no quality of life taking them .. don't think there's any right or wrong answer ... Chrissie x 

     

     

  • Hi

    I had my Radiotherapy review last week and we discussed the different brands of Tamoxifen and their side effects. The nurse said I "am not going mad" and that many women have spoken to her about certain brands they can and cannot take. Even though they have the same main ingredients, they use different binders etc and this causes different side effects in different women.  My doctor also confirmed this a few weeks ago.