cannot stand the side effects of tamoxifen?

Question

been taking it for the last two and a half years, weight gain flushes sweats, and this time of year people ask me am i hot with such a look of puzzlement while the sweats running down my face and dripping of the ends of my eyelashes and everyone is shivering because it's so cold, just wondered what would happen if i stopped taking it would i drop down dead?

thankseveryone and mc-d, brutus what is your problem what i've been through wouldn't wish on anyone

no i was thanking you lo-mcg it was brutus i was annoyed with. thankyou for your help and good luck everyone.

thanks for the link lo-mcj,good luk.

Answer 1

Tamoxifen (also known as Nolvadex) is a synthetic compound similar to estrogen. It mimics the action of estrogen on the bones and uterus, but blocks the effects of estrogen on breast tissue. Tamoxifen is used as adjuvant hormonal therapy immediately after surgery in early stages of breast cancer and in advanced metastatic breast cancer (stages III and above) in women and men. Adjuvant therapy is treatment added to curative procedures (such as surgery) to prevent the recurrence of cancer. Although tamoxifen is also used to treat malignant melanoma, brain tumors and uterine cancer, these uses are not indicated on the product label.

Side Effects

Although tamoxifen is usually well tolerated by patients, there are some side effects. About 25% of patients experience side effects such as mild nausea, vomiting, hot flashes, weight gain, bone pain, and hair thinning. These side effects are usually not severe enough to stop therapy. Patients using tamoxifen for long periods of adjuvant therapy may face unwanted effects years into therapy, which warrant discontinued use of the drug. Some of these effects include possible increased risk of developing liver adenoma as well as increased risk of uterine (endometrial) cancer; eye problems such as retinal lesions, macular edema and corneal changes (most resolve after use is discontinued); neurological problems such as depression, dizziness, confusion, and fatigue; and genital problems such as vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and endometriosis.

ANASTROZOLE (Arimidex®) is a similar drug and I feel you will have the same problems and feel uncomfortable. Without knowing your medical history in full it is difficult to tell you anything. I suggest you consult your doctor/oncologist and explain your difficulty so that he can give you an alternate medication or some other medicine to be taken in combination of tamoxifen so that you have reduced side effects. Please do it immediately.. Bet of luck-

Answer 2

I know how you feel; I take Arimidex, not Tamoxifen; I have been taking it for three and a half years. Many of the symptoms are the same, including those damn hot flushes.

I have been considering stopping Arimidex, as much for the aches and pains it causes as the sweats; I'm planning to discuss the implications of this with my onc at my next routine check up. Perhaps you should do the same.

Meanwhile, have you tried things like the Chillow Pillow and a Cobber? I found a cobber quite useful in the summer when the heat was making my hot flushes so much worse. I'll look for a link and post it here when I've found it.

Edit** here's a link for cobbers
http://www.shop.edirectory.co.uk/penrith_survival/55/mia/d/cobber+neck+wrap/pid/3808363

Do you mean me when you say mc-d? Sorry if something I said offended you Jacks. I have had breast cancer too.
------
Ok, sorry just me being a bit over-sensitive :)

Answer 3

1. You may ask for a different medication, or a dose change. That may have almost the same effect in cancer prevention.
2. The statistics of the benefits of tamoxifen for preventing recurrence are well known, and to the best of my knowledge, it prevents less than one third of the recurrences. Most women for which tamoxifen is recommended were either already cured by the surgery (so it was unnecessary) or the tamoxifen was not beneficial.
I suggest that you consult your doctor for option (1), however, even if you consider dropping this medication it is highly likely that you are already cured, or the that your cancer cells are immune to tamoxifen.

Answer 4

You won't drop dead, but I wouldn't advise you to stop on your own. Only your doctor needs to make that decision. Inquire about newer meds on the market. My mom even started taking Wellbutrin (I think thats what it was) for the hot flashes. Her breast cancer was fed by hormones and she couldn't take HRT. The Wellbutrin helped with the hot flashes immensely. Last January she was able to stop taking both of them. Congrats on being a Survivor!!

Answer 5

no you definitly would not drop down dead if you stopped taking it , tamaxifan is not a cure for cancer it is only a prevention of it coming back but saying that it might not come back .the best thing you can do is to talk to the oncologist or one of the nurses at the cancer centre depending on your grade of the cancer .

Answer 6

Try webMD. They have a lot of good info. OR Google Tamoxifen. What every you do, do not go off of it cold turkey before checking with your doctor.

Answer 7

go to the Dr,s and ask to see a specialist and get your drug therapy sorted out you cant live like that or just go to the hospital and explain the whole situation you may get help with the pills you are on

Answer 8

are you sure this all from the tamoxifen or could you be going through some menopause.. or early stages of it..

Answer 9

That is DEFIANTLY something you shouldn't trust to the 6 year olds on Yahoo Answers. Ask your doctor.

Answer 10

what is tamoxifen?
just googled it and it says if you suffer side affects there are different medications you can take instead. ask your doc. good luck. xx