Anyone taking 5 mg Tamoxifen: Do you have side effects with 5 mg?

Posted by sue417 @sue417, Feb 17 4:50pm

Hi
Just wondering if anyone on here takes 5 mg of tamoxifen and if so do you have side effects with 5 mg. That's what my oncologist said he will put me on once I'm done on my treatment

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@christylv

Thanks! Yeah unfortunately when I go through menopause I can not take any hrt because of breast cancer. Hopefully it won’t be that bad. But I can for sure tell you I feel MUCH better off of vagifem. Good luck to you as well !
Just curious how are you feeling on tamoxifen? Any bad side effects?

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Hi
I only started 5mg yesterday. So too early to tell. I took it at dinnertime so we will see. I am hoping 🙏 I do ok on 5mg for 3 yrs

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@sue417

Hi
I only started 5mg yesterday. So too early to tell. I took it at dinnertime so we will see. I am hoping 🙏 I do ok on 5mg for 3 yrs

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Sounds like a plan! You should be good on 5mg. Probably minimal side effects if any. My oncologist said start with the 20mg. Then if it’s too much. We will go to the 10mg pill. And if that’s too much. I need to try the 10mg every other day. Hopefully one of those doses will work for me .

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@christylv

Sounds like a plan! You should be good on 5mg. Probably minimal side effects if any. My oncologist said start with the 20mg. Then if it’s too much. We will go to the 10mg pill. And if that’s too much. I need to try the 10mg every other day. Hopefully one of those doses will work for me .

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Hi
Good luck I hope you find the right dose

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Hi
I started tamoxifen 5 mg this week . I have had a very bad headache just feel off balance I did speak with my pharmacist he said this was normal . To take tylenol everyday. hopefully it eases off can anyone else share with me what they have gone through on this amount of medication. How long did tge side effects last.

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@sue417

Hi
I started tamoxifen 5 mg this week . I have had a very bad headache just feel off balance I did speak with my pharmacist he said this was normal . To take tylenol everyday. hopefully it eases off can anyone else share with me what they have gone through on this amount of medication. How long did tge side effects last.

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Yes however mine informed me to take Claritin and my head felt better !

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@cmfranco11

Yes however mine informed me to take Claritin and my head felt better !

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Hi
I take allergy meds already.

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@sue417

Hi
I started tamoxifen 5 mg this week . I have had a very bad headache just feel off balance I did speak with my pharmacist he said this was normal . To take tylenol everyday. hopefully it eases off can anyone else share with me what they have gone through on this amount of medication. How long did tge side effects last.

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There are definitely some changes. Depending on how far past menopause, and what level of estrogen is still in your body at the time you start tamoxifen can make a difference. For me, at 67 with fairly low estrogen levels and 17 years after menopause, I could feel my body making adjustments. The first week I had some warm flashes and moodiness and feeling “off”. That increased at week 3 - that’s about the time the full affect of the tamoxifen is in your body because of the 7-10 day half life of tamoxifen. The drug accumulates every day until it evens off. I pretty much quit having regular warm flashes and the moodiness evened out. At 3 months I felt more changes - I think by this time all the body’s organs and functioning has adjusted to the tamoxifen, and it affects parts differently.
I’d suggest waiting to see how it goes, manage the things that you can (headache), give yourself some grace to deal with the mood changes, and see how your body adjusts. Unless of course there is a really bad issue, then the doctor needs to know. Our bodies are all different, it’s hard to know exactly what side effects you’ll have.

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@sue417

Hi
I started tamoxifen 5 mg this week . I have had a very bad headache just feel off balance I did speak with my pharmacist he said this was normal . To take tylenol everyday. hopefully it eases off can anyone else share with me what they have gone through on this amount of medication. How long did tge side effects last.

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I have been on Tamoxifen 5mg daily now for about 4 months I couldn’t tolerate 20 or 10 mg Changed manufacture and reduced dosage to 5 mg I started to experience heartburn no relief with Tums Oncologist said to try Prevacid It did stop
the heartburn in one week but on day 8 nonstop diarrhea
So quit taking wondering if anyone has had insomnia and really crazy dreams with this low dose this has been happening recently along with some anxiety and I have always had a good memory even at my age but lately can’t find the word searching for in a conversation Yesterday stopped for a cup of coffee and a donut couldn’t remember name of donut I always get, had to describe it
The hot flashes are less and so is the joint pain of course aging skin, well I’m 82 now just had a birthday Of course getting up multiple times a night to urinate is still present
Sorry such a long story wanted to try to give the total picture Thank you for any input
Sally in CA

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@triciaot

There are definitely some changes. Depending on how far past menopause, and what level of estrogen is still in your body at the time you start tamoxifen can make a difference. For me, at 67 with fairly low estrogen levels and 17 years after menopause, I could feel my body making adjustments. The first week I had some warm flashes and moodiness and feeling “off”. That increased at week 3 - that’s about the time the full affect of the tamoxifen is in your body because of the 7-10 day half life of tamoxifen. The drug accumulates every day until it evens off. I pretty much quit having regular warm flashes and the moodiness evened out. At 3 months I felt more changes - I think by this time all the body’s organs and functioning has adjusted to the tamoxifen, and it affects parts differently.
I’d suggest waiting to see how it goes, manage the things that you can (headache), give yourself some grace to deal with the mood changes, and see how your body adjusts. Unless of course there is a really bad issue, then the doctor needs to know. Our bodies are all different, it’s hard to know exactly what side effects you’ll have.

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Hi
Thanks helpful info. I went into menopause at 48, i am 66 this mth. I take 5htp supplements for mood and sleep. My naturopath put me on it 7 years ago I've been on and off it I just had to increase my dose so now I'm starting to feel better. Today is the first day since I started radiation that I feel normal so I'm hoping things are going to level out now

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@7318

I have been on Tamoxifen 5mg daily now for about 4 months I couldn’t tolerate 20 or 10 mg Changed manufacture and reduced dosage to 5 mg I started to experience heartburn no relief with Tums Oncologist said to try Prevacid It did stop
the heartburn in one week but on day 8 nonstop diarrhea
So quit taking wondering if anyone has had insomnia and really crazy dreams with this low dose this has been happening recently along with some anxiety and I have always had a good memory even at my age but lately can’t find the word searching for in a conversation Yesterday stopped for a cup of coffee and a donut couldn’t remember name of donut I always get, had to describe it
The hot flashes are less and so is the joint pain of course aging skin, well I’m 82 now just had a birthday Of course getting up multiple times a night to urinate is still present
Sorry such a long story wanted to try to give the total picture Thank you for any input
Sally in CA

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Hi
I would not get too worried about forgetting things stress does a lot to people. I have a stomach medication I have been on for years so I haven't had any issues with my stomach. As far as the getting up a lot at night I think that's a normal part of aging but my doctor just put me on vagifem. It is helping you can also try vaginal moisturizers I think replens is one. As we age we lose estrogen and then to have an estrogen blocker It does cause more issues with going to the washroom Maybe talk to your doctor about it

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