Weight gain from Tamoxifen?

Posted by creeder @creeder, Jan 15, 2022

I have been placed on a low dosage of Tamoxifen and I have noticed a considerable weight gain in my midsection. It almost makes me depressed as I am being more cautious with my food intake as well as completing 60 minutes of exercise at a fitness center daily. It is so frustrating to see no results! The scale seems to keep going up with no regard to increased healthy habits. Has anyone else had this problem and will it level off soon or continually get worse. Is it worth it????

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daisy1282022 | @daisy1282022 | Oct 12, 2023

About 4.5 months since I stopped Tamoxifen, all side effects are gone except eyelids swelling still bothering me. My gained weight came off too lately. I switch to another oncologist, I felt she understood me better. I will have annual MRI to compare with my 6 months MRI results in December. Keep my fingers crossed.

sue417 | @sue417 | Jan 1 12:03pm

Hi
Wondering if anyone on tamoxifen has had issues with weight gain. Or other side effects

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jan 1 3:31pm

In reply to @sue417 "Hi Wondering if anyone on tamoxifen has had issues with weight gain. Or other side effects" + (show)

I’ve been on tamoxifen for 14 months and have not gained weight. But I have been cautious with my eating to try to not gain weight. But I’m not dieting.
I’m 69 yo and weight gain may be different for someone younger.

sue417 | @sue417 | Jan 1 4:22pm

In reply to @sue417 "Hi Wondering if anyone on tamoxifen has had issues with weight gain. Or other side effects" + (show)

Hi
That's good to know. I am 65. Do you Do 20mg.

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jan 3 3:35pm

In reply to @sue417 "Hi That's good to know. I am 65. Do you Do 20mg." + (show)

I was on 20 mg but after 3 months I started having headaches 24/7 and brain fog. I have never had migraines or regular headache. I went to my family practitioner, a neurologist, and the survivorship provider. I had a brain MRI. The neurologist concluded that based on my symptoms, self-report, and MRI, the headaches were medication related.
I am now on 5 mg and seem to be okay.
I never had real hot flashes or vaginal atrophy from tamoxifen.

sue417 | @sue417 | Jan 3 5:44pm

In reply to @triciaot "I was on 20 mg but after 3 months I started having headaches 24/7 and brain..." + (show)

Hi
Thank you for that information. Because that is the only amount I will take. So we'll see what happens once. My pathology is back on the 16th.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 10 2:48pm

In reply to @sue417 "Hi Wondering if anyone on tamoxifen has had issues with weight gain. Or other side effects" + (show)

Hi Sue, I moved your question about weight gain to this existing discussion so you can see previous helpful posts:
- Weight gain from Tamoxifen?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/weight-gain-from-tamoxifen/

You can use the group's search to find discussions on many topics. See the search bar specific to the group here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/

Here are a number of discussions about hormone treatment and weight gain that might be helpful to you:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/?search=weight&index=discussions