NOLVADEX Reviews (TAMOXIFEN CITRATE)Average Rating: 2.7 (115 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare NOLVADEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on NOLVADEX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR NOLVADEX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Stage 2 breast cancer | Few hot flushes, better in winter. No weight gain but weight is hard to loose, just need to be careful. At 39 i feel i have aged in the joints but this could be because of other meds | I am happy do long as it keeps the cancer away for good | F | 39 | 1.4 years | 4/24/2008 | 4 | stage 1 bc lumpectomy | Constipation, hot flashes, vaginal discharge | I started taking Tamoxifen last August after two, terrible years of joint pain and weight gain caused by taking Arimidex and Aromasin. At first my doctor prescribed 20mg per day, but I did not react well and became so constipated that I did not want to continue the treatment. The doctor advised me to try taking half the amount, i.e. 10 mg daily. He said that for those patients who metabolize slowly 10 mg were sufficient. Since changing to 10mg I have felt much better and have only occasional constipation. I still have hot flashes, especially in the evening, but not so severe as before, and I no longer have the joint pains I had with Arimidex and Aromasin. | F | 65 | 1 years | 4/10/2008 | 5 | metastatic breast cancer | I have been on Tamoxifen 7 months now after Femara 5 months and before that Arimidex 7 months. The side effects from the Aromatase inhibitors were so intense that I had no quality of life and was switched to Tamoxifen. I am very surprised at minimal side effects. Somewhat achy and insomnia, but on the whole feeling really well. | My tumer marker is 16. Just had Pet CT and bone scan to check status and all stable. I never expected to do so well on this drug. I didn't think it was strong enough to help my pretty advanced cancer. | F | 65 | 7 days | 2/26/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | vaginal discharge, roving joint pain, hot flashes, menopause, | F | 48 | 1 years | 2/5/2008 | 1 | to reduce re-occurrence | Extreme fatigue, could sleep 10-12 hours daily and wake up tired. When ovulating- ? fluid retention the hip pain was so bad I could not walk. Intercostal muscle and rib pain and short of breath on minimal exercise. | I have had 2 attempts at taking this. The first time I had bloating and period like pain only to find on scan I had a massive endometrium at 20mm which needed D+c no atypical cells fortunately- that was a scare. I was off the drug for 4 months and felt fine, I am now back on it. Just 3months later cannot stand effects as mentioned in side efefcts prev. | F | 45 | 3 days | 1/28/2008 | 1 | DCIS Stage 2a-N0-M0, ER/PR+ | Soaking hot flashes, continuous weight gain, extreme calf pain/charlie horses, joint pain, extreme upper extremity muscle pain and weakness, numbness/tingling in fingertips, headaches, hypertension, trochanteric bursitis, arthritis symptoms, concentration problems, and I am fighting depression. | Status post lumpectomy, chemotherapy/radiation, BRACanalysis negative: To note, after four cycles of AC chemotherapy, my body has literally aged 10 years with the chemical menopause. After reporting my listed side effects to oncologist: "muscle, bone, weight gain, etc. not related to Tamoxifen, maybe you have carpal tunnel, you could probably use a support group". Could a doctor be more condescending? I purposefully submitted myself to EMG and nerve conduction studies plus x-rays to my hands - negative. I type for a living and had become so debilitated from pain - could not vacuum, wash my hair, etc. with so much pain in my hands and arms. Pain in my left calf so severe I could barely walk at times. PCP and I decided to go on a drug holiday, and within 10 days a lot of the pain started to disappear. Naturopathics have advised adding milled flax seed to diet. I have decided my "quality" of life is more important than "quantity" of years just existing | F | 43 | 18 months | 12/16/2007 | 2 | BC stage 3 | Menopausal like symptoms, weight gain, insomnia. | I agree that Tamoxifen is a "walk in the park" when compared to Arimidex. Sadly, I was one of those women that was doomed to get endometrial cancer from Tamoxifen. Luckily I caught it early and I had a full recovery. I suggest searching the web on Tamoxifen. It is listed as a carcinogen by the CDC and many countries reuse to use it because they say that it causes as much endometrial cancer as it protects from breast cancer recurrence. The studies are confusing to me, but I was one of the "unlucky" ones... but lucky enough to tell you my story! | F | 38 | 1 years | 12/4/2007 | 4 | Breast Cancer | Have been on it for about 1 year. Hot flashes have subsided some, finally sleeping better but the leg cramps can be tough. Glad to hear others complain about weight gain. I am working out, watching my diet and my wait isn't going down. Very frustrating. The foggy brain makes work difficulty some days. | F | 49 | 1 years | 11/26/2007 | 5 | Breast Cancer - Stage 1 Estrogen + | Occasional night sweats but no other side effects. This is in stark contrast to the nightmare of side effects that I had in taking Arimidex for 10 months. On 20 mg per day of tamoxifen (a generic), I feel great. | Tamoxifen is a walk in the park by comparison with Armidex. My blood pressure has returned to normal, sex drive has returned, energy level is at pre-surgery level, and thinking & moods are back to positive and normal. My body couldn't tolerate the total deprivation of estrogen caused by an aromatase inhibitor (Arimidex) but does fine with the more selective effects of tamoxifen. If you are post-menapausal and think tamoxifen has side effects, consider yourself lucky as the other drugs such as Arimidex can disable one. Fortunately, my medical oncologist didn't buy the drug company line and dismiss my complaints about the side effects of Armidex - she instead provided facts and reassurance that the marginal statistical difference in effectiveness of Armidex versus tamoxifen was small. She was clear that continuing to suffer with the side effects of Armidex would not guarantee that I would never have a recurrence. Despite faithfully taking Armidex (or tamoxifen) for five years, some | F | 65 | 7 months | 10/25/2007 | 4 | Breast Cancer | Hair thinning, Some joint stiffness, feet hurt sometimes | I have not gained weight. | F | 53 | 5 months | 10/21/2007 | 3 | Breast cancer | Weight gain, tiredness, achey joints and hot flushes. | Asked my GP if I could come off it after 4 years and he suggested try for 3 months to see whether the hot flushes were the drug or menopause. I have been off it for weeks and the flushes have stopped but I am bleeding terribly, almost haemmoraging and have been for 8 days now. I am off to the docs to see what can be done and have resumed taking Tamoxifen. | F | 48 | 4 days | 10/10/2007 | 3 | breast cancer estrogen positive | hot flashes, leg cramps, | hate taking a med that alters my cells, but hate not to take it for fear of the cancer returning | F | 42 | 8 months | 9/14/2007 | 3 | Breasyt cxancer Stage 2 est + | I have previously posted so as not to mix up your poll. After visiting this site, had a long conference with my Family Physician. I had to go on blood pressure meds which helped greatly with hot flashes, I am also on a diuretic,and I stick to a very low fat diet. My Dr. also put me on zoplicone to help with sleep problems. Right now I have erased all the bad effects, but have only been on this drug for 4 months. | I will stay with this drug at this time, and will try and deal with side effects as they crop up. I have had no problems with fuzzy brain, but exercise my brain, as well as my body. | F | 67 | 4 months | 8/9/2007 | 5 | s/p bc (generic tamoxifen) | None that I can wholly attribute to the tamox. Night sweats, hot flashes - started before tamox, actually disappeared the first 2 weeks on the tamox but returned. Some depression but I relate that a lot more to the breast cancer and other life changes. No problems with joint pains any more than I ever have with my very active lifestyle. | If it helps prevent a recurrence I'm happy to take it. | F | 50 | 10 months | 7/29/2007 | 1 | stage 2 breast cancer | Sleeplessness, aching joints ankles knees,restlessness. | I was on Arimidex, refused to take it after 2 weeks of agony.Oncologist switched me to tamoxifin.I'm not finding this any better. I,m going to roll the dice and go on high anti-oxidant diet. No matter how many years I have left, I do not want to be a mental emotional cripple. In my opinion only There are worse things than cancer. I don't understand why they can't come up with a drug,that isn't so debilitating to our over-all well being. I want quality life Not quantity. | F | 67 | 14 days | 6/30/2007 | 1 | tamoxifen | no weight gain, tired and achey muscles, hard to get motivated, breast tenderness(almost like pms all the time) water retention, dizzy spells, lower stomach pain when sitting, and just plain sick. Similiar to flu like symptons. Have not taken this drug even a full month, and getting ready to completely stop. 40 years old | F | 40 | 25 days | 6/25/2007 | 3 | breast cancer prevention | Hot flashes & night sweats | Did change the density of my breasts & made my cycle shorter and less painful | F | 44 | 8 months | 6/12/2007 | 5 | Post 5 yrs Tam for BR CA | I've posted previously so don't want to skew the stats by resubmitting but felt I've had some results and wanted to share with all of you. I was only on Femara 2 months and have lost nearly a year of my life with all of the side effects also mentioned by all of you. Is anyone considering a Class Action Suit? I am living overseas and couldn't initiate but would be very interested. We have spent thousands of dollars trying to alleviate pain and I've lost so much time.. | I read on this site that some had relief from acupuncture and someone said they got relief from Apple Cider Vinegar and someone said Isotonix. I've tried all of this for the last few months. I recently started the isotonix and am finally feeling better. My legs don't hurt nearly as bad. I hope good health for all of you. | F | 42 | 2 months | 6/6/2007 | 3 | DCIS & LCIS | Hot flashes and night sweats. Up a lot during the night. I have to have a small fan blowing on me during the night. It really helps. Much worse in the summer, even though the A/C is set pretty low. I hate taking this and can't wait to get off it. Only one year to go. I also take Fosamax weekly. I took lamisel a few months ago (for toenail fungus) and had to stop after two months. It made me very dizzy. I was pretty scared. Didn't know if it was from tamoxifen or lamisel. That was in November. The dizziness went away in a couple of weeks, but now it's back and I'm worried it might be the combination of drugs. I'm so sick of medicine! | I also have pain in my fingers, thumb and elbows. I take anti-inflammatories and that helps a lot. I just went off those, to take prednisone for poison ivy!!! | F | 57 | 4 days | 5/31/2007 | 1 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer (estg -recp) | Hot flashes - although the longer I take the drug, only have them when I feel stressed or am active. Have joint pain - thumbs, esp. right, all fingers, pelvis, knees. Deep throbbing in my quads (upper leg muscles) EXTREMELY FATIGUE. Tired all the time. Bottom of heels also ache. 10 lbs weight gain. | Have excercised regularly for the past eighteen years. Made sure to modify my diet as to eliminate, poor eating habit as culprit. Very difficult to loose the added pounds. Unfortunatley, the study materials by which our physican and oncologist use as base-line for determining side effects are so non-coherent compared to the side-effects people have experienced while taking the drug after chemotherapy and/or radiation. Also, I am concerned with the blood clot issue. I will research this issue further. | F | 40 | 1.5 days | 5/21/2007 |