Anyone switch from Aromatase inhibitors to Tamoxifen?

Hi! @debds :

I am so glad that the medication Anastrozole from the manufacturer named "Accord" works out for you:) Thanks for posting this helpful information!

One strange situation happened to me lately and I am curious whether this happened to any one else as well? I've been using Anastrozole from Accord for quite some time now; however, when I tried to refill this prescription recently, the pharmacist of my local CBS told me that they couldn't fill this order for me, because the staff from Accord told them that its product Anastrozole was being "backordered" and could not tell them when it will be available again. Did this happen to anyone before? What did you do to fix this "product being backordered" issue? Thanks in advance for any tips!

Wishing you all a better journey ahead with hope, peace and love!

Following 🙏

Hello, I was in anastrozole my first year. Terrible joint pain and then got carpal tunnel and had surgery. Then I tried both letrozole and emestane(sp) but again bad joint pain. Now I am on tamoxifen. Its been a little over a year. Better but I am also on celebrex for joint pain. I am able to manage now. Just lots of hot flashes. Not having estrogen causes so many problems. I don't think there's any getting around that unfortunately. Wishing everyone all the best!

@lifetraveler My pharmacy started having trouble sourcing tamoxifen last summer, and has changed manufacturers a couple of times. You may be having similar issues now with the AI. Teva, Zydus and Dr Reddy’s lab are a few that make generic anastrozole.

For over 2 years my tamoxifen came from Mayne Pharma. They had to switch to Dr Reddy’s lab and now Aurobindo both in India. The pharmacy said disruptions in shipping and sourcing around the world has caused problems with consistent delivery of pharmaceuticals.

I started researching all this because I thought Dr Reddys lab had made a mistake - I started having symptoms reflective of hormone changes right when the pharmacy changed to them. But as it turns out, it was probably hypothyroidism. Next lab by endocrinologist will confirm that, or not.

I was on AI meds one year in total with dreadful side effects, hands and feet "not working", needed surgeries and cortisone shots. I finally was switched to Tamoxifen and have no problems with it. Just to be aware though, the side effects of AI took almost a year to go away. So don't give up on Tamoxifen while your body is healing from the AI meds.
I get hot flashes still, but I've been getting them for 18 years. I'm 71. Tamoxifen leaves us with a small amount of estrogen to make life bearable.

I am 72 & was diagnosed stage 1 ILC last August. My oncologist prescribed 10 mg of Tamoxifen for me to help protect my bones & to lessen possible side effects from the full dose. I started Jan 1st & have no side effects that I can tell. It's been a good solution for me!

Hi! @triciaot :

Thank you so much for providing such valuable information to help us!

Apparently nobody can escape from the issues caused by global disruption of shipping & delivery systems these days:(

Thanks again:)

I changed from over 2 years on Letrozole to low dose Tamoxifen. I am 68 now and had bone pain, (mostly lower leg and hip) no energy, poor sleep, and dry eye. Have been off Letrozole for about 2 months now and on the low dose Tamoxifen. I feel so much better. ( More like my old self. Even have been getting up early every day!) I am stage !a, T1c, Er Positive, Pr Negative, Her Negative.

@carolsue1234 I've taken 10 mg Tamoxifen since January 1st & am doing well, also! When you say "low-dose", are you referring to 10 mg? I've heard that some people are also taking 5 mg Tamoxifen.

I get the 10 mg Tamoxifen and cut it in half, so I take 5 mg each day. That's the only way to do it since it doesn't come in 5 mg.