Tamoxifen and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with a small tumor on my left breast (stage one, grade one). Thankfully, early detection at age 41 made my experience much smoother. The toughest part so far was the early tests and biopsies (only one malignant lump was found). The surgery was a breeze. Radiation was taxing, but I am so thankful that chemo was not necessary. So far, after 3 months of Tamoxifen, I've experienced only one side effect (the occasional hot flash). I have been very lucky so far and hope that cancer never comes back. I was so against taking Tamoxifen, but I am glad that I gave it a try. Stay strong everyone, and I hope this encourages other young BC survivors."

• I...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I've been on this drug for nine miserable months now. I had said I would try it for one year, and I'm not sure I can make that. It appears that quality of life is not something my doctor cares about. It's almost as if he's being paid by the tamoxifen people because he won't even listen to anything negative about the drug. My hot flashes are unbelievable. My joint pain makes it difficult to walk. I haven't slept in nearly a year. This drug makes life not worth living."

• DOL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Tamoxifen for four months now & have been told I will be taking it for the standard 5 years. I have had hot flashes, no period (that stopped after my second chemo in April 2013), sex drive has disappeared (also from chemo & Tamoxifen combined) and I have had pelvic pain (tends to be more apparent when I lay on my back), joint pain (in my elbow and where legs join pelvic), and lower back pain. I am hoping that some of these side effects will soon subside. Wow, it is amazing all the different side effects that Tamoxifen causes for people. Reading a lot of these comments has made me now realize that all the pains & aches I have been having truly are side effects from the Tamoxifen. It's nice to know I'm not alone!"

• Anonymous
• March 19, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I'm 29, was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 26. I have probably been on tamoxifen for a year. I have a hard time taking it regularly because of the side effects. The hot flashes are almost unbearable, my mood swings push people away, and my sex drive has decreased extensively. I am taking this medicine to prevent my cancer from returning. I have a 3-year-old boy that I live and breathe each day for, and the reason I will continue taking the medicine. But tamoxifen does make me miserable."

• 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."

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed for HER2-positive breast cancer in October of 2017. I went through chemo as well as radiation, which was a horrible experience that my body tolerated. Four months ago, I was introduced to the drug tamoxifen. I've been feeling horrible ever since. I feel like I have had a stroke on my right side, my brain hurts, and I have trouble thinking or completing daily tasks. I wake up to dizzy spells and hot flashes. Other symptoms include blurred vision, change in color vision, stomach pain, headache, hot flashes, vaginal discharge, pain or bone pain, loss of interest in sex, and trouble sleeping. I have decided not to continue the treatment as it's not worth it."

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I've been on Tamoxifen for a year now. A few joint aches but all in all not too many problems. When I started the medicine, I was a Pescatarian (only ate fish or seafood). I have maybe two hot flashes at night. I take my pill at 5 pm daily. I was told I need to be on it for 10 years. Considering the alternative, I don't have too many bad things to say about it. Glad to be cancer-free!! Hope this keeps me that way. Turning 50 in three days!"

• tlc...
• September 1, 2010

For Breast Cancer "Though this medicine may give you a chance at living longer, the mood swings are massive. I feel depressed and have no energy. I am always nauseous. Everything hurts. My sex drive is basically gone, and my periods are slight if not altogether absent. I have shrunk inside a bit, so now sex is painful. I have hot flashes that keep me awake at night and make me very unhappy during the day."

• Van...
• April 15, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with DC breast cancer in November 2014. After 6 chemo treatments, a double mastectomy, and 33 radiation treatments, I have been on Tamoxifen for 7 months. The hot flashes are getting better at times, and I'm taking Gabapentin for my hot flashes. The back and hip pain is horrible. I have put on 20 lbs. I go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week and ride my horse 3 times a week, but all forced. I feel bad pretty much all the time. Always sick to my stomach. Working out makes me feel more sick, but I push through it anyway. No matter what I do, I can't drop weight. I'm in the process of losing my eyelashes for the 4th time. I used to have pretty, thick hair, and now it's thin. My memory is horrible. I hate this life."

• Ang...
• July 4, 2016

For Breast Cancer "It's one year I'm on Tamoxifen. I will manage all side effects that I have such as hot flashes, joint pain, back pain, mood swings. My goal is to live longer and see my son's future. I'm a 46-year-old. I try not to think about pain and side effects until I'm really tired from pain. The only thing I'm scared of is pain. The rest I will manage. Good luck to all of you! Life is beautiful, and fight for it."

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2010

For Breast Cancer "I have been on tamoxifen for 10 months now. I have had hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, heavy menstrual bleeding, discharge, headaches, and now back pain. But I want to decrease my chance of possibly getting invasive breast cancer or DCIS in my other breast, so I will continue to take it."

• 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."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2017

For Breast Cancer "62 year old white female. Stage 2. Tumor and some lymph nodes removed in February 2015. I have been on Tamoxifen for 6 days and now the side effects are draining me. Extreme tiredness, itching skin, headaches, arm and leg pain with numbness, dizziness, and hot flashes. I am having a war with myself about medications and alternative medicine. I was extremely ill with Arimidex, suffering from stomach pains radiating to my back. The unconcern of my oncologist set me off to find alternative methods. I found an excellent alternative medicine doctor, and we started cleaning out the estrogen from my liver, kidneys, etc., but I am having a problem eliminating body fat. My breast surgeon scared me into taking Tamoxifen. The alternative doctor says there are always other things you can do. I'm torn."

• Gua...
• July 11, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I was on Tamoxifen for 4 1/2 years after I had my chemo. There were a lot of side effects after stopping estrogen: dry skin, loss of libido, and an edgy feeling. When I started taking Tamoxifen, I felt much better. I didn't feel edgy as the Tamoxifen tricked my body into feeling like it had estrogen. I had hot flashes but did not feel them. My friends would tell me I must have had a hot flash because my face turned red. I highly recommend this medicine. I felt much better on it."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Bev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Cancer Center of America told me to take tamoxifen with melatonin (20 mg). I take 10 mg both at night before I go to bed. It's been hard with the hot flashes and mood swings. It's been a month, and I'm trying to follow Dr. orders. Every day I want to stop taking it, but I don't. Say a prayer before taking it and pray for no side effects."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."