Tamoxifen Question

Updated

Has anyone experienced severe muscle spasms especially around the body beneath the breast. I have been on tamoxifen for 1 1/2 years and have experienced these spasms since I started. They are so bad they sometime take my breath away. My dr says it is not the tamoxifen.

I have experienced ALL the listed side effects.

9 Replies

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1

Hello, Linda! How are you doing? I'm sorry about the problem that you're having.

No, that's not a known side effect of Tamoxifen.

Have you had this checked out via x-rays or an MRI?

You may want to consult a different doctor to get help discovering what's causing it.

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2

Thanks for the reply. I figured out the cause. I stopped the tamoxifen several weeks ago and the pain is almost gone. I think when the drug is completely out of my body, it will be completely gone. Also, my overall pain is already down by at least 50%

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3

Linda, I too had terrible muscle spasms which started when I began taking Tamoxifen. My oncologist suggested taking 250 mg of magnesium every day and I had immediate relief. I hope it works for you too.

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4

Thanks. I was taking magnesium. Maybe I need to increase the dose. My spasms are about 90% less now that I stopped tamoxifen. Best of luck to you.

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5

Lyn, thank you so much for the magnesium suggestion. I was taking a very low dose. I increased the magnesium and now go a week or two without a spasm. The ones I do have are very mild compared to before. I will certainly tell my oncologist. Thanks again and best of luck to you.

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6

Hi. I have been on tamoxifen for six years and have come off it due because I am having surgery next month on my surgeons request, but I am getting severe night cramps. Is this normal?

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7

I've had severe muscle cramps under where my right breast was and have never taken Tamoxifen. I can no longer do sit-ups because of it. My doctor thinks it is scar tissue from a heart surgery many years ago.

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8

After having Magnesium levels checked, I am now taking 400 mg/day. I should also note that levels of spasms dropped significantly when I started taking a daily probiotic pill to support my immune system through this adventure.

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9

3 years after lumpectomy, 6 wks. radiation, at 70 yrs. of age, any value in starting tamoxifen now? Oncologist put me on Arimidex which I discontinued after 6 wks. due to painful osteoarthritis symptoms that persist after almost 3 years off this monster drug. The dr. gave me a perscription last week but I'm sceptical at the benefits after 3 yrs. post surgery. What are the stats on recurrence without use of any cancer antagonists?

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