Tamoxifen and Arthritis

[Mamabee08]

I am 49 and was diagnosed with atypia in 12/04.  I have been on tamoxifen since 3/07.  Aside from night sweats, hair loss, and hot flashes, I have felt well.  I also take an 81 mg. asprin every other day to prevent blood clots due to the tamoxifen.  When I took the aspirin daily, I was bruising badly on my arms and legs.  This improved when I decreased the aspirin to every other day.  Now I am experiencing joint pain in my hands and distortion in some of my joints.  It is quite painful and impedes my ability to grasp items.

Is this a common side effect of tamoxifen and should I report this problem to my doctor?  

[carme]

My mother was diagnosed with RA one year after her first breast cancer...no chemo, no radiation and no tamoxifen (1976).  My younger sister who had stage 3 and bi-lateral mastectomies, radiation and chemo at 48, was diagnosed with RA at 50.
Are you by chance taking a statin for cholesterol?  I have, and have tried 5 different ones, am now on Zetia. First one that doesn't make me ache.

[Tricia3]

Joint pain, inability to grasp items with hands and deformity such as you describe are not common side effects of tamoxifen. See an MD, these are signs of RA (rheumatoid arthritis). RA can happen to anyone,  especially those w/history of scarlet or rheumatic fever or family history of RA.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear Mammabee08:  Joint pain is not a “common” side effect of tamoxifen but it has been documented.  Whether tamoxifen is responsible for this discomfort 9 months after initiation is something that will need to be evaluated.  You should bring this to the attention of your doctor.