Tamoxifen Description

Generic Name : TAMOXIFEN

Pronunciation : (ta mox' i fen)

Trade Name(s) : Cytofen, Mamofen, Neotam, Nolvadex, Oncomox, Tamofen, Tamoxifen, Tamoxifen Citrate, Tamoxifen Citrate

Why it is prescribed: Tamoxifen has been used to treat both advanced and early stage breast cancer. It has been used for nearly 20 years to treat patients with advanced breast cancer.

When it is to be taken: Tamoxifen is a drug in pill form, taken orally, that interferes with the activity of estrogen(a female hormone).

How it should be taken: The dose of tamoxifen will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Special Instruction :
1. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to tamoxifen or any other drugs.
2. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants such as warfarin , aspirin, and vitamins.
3. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease or high levels of cholesterol.
4. you should know that tamoxifen may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Tamoxifen may harm the fetus.
5. Talk with your doctor about the potential risk of developing a new uterine cancer.

Side Effects :
1. The most common side effect is hot flashes similar to those experienced during menopause.
2. Tamoxifen may induce menopause in a woman who is close to menopause; however, it rarely does in young women.
3. Other common side effects include vaginal dryness, irregular periods, and weight gain.
4. In addition, women taking tamoxifen may be at slightly increased risk of developing cataracts.
5. Women who have cataracts before taking tamoxifen may be at slightly increased risk of needing eye surgery to remove the cataracts.
6. There has not been a generalized decrease in vision in women taking tamoxifen. It is recommended that women taking tamoxifen have eye examinations by an opthalmologist at least every 2 years.

Other Precautions :
1. Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Tamoxifen may harm the fetus.
2. Tamoxifen has been associated with the development of endometrial changes such as hyperplasia, polyps, and endometrial cancer and with the development of uterine cancer. Talk with your doctor about the potential risk of developing a new cancer.
3. Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor . Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. The exact amount of medicine you need has been carefully worked out. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.
4. Tamoxifen sometimes causes mild nausea and vomiting. However, it may have to be taken for several weeks or months to be effective. Even if you begin to feel ill, do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor . Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.
5. If you vomit shortly after taking a dose of tamoxifen, check with your doctor. You will be told whether to take the dose again or to wait until the next scheduled dose.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep out of the reach of children.
2. Store away from heat and direct light.
3. Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
4. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.