HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Half of breast cancer patients treated with antihormonals are noncompliant ie, do not

caya · 07-25-2010, 01:23 PM

Valerie,

I have been on Effexor XR - 75 mg. 1/day for 3 years now, started about one month after starting Tamoxifen - the hot flashes were like you - totally unbearable... so my onc. suggested the Effexor, and it literally changed my life - good for the hot flashes, also helped the mood swings, anxiety etc. I have told my onc. I am never going off it, he just chuckles when I say that.
I started Femara on Jan. 1, 2010 (blood work confirmed I was post menopausal at age 51) - still taking the Effexor.
I have read that going off Effexor can be difficult, but quite frankly I will worry about that if that day ever comes - it works too well for me to ever consider going off it, at least while I am on AIs. I am 90%ER+/50%PR+, so I also must take this stuff.

JMHO.

all the best,
caya

07-25-2010, 01:23 PM	#36
caya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Thornhill, Ontario Canada Posts: 2,320	Re: Half of breast cancer patients treated with antihormonals are noncompliant ie, do Valerie, I have been on Effexor XR - 75 mg. 1/day for 3 years now, started about one month after starting Tamoxifen - the hot flashes were like you - totally unbearable... so my onc. suggested the Effexor, and it literally changed my life - good for the hot flashes, also helped the mood swings, anxiety etc. I have told my onc. I am never going off it, he just chuckles when I say that. I started Femara on Jan. 1, 2010 (blood work confirmed I was post menopausal at age 51) - still taking the Effexor. I have read that going off Effexor can be difficult, but quite frankly I will worry about that if that day ever comes - it works too well for me to ever consider going off it, at least while I am on AIs. I am 90%ER+/50%PR+, so I also must take this stuff. JMHO. all the best, caya __________________ ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+ 1.7 cm and 1.0 cm. Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested) MRM Dec.18/06 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08 Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012 BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so. Reclast infusion January 2012 Oopherectomy October 2013 15 Years NED!!