Women's Health > Tamoxifen

Generic Tamoxifen is used for the treatment of invasive breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer, following surgery and/or radiation and for preventing invasive breast cancer in women at high risk for developing it.

Generic Tamoxifen also is used for the treatment of women following surgery and radiation for a less common type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS or intraductal carcinoma). Women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ are at high risk for developing invasive breast cancer at a later date, and tamoxifen prevents development of the invasive cancer in almost half of the women during the first five years of treatment. Occasionally, Generic Tamoxifen is used to stimulate ovulation.

Generic Tamoxifen should be taken at doses specifically directed by the physician. Currently, long term dosing is recommended (in excess of 2 years). Tamoxifen can be taken with food.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to tamoxifen: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Generic Tamoxifen and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, fast heart rate;
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs;
• nausea, loss of appetite, increased thirst, muscle weakness, confusion, and feeling tired or restless;
• unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge;
• irregular menstrual periods;
• pain or pressure in your pelvic area;
• blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• new breast lump; or
• upper stomach pain, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: eye problems, blood disorders, cancers, liver disease, allergies (especially drug allergies). Use reliable birth control (e.g., proven barrier methods) during treatment and for at least two months after treatment. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. This drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this drug. It is not known if this drug is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Many drugs can interact with tamoxifen. Below is just partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these medications:

• bromocriptine (Parlodel);
• cimetidine (Tagamet);
• clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo);
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar);
• isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
• letrozole (Femara);
• methimazole (Tapazole);
• nicardipine (Cardene);
• pioglitazone (Actos);
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
• ropinirole (Requip);
• ticlopidine (Ticlid);
• tranylcypromine (Parnate);
• anti-malaria medication such as chloroquine (Arelan) or pyrimethamine (Daraprim), or quinine (Qualaquin)

If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.