Tamoxifen Information
Pronunciation
ta MOKS i fen
What is this drug used for?
? It is used to treat breast cancer.
? It is used to lower the chance of breast cancer in women with a higher chance of getting it. It may lower the chance of getting cancer in the other breast after one has cancer.
? It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
Frequently reported side effects of this drug
? Hot flashes
? Nausea
? Vomiting
? Weight loss
? Constipation
? Diarrhea
? Trouble sleeping
? Anxiety
? Weight gain
? Back pain
? Bone pain
? Dizziness
? Muscle pain
? Joint pain
Other side effects of this drug: Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of:
? Infection
? High calcium like weakness, confusion, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, constipation, or bone pain.
? Urinary tract infection like blood in the urine, burning or painful urination, passing a lot of urine, fever, lower abdominal pain, or pelvic pain.
? Severe cerebrovascular disease like change in strength on one side is greater than the other, difficulty speaking or thinking, change in balance, or vision changes.
? Bruising
? Bleeding
? Severe loss of strength and energy
? Swelling of arms or legs
? Burning or numbness feeling
? Pelvic pain or pressure
? Menstrual changes
? No menstrual periods
? Abnormal vaginal bleeding
? Vaginal discharge
? Vision changes
? Lump in breast
? Breast soreness or pain
? Decreased sex drive
? Sexual dysfunction
? Depression
? Skin changes
? Severe headache
? Painful urination
? Blood clots like numbness or weakness on one side of the body; pain, redness, tenderness, warmth, or swelling in the arms or legs; change in color of an arm or leg; chest pain; shortness of breath; fast heartbeat; or coughing up blood.
? Liver problems like dark urine, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin.
? Signs of a significant reaction like wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
Tamoxifen may be confused with pentoxifylline, raloxifene, Tambocor, tamsulosin, temazepam, toremifene
Storage and Stability
Oral solution: Store at 20?C to 25?C (68?F to 77?F); excursions permitted between 15?C to 30?C (59?F to 86?F). Do not freeze or refrigerate. Protect from light. Discard opened bottle after 3 months.
Tablets: Store at 20?C to 25?C (68?F to 77?F). Protect from light. Avoid excessive heat.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiovascular: Cerebrovascular accident, chest pain, deep vein thrombosis, edema, flushing, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, peripheral edema, vasodilation, venous thrombosis
Dermatologic: Alopecia, diaphoresis, pruritus vulvae, skin changes, skin rash
Endocrine & metabolic: Amenorrhea, fluid retention, hot flash, hypercalcemia, hypercholesterolemia, infrequent uterine bleeding, menstrual disease, ovarian cyst, weight gain, weight loss
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, anorexia, cholestasis, constipation, diarrhea, dysgeusia, dyspepsia, nausea, nausea and vomiting
Genitourinary: Irregular menses, leukorrhea, mastalgia, urinary tract infection, vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness, vaginal hemorrhage, vaginitis, vulvovaginitis
Hematologic & oncologic: Anemia, breast neoplasm, lymphedema, neoplasm (second primary), thrombocytopenia, tumor flare (during treatment of metastatic breast cancer; generally resolves with continuation; includes increased lesion size and erythema)
Hepatic: Hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, increased serum aspartate aminotransferase, increased serum bilirubin, liver steatosis
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction
Infection: Infection, sepsis
Nervous system: Anxiety, depression, dizziness, fatigue, headache, insomnia, mood changes, pain, paresthesia, tumor pain (during treatment of metastatic breast cancer; generally resolves with continuation)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, arthritis, arthropathy, asthenia, back pain, bone fracture, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, ostealgia, osteoporosis
Ophthalmic: Cataract
Renal: Increased serum creatinine
Respiratory: Bronchitis, cough, dyspnea, flu-like symptoms, pharyngitis, sinusitis, throat irritation (oral solution)
Miscellaneous: Cyst
Rare: Hepatic neoplasm, superficial thrombophlebitis
