Tamoxifen Side- effects

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shifty shaker - 20 Apr 2006 18:29 GMT

She's got severe hot flashes and was wondering if there were alternate
therapies out there to inquire about.

IF anyone knows of something that is as effective and perhaps without the
hot flashes please reply

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allan - 20 Apr 2006 18:40 GMT

> She's got severe hot flashes and was wondering if there were alternate
> therapies out there to inquire about.
>
> IF anyone knows of something that is as effective and perhaps without the
> hot flashes please reply

It's part of the game, shifty ;-)

Unfortunately her disease feeds on estrogen and anything that
interferes with estrogen uptake will also cause menopausal symptoms.
It's the nature of the beast, my friend.

Some antidepressants can help with the hot flashes, though. I'd ask
your oncologist about Effexor or something similar. On the alternative
side, black cohosh might help with the hot flashes.

Good luck -

allan

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Tim Jackson - 20 Apr 2006 20:15 GMT

I presume this patient is pre-menopausal, there are several alternatives
for post-menopausal patients. How long has she been taking Tamoxifen?
The hot flashes may well reduce with time if she perseveres.

The Evista trial we were just talking about in another thread might
offer an alternative, when and if it gets approved for this use, but
it'd probably just do the same thing.

But do go talk to the oncologist about it, there are things that can be
done to minimise the side effects, as well as drugs like Effexor, such
as altering the time of day when she takes the dose.

Tim Jackson

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A. P. Thorsen - 21 Apr 2006 15:38 GMT

>> She's got severe hot flashes and was wondering if there were alternate
>> therapies out there to inquire about.

> But do go talk to the oncologist about it, there are things that can be
> done to minimise the side effects, as well as drugs like Effexor, such
> as altering the time of day when she takes the dose.

Often the first thing they try around here is Vitamin E (800IU), Vitamin
B6 (200-250mg), a Vitamin C supplement with biofavinoids such as Peridin-C.

There are also some tips about hot flashes, including some of the useful
drugs, at:

http://www.breastcancer.org/bey_cope_meno_hotFlash.html

Be aware that the above is a general article, so it talks about estrogen
as a possible drug. You don't want to go there with ER+ BC, obviously.
And I sure wouldn't drop Tamoxifen (or equivalent) without *serious*
thought, as it's *very* effective in reducing recurrence/metastasis.

The other anti-estrogen drugs (alternatives to Tamoxifen) do tend to
have hot flashes as a side effect also, though different drugs can have
less effect in different people.

And, as previously noted, the hot flashes do tend to taper off over
time. It takes a while, but I hardly ever have them any more.

Hope she finds some relief!

Ann T.
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