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Tamoxifen

  • If you experience pain or swelling in the calf of one leg or sudden breathlessness contact your doctor immediately
  • If you experience irregular or unusual vaginal bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or pressure, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible
  • Before having any kind of medical treatment, including dental or emergency treatment, tell the doctor, surgeon, dentist, or other medical professional, that you are taking tamoxifen
  • You must not get pregnant whilst taking tamoxifen. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you about suitable contraception.

About tamoxifen

Type of medicine Anti-oestrogen
Used for Treatment of breast cancer
Infertility
Also called Nolvadex-D
Soltamox
Available as Tablets
Oral solution

Many breast cancers need the hormone oestrogen to grow. Some of these breast cancers are 'oestrogen receptor positive' which means the cancer cells contain oestrogen receptors. Tamoxifen works by preventing oestrogen from binding to these receptors. This blocks the action of oestrogen on cancer cells which may in turn cause some breast cancer tumours to shrink.

Tamoxifen is also sometimes used to treat infertility, by encouraging the release of an egg.

Before taking tamoxifen

Before taking tamoxifen make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

  • If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding
  • If you suffer from porphyria (a blood disorder)
  • If you have problems with blood clots or you are on anticoagulant medication (used to prevent blood clots)
  • If you are taking a hormonal form of contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy
  • If you suffer from unusual or irregular menstrual periods
  • Tamoxifen is not recommended for use in children

How to take tamoxifen

  • Take your medication exactly as directed by your doctor
  • You must follow the printed instructions you have been given with your medication
  • Take each dose at the same time each day. If you forget a dose, check with your doctor. You will be told whether to take the dose again, or wait until the next dose is due.

Getting the most from your treatment

  • Before having any kind of medical treatment, including dental or emergency treatment, tell the doctor, surgeon, dentist, or other medical professional, that you are taking tamoxifen
  • Keep your regular appointments with your doctor and appointments for blood tests so your progress can be monitored
  • You must not get pregnant whilst taking tamoxifen. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you about suitable contraception.

Can tamoxifen cause problems?

Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.

Side-effects What can I do if I experience this
Visual disturbances Make sure you are unaffected before driving, operating machinery or doing other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not able to see properly.
Nausea Eat little and often. Stick to simple foods such as dry toast.
If nausea becomes excessive speak to your doctor.
Vomiting Drink plenty of liquid. Stick to simple foods such as dry toast.
If vomiting becomes excessive speak to your doctor.
Headache Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable pain-killer. If headache continues speak with your doctor.
Light-headedness Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert.
Avoid alcohol as it will increase any feelings of drowsiness.

Important:

If you experience irregular or unusual vaginal bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or pressure, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you develop difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, an itchy skin rash or skin peeling, influenza-like symptoms or yellowing of the skin and eyes contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Taking tamoxifen may increase your chances of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The risk is increased if you have recently had surgery or have had a period of immobility. If you experience pain or swelling in the calf of one leg or sudden breathlessness contact your doctor immediately.

If you suffer from excessive nausea, vomiting or thirst speak to your doctor.

Menstrual periods may stop while you are being treated with tamoxifen.

Other side-effects include hot flushes, itching in the genital area, menstrual changes, fluid retention, abdominal pain, thinning of the hair, breathlessness or cough. If you experience these or any other worrying symptoms, which you think may be due to this medicine, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store tamoxifen

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach of children
  • Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light

Important information about all medicines


  • Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Make sure that the person prescribing this medicine knows about any other medicines that you are taking. This includes medicines you buy and herbal and homeopathic medicines.
  • If you buy any medicines check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
  • Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking any medicine.
  • Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of this medicine go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if it is empty.
  • If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
  • Always read the printed information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
  • This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
  • Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
  • If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.
© EMIS 2007 DocID:
3250		 DocRef:
dils2134		 Last Updated:
1 Feb 2007		 Date of Next Review:
31 Jan 2009		 Version:
22




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PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

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