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Christine_Marie's avatar
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago

Menopause clinic & dealing with tamoxifen side affects :)

Hello to everyone:) hope you are all traveling well..... I had my appointment at the menopause clinic the other day, I saw 2 doctors there, one was to talk to me about how I was feeling on tamoxifen & about menopause & how I was coping after my hysterectomy & the other doctor talked about treating tamoxifen side affects & organising a bone density scan for me.....she also did a breast check & blood pressure & all good:):):) She has prescribe me with the drug called clonidine which is used for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, she thinks it could also be helpful for my sore feet that I have every morning which I have never had before taking tamoxifen....it has less side affects than venlafaxine & gabapentin.... Clonidine is also used for nerve pain as well, so I am going to give it a try because I have a lot of neck pain as well, due to severe facet joint arthropathy & displacement, it's like that saying kill 2 birds with one stone....it also means I can come off Celebrex which doesn't really work for me......... The doctor said it can take up to 2 to 7 days for my body to get used to it & it works for some & not others... It doesn't get rid of Nausea though:(:(which I'm still having everyday.....she said I may have to change my treatment if tamoxifen doesn't settle down..... What I would like to ask & hopefully get some feed back on.....has anyone else on here tried clonidine before??? Take care Christine:)x
hot-flushes
menopause

7 Replies

  • Christine_Marie's avatar
    Christine_Marie
    Member
    12 years ago
    I have been slowly easing myself into clonidine & I am feeling a little bit foggy & It is early days....the MSAC clinic said it should ease off after about a week...so hopefully this works, sorry to hear its not working like it should for you..... But you got to give these things a go or you'll never know! Anyway I'm going away with family for 2 weeks camping at shark bay....sun sand sea & sunsets oh & lots of fresh fish....we are leaving tomorrow, so I'm hoping I come back feeling better than what I do now.... Take care Tonya:) Christine:) xox
  • sonzy's avatar
    sonzy
    Member
    12 years ago

    Thanks, Christine. It does seem to be really varied among different people, doesn't it.  Thanks for sharing so much infor with me. Your side effects don't sound like fun at all so I wish you all the best with getting them sorted if you can.

    Sonya

  • sonzy's avatar
    sonzy
    Member
    12 years ago

    That's great info, Robyn. Thanks. I should start walking!

    Sonya

  • Christine_Marie's avatar
    Christine_Marie
    Member
    12 years ago

    Thank you Sonya, I do hope clonidine works for me... When I first started tamoxifen... I had just got over a tummy virus, so I first put the side affects down to that, I had been on it for about 4 days, so I went off the & started it again a week later when I felt better........ when I did start it again, it took about the same amount of time & after a week I had full on nausea & hot flushes hit me big time, I did have them before I started, but they were mild ones.. & just in the last few weeks my feet are now starting to hurt first thing in the morning... I have now been on tamoxifin for about 6 weeks.....I am with MSAC clinic now...Im hoping they can sort me out soon...... I also walk everyday & watch my diet... Some people don't have a problem with tamoxifen & others like myself do...everyone has different make up........ The MSAC clinic said it can take up 3 to 6 months for some people to get use to tamoxifen & some never do they end up going off it........ I hope you are one of the lucky ladies & don't have any problems with it... Take care:)

                                             Christine:)x

                                                                                        

     

     

     

  • Christine_Marie's avatar
    Christine_Marie
    Member
    12 years ago
    I'm glad your achy legs have settled down & also your hot flushes.... I'm hoping the same for myself very soon:) & your magnesium worked really quickly.... For me it took about 3 weeks to work, probably because it's in tablet form, I am going to get powder next time....are you on tabs or powder? Take care Robyn Christine:) x
  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    12 years ago
    Please excuse me if I jump in here on your post:)Sonya,I have been on Tamoxifen for 5 months now.The side effects are minimal.Just recently I have had aching legs at night,but magnesium seems to have fixed that.I only have hot flushes,but these are settling down now also.I have nothing else worth mentioning.I hope you find it ok also.I walk a LOT every day,and try to watch what I eat.I never drink alcohol.All the best and let us know how you go.Cheers xox Robyn
  • sonzy's avatar
    sonzy
    Member
    12 years ago

    Hi Christine

    I'm afraid I can't help you much because I'm fairly new to Tamoxifen (10 days) but would you mind telling me how long it took for the side effects to start kicking in with you? 

    Good luck with the Clondine. 

    Sonya