Tamoxifen summary:
- Tamoxifen inhibits the growth of estrogen sensitive tumors. It also reduces mammary gland swelling in women and men.
- With breast cancer and breast pain during menstruation. Also in men who get breasts as a side effect of a drug. Furthermore, with reduced fertility (PCOS).
- You usually use tamoxifen every day. In some conditions, however, once a week, or several days in a row per cycle.
- Take the tablet at a fixed time, for example in the morning with breakfast. Then you are less likely to forget a dose. Once a week: choose a fixed day.
- Side effects: menopausal complaints, such as hot flushes. Tamoxifen makes women artificially menopausal. Furthermore gastrointestinal complaints, headache, fluid retention, rash, hair loss, blurred vision.
- Increased risk of thrombosis: Tell your doctor if you develop a hard red sore in the calf or suddenly become short of breath.
- There are many interactions with other means. Have your pharmacist check that it is safe to use with your other medicines, including those bought without a prescription.
Tamoxifen use
Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen . This means that it counteracts the action of the female sex hormone estrogen. Doctors prescribe it for a certain type of breast cancer , namely one that is sensitive to hormones. Doctors sometimes prescribe it for severe breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle. In some cases, the doctor can also prescribe it for breast swelling in men and impaired fertility.
Side effects Tamoxifen
Regularly
- Menopausal symptoms , such as hot flushes, sweating, irregular periods, stopping of menstruation, vaginal discharge and itching of the vagina. That’s because this drug blocks the female estrogen hormone, artificially moving you into menopause. If you are already in the menopause before you start taking this medicine, you will be less affected. If you have a lot of menopausal symptoms, please contact your doctor.
Rarely
- At the beginning of the treatment pain increase, especially in bone metastases, swelling and redness at the site of the breast cancer. These are transient phenomena and will pass by themselves.
- Headache and dizziness.
- Gastrointestinal complaints , such as nausea and vomiting.
- Retention of moisture in places where this is not normally the case, for example in the ankles and feet This is called edema. If this affects you, consult your doctor.
- Thrombosis, where a blood clot can block a blood vessel. This usually happens in the leg, sometimes the blood clot gets into the lungs. You can recognize thrombosis by a thick, hard, red and painful area on the leg, sometimes pain in the calf and a feeling of heaviness in the leg, rarely sudden shortness of breath, sometimes with pain or coughing up blood. In these cases, call a doctor immediately or go to the Emergency Service.
- Rashes and hair loss. Consult your doctor if you have a rash or a lot of hair loss. The dosage may be lower.
- Impaired vision due to eye disorders , such as cataracts or retinal or cornea abnormalities. Consult your doctor if you have problems with your vision.
- Changes to the lining of the womb , such as polyps, or very rarely uterine cancer. Tell your doctor if you have stopped menstruating for some time and you suddenly get vaginal bleeding again. In women who have or have had uterine cancer , the tumor may grow or come back with the use of this medicine. It is therefore better not to use this medicine. Talk to your doctor about a possible alternative. If this is not available, you can in some cases, under regular monitoring, use this medicine.