NOLVADEX Reviews (TAMOXIFEN CITRATE)

Average Rating: 2.7 (115 Ratings)

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 ANTINEOPLASTICS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

NOLVADEX  (TAMOXIFEN CITRATE):  Tamoxifen is used to treat breast cancer. It is also used to reduce the chances of breast cancer in high-risk patients. This medication can block the growth of breast cancer. It works by interfering with the effects of estrogen in the breast tissue.   FDA Approval Date: 1994-03-21 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on NOLVADEX: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR NOLVADEXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Breast cancer Joint and muscle pain in legs, loss of visual acuity, mental slowness, increased hot flashes This drug is awful!!!! The symptoms I mentioned were all too real and horrific. I took myself off of Tamoxifen within one year. For those suffering from hot flashes, give Progesterone cream a try. It's awesome! F 50 10 months
5/11/2007
 5  Breast Cancer Stage II I was on Femara, an aromatase inhibitor, for six weeks and it nearly did me in. Tamoxifen is like a walk in the park compared to that drug. Can't say I have yet experienced any noticable side effects other than occasional hot (warm) flashes. But started having those back when chemo put me into menopause - before tamoxifen treatment. I'm glad that I tolerate this drug well. And I feel relieved that it has a 30 year history in helping prevent cancer recurrence, also that its side effects are a 'known quantity'. Not so with the aromatase inhibitors. I would have been in real bad shape if I had tried to continue on Femara. It took me 10 weeks to get over the crippling side effects. F 52 4 months
5/8/2007
 4  Breast Cancer None! I've been taking Tamoxifen for just under 2 years to lower risk of breast cancer recurrence. I switched to a low-fat whole foods vegan diet as soon as I got my cancer diagnosis 2 years ago. Not only did this diet cure my arthritis, sciatica, acid reflux, PMS, and asthma, it lowered my cholesterol from 191 to 127! I was quite afraid to start taking Tamoxifen, being that I'm very sensitive to chemicals and medications (I refused chemo for this reason), but I had no side effects whatsoever, and I believe it's the result of the diet, which is the most natural way we can eat (whole unrefined foods, no meat, fish, dairy or oils of any kind). Read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell (out of Cornell University) and you will know all there is to know about cancer and prevention! F 46 21 months
5/8/2007
 1  Stage 0 Breast Cancer Major side effect: Deep Vein Thrombosis which resulted in Pulmonary Embolism. Was rushed to the ER and had a week long stay in the hospital and six months of blood thinners Minor: hot flashes, arthritic pain, mood swings The warning label says it causes blood clots in a small percentage of people. Be extremely careful using this drug. F 78 3 months
5/1/2007
 3  stage 2b breast ca Hot flashes. Lately carpal tunnel symptoms and very sore feet when first getting up. Didn't relate those to the drug until I read these postings. I just had a blood test saying I'm postmenopausal and will be switching to Femara soon. F 46 1 years
4/18/2007
 1  Post mastectomy after chemo & radia I weighed 120 after chemo and now weigh 150-160 after 5 years of tamoxifen. My oncologist says there's no research that proves tamox causes weight gain. But since I've been on it for just about 5 years, I plan to ask her to switch me to an aromatase inhibitor. HTH! F 59 5 years
2/17/2007
 4  BC, lumpectomy, radiotherapy Post menopausal at diagnosis in 2003. Slow and continuous weight gain, despite healthy diet, regular exercise etc. Increasingly bad memory / fuzzy brain - very interested to know how many other people have this who have not had chemotherapy and subsequent "chemo brain". I`ve also developed seborrheic dermatitis - scaly itchy scalp, and wonder if this is another side effect? My oncologist has not attributed memory loss to Tamoxifen / Nolvadex - at least not to me. Nolvadex was recommended to me as the Tamoxifen brand with the least side effects. F 52 3.75 years
2/10/2007
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 1  breast cancer I took Tamoxifen for 1 month and had the worse side effects possible. Muscle and bone pain throughout the body and couldn't function during the day or sleep at night. Felt like a BAD case of the flu.Dr.said it would take 56 days to get out of my system .I am at 44 days now and counting. F 72 28 days
1/28/2007
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 1  Early Stage Breast Cancer I started taking this medication approximately 4 years ago. I have had TERRIBLE hot flashes and about a 40 pound weight gain that seems to be attributed to this. Recently my liver numbers went up. I had an ultrasound last week and found that I have a "suspected mass" on my liver. I have a CT scan scheduled in the morning to see what the "mass" is. We all know that this drug can cause liver problems-that is why we have the regular blood work. I truly feel that this problem is related back to the tamoxifen as well because my liver was fine (according to the numbers) before I took it. My cancer doctor immediately took me off it last week when the ultrasound results came in. I still have don't know what will happen to me from here but I would say weigh the risks before using this drug! I would not tell anyone not to take this drug. However, with that said, I would say to investigate it thoroughly and be aware of the possible side effects. The risk of taking this drug might not be worth the benefits. F 46 3.5 years
1/21/2007
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 1  Early Stage Breast Cancer I started taking this medication approximately 4 years ago. I have been miserable the whole time that I have taken it. I have had TERRIBLE hot flashes and about a 40 pound weight gain that seems to be attributed to this. I was given Effexor for the hot flashes and that helped some but I was still hot most of the time. I am normally cold natured. Recently my liver numbers went up. I had an ultrasound last week and found that I have a "suspected mass" on my liver. I have a CT scan scheduled in the morning to see what the "mass" is. We all know that this drug can cause liver problems-that is why we have the regular blood work. I truly feel that this problem is related back to the tamoxifen as well because my liver was fine (according to the numbers) before I took it. My cancer doctor immediately took me off it last week when the ultrasound results came in. I still have don't know what will happen to me from here but I would say weigh the risks before using t I would not tell anyone not to take this drug. However, with that said, I would say to investigate it thoroughly and be aware of the possible side effects. The risk of taking this drug might not be worth the benefits. F 46 3.5 years
1/21/2007
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 4  DCIS-lumpectomy-radiation third post-see 7/11/2006-age 68. After switching to Boniva, once a month, from Fosamax, joint/muscle pain went away.Hair still thinning, only side effect. TO ALL: has anyone developed uterine or ovarian cancer from this drug? My biggest worry. My DCIS was Stage 0. Wonder how long I should stay on this? F 69 1 years
1/20/2007
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 3  prevent breast cancer recurrence weight gain, carpal tunnel syndrome, extreme joint pain knees and shoulders ALL side effects disappeared within 3 weeks of discontinuting medication. Lost 20 pounds of the 25 pound weight gain within 8 weeks F 54 1 years
1/5/2007
 1  Breast cancer I took Tamoxifen together with Zoladex (I started the Zoladex two months earlier). However, after the first month of taking the Tamoxifen, my periods returned. After three months of this, my Dr took me off Tamoxifen as he said it was negating the effects of Zoladex and I was no longer in "menopause" which was what this combination of drugs was seeking to achieve. "Very unusual" apparently. Whilst on Tamoxifen, my breasts shrank to a tiny size, I had very bad constipation, total insomnia (possibly linked to the Zoladex as this continued after I stopped the Tx) and when my periods started (due to the Tamoxifen negating the effects of the Zoladex which it isn't supposed to do), my onc had me do a very unpleasant gyne examination as he thought my uterine wall was thickening (which thankfully it wasn't). I never wanted to take this drug and wish I had listened to my instinct. I have had persistent hair loss since starting the Tamoxifen six months ago -- I don't know if this is linked to the Zoladex or the Tamoxifen, but I gather that the toxicity of both drugs (I also decided to stop the Zoladex two months ago) remains in your body for a very long time. Rather than go down the "drug route", I have decided to prevent a future recurrence of bc through nutrition and lifestyle changes, positive thinking and holistic approaches to optimal health. The drug companies are rich enough and I'm fortunate that my breast cancer was low grade and low risk and I believe I can beat it on my own. F 37 2 months
10/29/2006
 2  Cancer of 1 breast duct My mother is taking Tamoxifen to keep cancer from going into her left breast like it did her right. She has been really sick from the symptoms: dizzy, nausea, clammy hands, high blood pressure and almost passing out several times when she bends down and back up. The doctor told her to break the pill in half and take half in the morning and half at night, it does help most of the time. But worries me which is the worst and what are the chances if she does not take for 5 years as prescribed. The surgeon also removed her right breast and lymph nodes from her right breast. The cancer was in site and supposedly not spread yet. Her mass was so large that they had to remove the whole breast. No chemo. F 73 7 weeks
8/16/2006
 4  Tamoxifen- post-DCIS This is second post.Quit taking T. and Fosamax for about 6 weeks due to diffuse bone and muscle pain and mental fogginess, lack of interest in life.Med. oncologist p.o.'d about this when I saw him a couple of weeks ago. I agreed to go back on Fosamax but switched to Boniva (once a month) instead of Fosamax. However, they are both bisphosphonates so probably cause similar side-effects. Did feel much better with the six-weeks off Tamoxifen and Fosamax. Previous side-effects have not come back. If I begin having GI,bone,muscle problems will quit Boniva. Believe my hair not growing back in, thinning eyelashes are related to Fosamax and Tamoxifen (been on T. for about 7 months) Do have some joint,muscle pain relieved by exercise like gardening, walking, golf, etc. Am very tempted to quit Tamoxifen and just take my chances but Med-oncologist scared me saying if DCIS returned to same breast would mean mastectomy. Should I believe him? Is anyone taking these two drugs together and having unusu F 68 7 months
7/11/2006
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 4  Stage 2b Breast Cancer and BRCA+ve I have only had two minimal side effects so far, a. I get a very occasional cramp in my leg, (a hot bath cures it quick smart) b. If I forget to take my tamoxifen tablet, I get a terrible headache for a week. Of course the solution is not to forget to take the tablet I know other women have had bad side effects, I havent. I think its the "luck of the draw" I would reccomend at least trying it and seeing if you get any side effects before making a decision on whether to talke it or not. F 38 10 months
7/3/2006
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 1  dcis-lumpectomy-radiation Took Tamoxifen,not Nolvadex. Gradually increasing r.hip pain,lumbar pain,aching down r.leg. Difficulty standing up after sitting for 30 min or more from hip pain.Constant uterine pressure feeling,similar to premenstrual pressure. Sometimes felt mentally unalert as if current info was just bypassing my memory. Decreased interest in people and events. Had been on Fosamax for about 7 years with gradually increasing joint and muscle pain;check out Foxamax on this site. Believe tamoxifen caused increase in joint and muscle pain, a synergistic effect. Have stopped both drugs about six weeks ago.Believe I feel better. Did some heavy scuffle-hoeing in my veg.garden for a couple of hours yesterday and had less pain afterwards than without this exercise.Less sore than usual this morning. Believe this is mild arthritis, not osteoporosis. I'm going to take my chances with future cancer occurrence.Friend had DCIS,lumpectomy,radiation,tamoxifen for 5 years; now in year 11 has developed aggressive cancer in other breast. So does Tamoxifen protect us or harm the immune system so that other cancers can develop years into the future?Would appreciate anyone's comments to my e-mail address. F 68 5 months
6/17/2006
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 3  DCIS Confusion, memory loss, VERY low energy level and severe muscle, joint & leg pain. I am taking a 3 mo. hiatus from the medication right now. After one week, my memory and energy level improved greatly. However, still having confusion and pain. After 3 months my oncologist plans to try Evista. I don't want the cancer to return, but what is life if you can't live it? F 51 2.5 years
6/14/2006
 4  Breast Cancer hot flashes, weight gain, water retention, a lot of leg and feet pain - hobbled around in the morning until I got going (usually about on hour) Immediately gained 35 pounds, and had hot flashes that would melt your tennis shoes. The leg pain subsided at some point after year one. I started water pills for the water retention and after about 1 - 1/2 years, the weight just kinda melted off, must have got used to the med. The feet pain stayed with me until I stopped Tamoxifen. I took it for 5 years, and after 2 1/2 years - I started Femara. I have been on Femara about 2 1/2 years - no problems - nothing - much easier to tolerate than the Tamoxifen. I am a ten year survivor - so I will take what is thrown at me - anything to stay healthy and cancer-free!! F 52 5 years
4/17/2006
 1  To prevent a recurrence of DCIS Hot flashes and weakness, especially during hot weather. I am beginning to put 2 and 2 together and see that this drug is interfering with my ability to tolerate new medicines. Specifically at this time (there have been others) I'm having dizziness and balance problems related to postural hypotension as I try to use Lyrica for my fibromyalgia and nerve damage (my major illness is Sjogren's Syndrome). I didn't suspect this connection at first, and then I also tried Cymbalta and I had an even worse reaction. It looks as though the tamoxifen depletes my store of salt and fluids and maybe other electrolytes. It seems also to bring on hypoglycemia. Have other people found anything like this to be the case? I'd love to find out how people are solving this problem (switching to asomatase inhibitors?). Thank you! F 60 15 months
4/15/2006

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