Side effects with Baby Tamoxifen (low-dose tamoxifen)

coffeecat @sgorecki, you might also be interested in the comments in these related discussions:
- 5mg vs 10mg of Tamoxifen
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/5mg-vs-10mg-of-tamoxifen/
- Taking a Lower Dose of Tamoxifen? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/taking-a-lower-dose-of-tamoxifen/

Coffeecat, are you taking the lower dose? What, if any, side effects are you experiencing?

I am 71 and was diagnosed with ADH last year. (I had a hysterectomy in 2009 for non-cancer reasons.) I was taken off oral estrogen and an estradiol vaginal tablet in early October 2023 after the stereotactic biopsy confirmed ADH but no cancer. I had a wide excision biopsy on 10/26/23 to confirm there was no cancer. I began taking 10 mg of tamoxifen on M, W, and F per my doctor’s recommendation. I have had no side effects other than vaginal dryness, which may very well be from stopping the estrogen. Upon learning of the vaginal dryness, my doctor prescribed an estradiol vaginal cream which along with Replens personal lubricant has resolved the dryness issue. Hope this helps.

I’m only 60 but similar to you in that I had a non cancer hysterectomy 20 years ago and had an ADH diagnosis 2 years ago. My new doc (I just moved) recommended the low dose Tamixofen as she says it will bring my risk down to that of an avg patient with no side effects. What did your doc tell you?

IF you have LOBUALR Cancer, Tamoxifen is NOT the drug of choice. Any of the other 3 AI's are like Anastrozole, Letrozole or Exemestane. I'm taking Tamoxifen but must take VERZENIO (horrible side effects) with it to improve it's control of metastatic spread.

My doctor at Mayo told me:
1. The ADH diagnosis increased my lifetime risk of breast cancer to 30%+.
2. The tamoxifen (10 mg M, W, F) would decrease it by 50% or more.
When I read the actual clinical study on baby ram, the group of postmenopausal women with ADH had a breast cancer reduction of 70%.
3. She also told me the side effects with baby tam as they call it are the same as a placebo. The clinical study confirmed this. I have been on it for 1 year and have had no side effects.
4. She also told me that it MAY increase BMD in postmenopausal women. The Italian study did not include this aspect in their study however full dose tamoxifen has been widely researched and is confirmed to increase bone density in postmenopausal women (but does the opposite in premenopausal women).

Last point. I do a lot of my own research on medical clinical studies, especially on those that affect me or my family. Last year I found a clinical study that showed women who had breast cancer surgery, and take tamoxifen or had radiation, AND drink at least 2 cups of coffee daily
reduced their recurrence risk by 50%. While I did not have breast cancer, just the ADH, and take baby tam, not full dose tamoxifen, I do enjoy 2 cups of coffee every day and hope I’m getting some added risk reduction too.
Hope this helps.

I switched from 20 mg Tamoxifen to 5 mg due to severe leg cramps. I didn’t have any side effects the first couple of months on 5 mg. After about 3 months I developed occasional mild leg cramps. Oncologist recommended magnesium glycinate and no issues for the last 6 months!

That’s great to hear thanks for the info!

Wow that’s amazing information

How long does your doc at Mayo want you to take the baby tam?

When she prescribed it she said 5 years. If it helps to stay on it longer and I continue to have no side effects, I would certainly stay on it longer if recommended.

Interesting. I thought I read a clinical study that said 3 years. I will have to ask mine; she just floated the recommendation to me and recommended I try it so I didn’t ask how long