Tamoxifen 10mg vs 20mg

Dosages for most medications are based on individual need. I’m a small woman. I’m 5’3”, and weigh 105 lbs. and take 10 msg. Sometimes I think even that is too much.

Exactly I am small boned I stand 5'2 and weigh 120 that's why I question the dosage. I don't usually tolerate medication well and after my last experience wonder about the one dosage fits all mentality.

@jeannie53, have you spoken to your oncologist about reducing the dose based on size and weight? I also wonder if dosage would depend on tumor type and stage, % chance of recurrence, and whether tamoxifen is being used for prevention or reducing risk of recurrence. I'd be interested to hear what s/he has to say.

@lisman1408 did you always take 10 mg or did you start on the standard dose of 20 mg and then decide to reduce with your oncologist given the side effects?

I am also a very small woman, 5’2, 105 lbs. I took Anastrozole for about 5 months. It appeared that I had an allergic reaction to the Anastrozole. I broke out in severe hives that wouldn’t go away and I needed to be put on course of steroids for relief. My oncologist started me on tamoxifen,10 mg. after the hives cleared up with the cortisone. My pills are also 20 mg. and I cut them in half with a pill cutter.

But even worst than hives, with both medications I’ve had some nasty memory loss and cognitive function issues. After some research, I have found many scholarly medical research articles concerning cognitive function/memory loss as a result of estrogen reducing medications. I spoke to my oncologist about these side effects at my last appt. in early May. She took me off all estrogen lowering meds to see how I would be affected. It’s a night and day difference!! I am certain my memory loss was due to the Anastrozole and then also when she put me on Tomoxifin. For me, Estrogen does seem play a role in cognitive ability. My husband, friends, and co-workers now say I’m pretty much back to my old self again. I see my oncologist, next week for a routine visit. We’ll see where we go from there. But I really don’t want to go back on meds. that cause me to not be able to think straight!

@lisman1408 I did not take any medication for 3 and a half months. Could not deal with the pain and mentally I could not stop thinking about the long term effects on my body from these drugs. Something tells me if it effects your muscles what is it doing to my heart which is a muscle. I may be overthinking all of this but that's me. My doctor prescribed the 20mg and at that time I was not aware that it was available in 10mg. After doing some research on my own I happened on small study that took 5mg each day. It said that the negative side effects were much less. I am changing the medication myself I am cutting the 20mg in half and taking every other day I just started last Sunday. I just moved to another state and need to find a new oncologist. In the mean time I will see how I tolerate Tomoxifin and hope that a smaller dosage offers some protection rather than no medication. Quality of life matters and I'm not sure that some doctors realize the physical pain we are in.

My oncologist has tried me Tamoxifen, Femera and Arimidex. All have had severe side effects. He said they only make 1 % difference if tolerated so have chosen a better quality of life than those horrible tablets

@lisman1408
I had very bad memory loss with the anastrozole as well and had a 3-week break off of it and have not found the memory problems with letrozole (Femara). I had been tried in the past with cholesterol-lowering medications, i.e. statins, and found memory loss and muscle weakness with those so do not take those anymore.

@trixie1313 - You are an amazing woman! That’s all I wanna say ❤️

@trixie1313 - I thought I was going into dementia on the Arimidex. Had an appointment for testing when I came across this Forum. Best thing that’s happened in the last couple years. Not only am I not in dementia but I found out I’m not the only one having fake heart attacks . . . This Forum is a blessing. Hugs to you❤️

I thought I was going crazy. Paranoia like I’ve never known before