Tamoxifen and Fatigue: What Users Say

• tgr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2013

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I am taking tamoxifen for two months now. But it's not easy due to so many side effects. You need a lot of encouragement from family and friends to keep going. This medicine has so many side effects. Some of the side effects are fatigue, hot flashes, short temper, sadness, dizziness, anger, and many more. The other day my son and my daughter came to me to ask if I was drinking. They said that I looked so angry the night before and they were worried about me. I never drink, so I told them about the medicine."

• que...
• September 14, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I have been taking tamoxifen for less than a month. I have had fatigue, chills, shortness of breath, night sweats, blurred vision, difficulty sleeping. It seems as if I get over one side effect and here comes another. I feel like I am going crazy. I am trying to stick with it, but it keeps changing."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2018

For Breast Cancer "Had hot flashes or hot all the time, thinning hair, overwhelming fatigue, pain in the jaw, confusion, and strange thinking. Thought and said things differently than I normally would have, and I couldn't sleep even though I was always tired. Didn't have any energy, and I always had energy before, but it was a chore just to make myself move. Kept saying I'm so tired. Just found these sites, and it is helping me to understand how tamoxifen affects so many so differently. Thank God my husband and family were kind during this time. I was on tamoxifen about 20 months when I asked the doctor to let me get off of it, and since I am 80, she decided to honor my request."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 15, 2018

For Breast Cancer "For those of you who only had menopausal side effects - hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, dry skin - great. I had all that plus anxiety attacks, depression, headaches that made migraines seem like a walk in the park, hair loss, muscle aches and cramps, fatigue that made it difficult to just walk to the bathroom, blurred vision (I had already had cataracts removed). The list goes on and on, but to compound it, when I told my doctors, they said, 'Oh, tamoxifen doesn't cause that.' I gave them the list of side effects with the ones I had marked, and it was thrown in the wastebasket in front of me. Now that I have quit taking it, the side effects come and go. They can and do return over and over again about every two to three months and last two to three months. My doctors told me none of this, so if you are contemplating taking it, do the research first. I wish I had."

• Tou...
• September 14, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Tamoxifen for 40 days. Here's my story: I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer (98% estrogen fed) in April 2015. I did not need chemo or radiation. I was told after surgery (June 2015) that I had to take 'Tommy' for 5 years. I fought the idea, but eventually decided to give it a try. So far, the main complaint I have is fatigue. I take it at night and that helps. Some joint pain, vaginal discharge (clear mostly), and the BEST thing about Tommy is that it has calmed me down. I am about 30% of the energized person I was before. I no longer feel like I need to solve the world's problems in a day. So, I can honestly say, that's a big plus! WEIGHT CHANGES: I became Vegan and did not lose any weight! :("

• Gem...
• September 4, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I have been on it for almost 2 months. Had some night sweats but continue with fatigue, dizziness, some sadness, short temper. I am supplementing with Vit E and B6 daily. I will give it more time but not sure I will manage 5 yrs. I certainly do not wish to go on additional pills to manage side effects."

• Lal...
• June 27, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I am 41. I had been on Effexor for a couple of years, so when I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, I carried on with the medication. I started taking Tamoxifen about a month ago. So far, I am very fatigued, have headaches, and some physical aches and pains. I take my Tamoxifen in the morning with my breakfast because that seems to calm the nausea that I can get with an empty stomach. The best thing that I am experiencing now that I am on Tamoxifen is the ability to cry and work through emotion. That ability had left me while I was just on Effexor. I still felt sad, but didn't feel like I could cry. Well, the tears come now, and they feel cleansing and good. I have much less anxiety about having a cancer reoccurrence."

• Aun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I found my lump before Christmas. It was in the milk duct, 2 surgeries weeks apart to remove both lumps, painful. Tamoxifen is horrible! Always sweating, barely sleeping. I already had a hard time with insomnia, now this drug has made things worse. Started taking this in April. I will start taking the drug in the morning instead of at night. Hopefully, I may be able to get some sleep through the night without having to change sheets nightly. After reading the other posts, this explains my constipation, lack of energy. Will see what kind of meds or herbal product I can take for the hot flashes, getting unbearable."

• Lyn...
• February 24, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I've been on tamoxifen for 3 1/3 years. In the beginning, I was fine, but as years went on, I began to have extreme fatigue, feels like it's hard to swallow at times, anxiety, can't drive due to lack of focus, and hot flashes. Oh, I forgot that I gained a lot of weight and I take Zumba classes. I told the Dr. that I'm having a hard time driving, and he just dismisses what I say. The nurse said that there was another patient complaining about the same thing. I have 6 1/2 more years on this medicine. I'm doing my best!"

• Sti...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2015

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I am 41 years old, and like many who have already posted, wish the doctors would just be more upfront regarding the side effects. I think it would be more manageable, as sometimes I think I am crazy. I have had peeling of my hands, foot swelling, foot pain, decreased sex drive, fatigue, and yeast infections. I have taken Tamoxifen for 2 years and am on the 10-year study. My children are my motivation for taking this medicine."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Dar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2022

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in March of 2021. I had a right breast mastectomy with an implant. I was put on 20 mg of Tamoxifen in July. By September, I had so many reactions that I could not do daily activities. I was so tired that I would fall asleep if I sat down. I started having migraine headaches, which I never had. I requested to cut my dose in half. My symptoms were better, and I could deal with them. I still had leg swelling, joint pain, and fatigue. Daily exercise helped with this. My doctor and I agree that my body was probably overloaded. I am fortunate that my risk is low. My advice is to do your research and discuss your concerns with your doctor. As of March 2022, I am trying another estrogen blocker. If I have severe symptoms, I will go back on 10 mg of Tamoxifen."

• Kcy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 3, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Hot flushes not too bad, suffer from fatigue and bone pain, but the medicine makes me feel safe."

• BDR...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 12, 2023

For Breast Cancer, Prevention "Taking tamoxifen for 6 years, the first 5 years had little side effect, but now I have fatigue and depression. But thank God my mammogram is clear."