Tamoxifen User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• HOT...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 2, 2014

For Breast Cancer "The wisest decision I can share is changing when I take the tamoxifen. I decided that sleep was imperative in order to deal with the side effects. I take the tamoxifen during the day. I live in CA, so temperature-wise, this is a good thing to do. Running hot is an understatement. Skin and hair have taken a hit as the hips have improved. I suspect the lack of juice to connective tissues is the reason. Also, arthritis has shown up in both knees. One perk? Evenness of mood after 2 years. My 10 rating? No recurrence as of 2.5 years."

• Boo...
• June 12, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Tax for 6 months. I won't lie, having a mastectomy was easier than the meds, but the alternative is worse. My biggest complaint is fatigue and moodiness. Training for a Half Ironman has its challenges, but I think the daily training helps me in so many ways. I don't have joint pain and other major side effects. I like the open discussion format, as doctors are really upfront about all of the side effects, as each person is different. It is nice to hear from others about the mood swings, I thought I was going crazy... Hard on family for sure. I just keep on trucking... Good to hear from others."

• jwi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Tamoxifen for about a year now. I have the hot flashes and the sweats, and oh yes, the mood swings, but now I'm experiencing severe temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ). I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem on this medication. If so, what did you do to make it go away? Two weeks of this condition is two weeks too long. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for any suggestions you may have."

• gen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2020

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I was diagnosed with pre-cancer tumor markers in my right back in January 2020. I was referred to an oncologist even though they were pre-cancer, and he put me on Tamoxifen. I had heard horror stories about this drug, so I was hesitant. But I've been on it for almost 6 months, and I'm fine. I did have issues early on. If I took it in the morning, I would often have dizzy spells in the afternoon. I even tried in the evening, and the dizzy spells would still happen. But my doctor said I could take it anytime of the day, so I started to take it before bed. If I wake up at night to use the bathroom, I will sometimes have a little dizziness. I also will sometimes have a tinny taste in my mouth, but I keep a bag of crackers by the bed and just pop one to get that taste out. But for me, I would rather have these small issues than the issues with chemotherapy if I were to get cancer. One day at a time!"

• cma...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2013

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I have been on Tamoxifen for a year now. In the beginning, I was very depressed, had night sweats, hot flashes, and severe sweating. My doctor gave me Paxil for the hot flashes and depression. It has helped with my depression, but it's still hot, hot, hot! I keep thinking I want to get off of it because it makes me yawn a lot, whether I'm tired or not, but my mood is so much better. I'm afraid I will start feeling bad again."

• Vee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2020

For Breast Cancer "All the adjuvant therapies that were offered to me scared the life out of me. I changed my diet, de-stressed, meditated, exercised, and don't dwell on having had a lump. From now on, it's about quality of life. It's information like this (under 'adverse reactions') that makes me glad I trusted my gut: drugs.com search for Soltamox, then look at profession, and then look under side effects."

• Qui...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I have taken Tamoxifen for 5 years. Side effects are severe sweating and depression. I have been taking Effexor XR longer than I have been on Tamoxifen. My oncologist increased the Effexor dosage from 75 mg to 150 mg per day. She assured me the Effexor and Black Cohosh would stop the sweating...not. Sweating increased and I am more depressed than ever. I had a sonogram last month that revealed a very small fibroid and fluid in my uterus. Got an appointment with GYN next week to see how she wants to handle the uterus problem."

• Jos...
• March 3, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been on tamoxifen for 5 months now, and it truly is difficult to isolate the side effects of the drug alone due to the fact that I was perimenopausal prior to being diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer with micrometastasis in one lymph node. I am 52 years old. My primary complaint is insomnia. I have become a light sleeper, waking up 10-20 times each night. While I am able to fall asleep again, I never feel as though I have had a deep, restful sleep. I take my tamoxifen in the morning after I brush my teeth. A year post-diagnosis, which included surgery (partial mastectomy), chemotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation, and now tamoxifen, I have endeavored to train for an Ironman race in August. I am getting stronger every day."

• Mst...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 6, 2017

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I had stage 2 grade A IDC with trace evidence in the sentinel node. I've been on tamoxifen for 5 years, with 5 years left to go. I currently have the following side effects: hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, blurred vision, hair loss, hair thinning, hypertriglyceridemia, bone and joint pain, and cannot tolerate drug brand changes, and have had to have a total hysterectomy."

• Lis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years after a mastectomy for estrogen-based breast cancer. During the last years and ongoing, I have been overwhelmed with fatty tumors. Some are growing at a rapid rate and some that were soft are turning hard. They are on my rib cage, my abdomen, my legs, and 1 or 2 on my arms. I seem to be the only one concerned."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I am so angry. An oncologist recommended this horrible drug. She said if you don't, you will die a painful death. My mother was 85 years old and couldn't fight this medicine. It is straight-up an absolutely awful drug. Why, I want an appointment with this doctor with my mum. She is in hospice care at this moment. It hasn't even been one year since the first treatment, which hospitalized her for 14 days. It almost killed her. DO NOT TAKE IT. If she lives till Christmas, I will be surprised. She is dying a painful death now."

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2023

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I was on Tamoxifen for 3 months, and I had a lot of side effects that were not good. In the 3 months that I was on it, I gained 30 lbs, was moody, had hot flashes, brain fog, severe constipation, and had a hard time sleeping."

• Mar...
• September 15, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Was for 5 years, increased to 10 years, I'm in year 7. Had 3 lumpectomies within a 3-month span, had chemo, radiation, plus 1 year of Herceptin for ductal carcinoma in situ T2 HER2+. I am alive and plan on staying that way. After much research and talking to doctors, the conclusion is that chemo and tamoxifen seem to have precipitated other chronic illnesses: chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, osteopenia, clinical depression, gastroenteritis, worsened IBS, and PTSD. My legs, lower back, and fingers are usually swollen and usually in pain. I wanted off the tamoxifen due to the weakness in my legs and fatigue. No other was as effective in inhibiting estrogen. I still lose my hair, gained 130 lbs, I'm in a wheelchair. I'm alive. 3 years to go."

• Pam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I have been on tamoxifen for almost a year now. I experience hot flashes, which can be unbearable at times. I have joint pain, which makes it hard to walk. I also have gained about 10 to 15 pounds since I have been taking this medicine."

• Geo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 2 ductal carcinoma. Lumpectomy and 2 lymph nodes were removed. I was started on tamoxifen 30 days before my surgery. Since my cancer was hormone-driven, tamoxifen was required in addition to 25 rounds of radiation. Hot flashes that I can feel coming on worse with stress. Problems with my fingers and pain in my joints. My fingernails crumble and splinter easily. I am always fatigued and have to drink an energy drink just to function. I have had 6 biopsies since my surgery. I have a lot of scar tissue. My skin still burns 4 years after my radiation. I will be glad when I am off this drug. God bless all of whom that are going through it. One lady said to me, more birthdays."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I just started taking Tamoxifen about a week ago. I am always nauseous, I am noticing my hair thinning since I started, my jaw hurts, and the pelvic pains are so uncomfortable. I am always crying and saying things I would never say. I will need to speak to my doctor and see if there are other alternatives. Hopefully, there is."

• Nan...
• November 18, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I was on Tamoxifen for a total of two weeks. The first week went alright, with mild and fleeting hot flashes. By the second week, I was bent over with pelvic pain and pressure. It got so bad I was in tears by the time I saw my oncologist. They took me off of the Tamoxifen and sent me to a gynecologist. My uterine wall was thicker than they like to see. They told me Tamoxifen couldn’t possibly thicken the uterus that fast, but they didn’t rule it out. I haven’t had any previous issues - not for over 22 years. So, too coincidental. After almost 3 weeks off of the Tamoxifen, my symptoms are gone, and my gynecologist thinks my uterine wall will be thinner at my next check-up in a few months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed in March 2021, the year that keeps giving!!! I thought working in care settings during a pandemic was bad... I have been stripped, is the only way to describe tamoxifen. I'm a shell, an angry, frustrated, agitated, confused, forgetful shell at 43 years old. I never expected this. My kids are amazing to tolerate me, my partner too, but we don't or couldn't reside together. I'd do anything to have my estrogen back, but how when my youngest is 5 years old. OMG, it's so bloody dark ages. I tell you what, if more men had to take tamoxifen, you'd bet your ass it wouldn't be used with all these side effects."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2012

"I started taking this medicine after an abnormal mammogram and biopsy found precancerous cells. I have really bad hot flashes several times a month, some joint and leg pain. My menstrual cycle is regular, but I experience nosebleeds the week before. My hair started to thin about 3 months after starting this medication, that has pretty much subsided, and I am going on one year now. I do get a little more irritable than usual, but all in all, things are pretty manageable now. So only 4 years to go!"

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I’m telling you, if you have depression, do not take tamoxifen, it could push you over the edge. I had anxiety, sweats, back pain, chills. I was only on it for 16 days. The doctor told me to stop it for 3 weeks and see if things improve. I think I will take my chances, I had a bilateral mastectomy and no signs of cancer in the breasts. They got all of it with the biopsy."

• Mar...
• February 1, 2022

For Breast Cancer "I was on tamoxifen for 10 years after lumpectomy, type 2, stage 2, chemo, and radiotherapy. My GP said, 'Stay on it as long as you can,' diagnosed in 1993. I was re-diagnosed in September 2021, type 3, no spread, had total mastectomy and now having chemo + Herceptin. I totally recommend tamoxifen, it got me 28 years cancer-free. Good luck to all fighting this awful disease."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 2 DCIS in 2015. I had a mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. I have been on Tamoxifen for 4 years. I’ve experienced hot flashes, vaginal dryness and tearing, dry mouth, urge incontinence, thinning hair, etc. But the hair on my legs is also thinner!"

• cri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I just started taking tamoxifen only 5 days ago, and I broke out in a rash and bumps, so I will be calling the doctor tomorrow to find out if this is normal and will go away. I know some things take time and will go away, we will see. I told him if I have side effects, I will cut the dosage from 20 to 10, and then to 5. He said I could do that, something is better than not doing anything, though the percentage will be less of a recurrence of breast cancer coming back. This is a scary thing to have to go through, for anyone."

• Jin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Have been taking tamoxifen for 3 1/2 years, my estrogen levels are going through the roof, I'm anxious all the time, put on weight and very hard to lose. My liver shudders at night like I have been drinking hard."

• Bey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. I’ve already had a nipple-sparing mastectomy. My doctor recommended chemo, but I refused. I’m only stage 0, stage 1, and my lymph nodes came back negative. Now my oncologist wants me to take Tamoxifen for 10 years. Most of the reviews here are negative, but I will give it a try and hope for the best."