Tamoxifen brand - Milpharm

Hi I can sympathise with you. I am taking Milpharm brand and getting terrible hot flushes, joint pain, discharge and not sleeping. I feel like an old woman. The doctor gave me clonidine for the hot flushes but that has stopped working, she did say there is another tablet I can try but to be honest I don’t want to be taking more tablets as you don’t  know what it’s doing to your body.I did ask the consultant if I had to stay on Tamoxifen as my cancer was grade 1 19mm lump. I would love to have some quality of life too I dread going to bed. I am having Auricular acupuncture which starts on 7 September for 10 weeks which is suppose to help with the hot flushes and sleep so I will let you know how I get on. Fingers crossed this brand is better for you. Xx

Hello, I was on genesis brand and side effects settled very quickly, but no one can source it now. Received milphram last month and the fatigue is dreadful. I have just phoned my doctors for a new prescription.. going to try relonchem.  I’ll see how that goes. There are lots of brands out there so I’ll just keep trying different ones to see which side effects are more bearable! I’ve also heard sage tablets are good for flushes so I’m going to check with my BCN about taking some. Good luck. X

I'm on Wockhardt brand. Nearly at end of first month. Have suffered swollen ankles towards afternoon/evening so put them up on sofa evening time. I've had maybe 2 or 3 days where I've felt nauseous and woken up with horrid taste in mouth. Woken up the odd time overheating but my sleep has been rubbish since surgery. I've been told these are menopause symptoms that the tablets are triggering. There is other info on the 'oestrogen reducing medication' thread.

I think everyone is different and reacts differently and unfortunately, its just a case of finding the one that suits you. There does seem to be a lot of different brands out there. Do you have a 'favoured/sympathetic pharmacist' that can source other brands for you?

Good luck - keep going ... one day at a time x

I have my next prescription and this brand is the same as you have been taking Relonchem. I will let you know how I fair with this one. I’m dreading starting it. How you getting on with Milpharm I suppose it’s too early to tell. Take care. Xx

Aaaw thank you for your reply Til69 - it is really appreciated. Its sad to hear that you are also going through it re side effects! I will ask my GP about Clonidine and fingers crossed - Auricular Acupuncture works for you for the hot flushes and other symptoms.

I joined a gym recently. Im 50 and really not a fit person/overweight etc. But I force myself to go early in the morning. I just go on the exercise bike for 30mins and then go for a walk for 30 mins. (I had to build up the time over 2 months - in small steps). I have to wear compression bandages on my knews.due to me being off my food etc. Take care lovely x

Hi Til69

I started taking the Milpharm brand Saturday night. Omg....when I woke up Sunday, I felt worse re nausea and can totally understand re the hot flushes I perserved till yesterday but felt awful....so rang my GP for another prescription - so I can go back to my old brand RelonChem. I still had some of my old meds and took 1 last night. Whilst I woke up with mild nausea, felt so much better today and I can atleast do everyday things most days on RelonChem.

I was really hoping for a positive switch but it really scared me that I ended up feeling worse! Think im going to stick to RelonChem for now...and gradually introduce new brands to see if works. But its become really stressful and dont want to be chopping and changing each month!

But for everyone on here - I will update you if I try another brand and let you know what the side effects are like.

Ive so appreciated everyones feedback on here - and i really do send my heart out to all of you that are suffering xx

Hi Tired Minion

My sleep has been terrible since surgery too. Im going to go to Holland and Barratt and see what they reccommend. A few people have reccommended Sage supplements.

It is a minefield and im trying to embrace my good days. Definately agree with taking 1 day at a time xx

Hi Cyprusfav

I was saying about the Sage tablets and im going to try them also and see if it helps.

Ive only tried 2 brands. Whilst I initially complained about RelonChem....it has been the better 1 out of the 2. Hot flushes are milder...nausea can be managed...but i would say because of my Arthritis - joint pain is quite bad.

But everyone is different and finding a brand with the least side effects thats gonna work for you. Menopause not a nice thing to go through as it is - so with us experiencing symptoms because the lack of oestrogen- something we are having to adjust to xx

I'm reluctant and not sure if GP would give me sleeping tablets. Pharmacist not much help either. Quite a few things inc over the counter stuff react with tamoxifen so I'm just plodding on at the moment. I'm starting radiotherapy soon so sure the tiredness may make me sleep but compared to others on various threads I don't seem to be suffering as much as some others so plodding on xx

Have you tried Promethazine which is an antihistamine? You can get it over the counter or prescribed. It does work re sleep - I dont take it every night but when im exhausted and need a good nights sleep. I take 2 and usually will sleep through the night (which I dont normally do).

You are awaiting Radiotherapy - so dont down play what you are also going through. Hope everything goes ok with treatment. I found the hosipital really supportive when I was having Radiotherapy and I was seen quickly by the doctor there - when I was feelimg poorly xx