Tamoxifen

Hi PollyMay welcome to the forum. I cna appreciate that this is frustrating for you but please under no circumstances stop taking the Tamoxifen until you have had a conversation with the Breast Team or your Breast Nurse. Im not sure where you are in the country but if it is a Boots store then some of their pharmacists are Macmillan Trained to be able to advise etc so it may be worth going in and asking to speak directly with the pharmacist there and see what if anything they can do for you re this.

If this doesn't bring any answers for you then it may be worth contacting Macmillan on the helpline and having  a chat with one of the Advisors there 08088080000.

Hi Pollymay, it could be your body is adjusting to the brand and may take a while to settle again. I don’t know if that’s how it would work. I’m on Mylan brand at the moment as that is what I was given from the hospital. I’ve had it for 2 months and still get hot flushes but they seem to be settling a bit so am hoping they will stop soon. After that I’ll be taking what my pharmacy has. I did speak to them about getting the brand I have and they said they can try but can’t guarantee it as they get what is available at the time when they place their orders. They did say if they can get it they would do and hold it for me. They also suggested trying other brands too so I would have alternatives if they couldn’t get the one I had asked for. 
Hope that the company email you soon and you can get hold of the brand you like.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Thanks a lot cuffcake. I really want to hold out for the brand I like as I could get on with my life and not think about too many side effects! Up till now my pharmacy have been very good but I think it is a manufacturing problem atm. X

Hi Pollymay

I'm just over a year post diagnosis/surgery etc and I've tried 4 different brands of Tamoxifen including Wockhardt so far with loads of different side effects. Currently on Tillomed which has resulted in water retention around the ankles and feet (not pleasant at all) My pharmacist informs me they can't get hold of Teva brand which I had flushes with but could cope with. I dread going to the chemist to pick up my prescription because I never know what I'm going to get. 

This appears to be a very common issue with Tamoxifen which is so upsetting when we've already gone through so much. It's as if the pharmaceutical companies only make a certain amount and then stop production. I feel your pain!!

Thanks for your support Cazza. 

It sounds as if you have been messed around more than me...  I hope your ankle/feet swelling subsides soon.

I have since found out from Wockhardt that their 20mg Tamoxifen won't be available till at least late September, so frustrating!  I have contacted my Oncologist and asked if I can have a complete break & he said yes straightaway!

I will have another look at the Predict tool online as I seem to remember, when I looked a while back, that for me the meds were only offering 1-2% extra protection anyway.

All the best x