Tamoxifen side effects

[karenfritzohare]

Hello to all.
I have been taking tamoxifen, after lumpectomy and radiation for 14 months now. I also take 150mg Effexor to help with the hot flashes.
Has anyone else been miserable with this side effect?
K

[madubois63]

I never took anything for the hot flashes (and some were intense), but I found over time they faded. I dressed in layers and froze lots of water bottles to take with me everywhere...good luck!

[goops]

I get them the worst while I am sleeping, I wake up about 10 times during the night, I will have to throw the blankets off me and then wake up a while later because I am freezing. I have only been on
Tamoxifen for 1 month. I am not taking anything for the hot flashes. My oncologist told me that it usually gets better when your body adjusts to the medicine.

[karenfritzohare]

Thank you. I guess I was hoping 14 months of severe flashing might be enough time to start feeling some relief. They just seem to get more intense and certainly more frequent. Upwards of 30 per day. Nights are worse.
I had taken Premarin in my 40's to deal with menopausal flashing.
Of course, that is no longer an option.
I was hoping I would be able to sleep through the night by now.

Am I correct in assuming I may be able to switch to another drug after they are certain I am post menopausal? Will this be determined by blood test? (seems like the tamox. would cause estrogen count to be distorted) or will two years without a period be enough?
K