Get Informed: Tamoxifen
Active Ingredient(s)
Tamoxifen
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of various breast cancers and in breast cancer prevention in high-risk women. It works by binding to estrogen receptors and providing an antiestrogenic response and thus lowering the risk of cancer.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-14 4:45 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-14 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Tamoxifen
- Tamoxifen Citrate
- Tamofen
- Nolvadex
- Soltamox
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to increased risk of endometrial cancers and an increased risk of blood clots, including pulmonary emboli.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 30 Dec 1977
- Est US Patients*
- 289,900
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Tamoxifen or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Tamoxifen Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Tamoxifen interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Tamoxifen used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 1,900 patients that use Tamoxifen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | 100% | 
|
How well does Tamoxifen work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,900 users taking Tamoxifen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 100%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Tamoxifen outweigh the bad things.
- 11%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Tamoxifen.
Common Side Effects of Tamoxifen
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,900 users taking Tamoxifen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
56% of patients experience side-effects on Tamoxifen
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Tamoxifen
Most Common Side Effects...
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Hot Flashes
-
Sweating
-
Weight Gain
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Hair Loss
-
Increased Appetite
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Tamoxifen ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed in 11/06 with invasive lobular carcinoma. After a lumpectomy, full axillary dissection (a nightmare), chemo and radiation, I was put on tamoxifen. Have another 2 1/2 years to go with it. I had debilitating hot flashes, but my onco had just gone to a conference regarding using neurontin for hotflashes and put me on it. Wow, what a difference! Still have them, but they are now tolerable.. what I can't tolerate is the horrible joint pain in my elbows and hip. My elbows are so bad that I can barely use them. An assortment of drs keep trying to tell me it's tennis elbow. yea right...for over a year, in both elbows and other joints too. I know it's my joints, no matter what they say. I am supposed to suffer for another 2 1/2 years with this pain??? I am only 45 years old :( anyone else have severe joint pain??
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-19 10:36:07
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Joint pain, or musculoskeletal pain, has been recognized as a side effect of tamoxifen. It occurs in approximately 2% of patients. You can talk with your physician about taking Tylenol or ibuprofen or another pain medication for the pain. It is important to discuss your medication options with your physician before adding any medication to make sure there is not an interaction with your medical conditions or medication history.
Posted: 2010-02-24 10:41:16
Answer/Reply:
I had 4 lumpectomies and was put on Tamoxifen, I also feel the good outweighs the bad, went right into menopause and started with the sweats, went on Effexor XR and they took care of them. I had not heard that joint pain was associated with this. I have been on Tamoxifen for a little over a year and just recently started having pain in the bone on the inside of my elbow. Just figured it was my ankylosing spondylitis, find this SO interesting, I think I have an answer to that pain. Thank you so much for posting this. I am going to try Osteo Bi-Flex for the jont pain. My husband went on it and within two weeks he felt a difference in his knees! Good luck!
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-05 12:40:37
Question/Comment:
I am a 32 yr old female and I have been taken tamoxifen for 1 yr. I do have hot flashes during the day time and my hair has grown since I have stop taken cimo, but now my hair is falling out bad I do not want to go to any hair club. do you have any suggestion?
32 year old female
32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-22 13:15:59
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Approximately 40% of iGuard patients taking tamoxifen reported hot flashes as a side effect. Approximately 5% of iGuard patients reported hair loss as a side effect while taking tamoxifen. You should discuss your side effects with your doctor especially if they worsen. Your doctor may also be able to recommend some additional treatments to help minimize some of the side effects you are experiencing but will not interfere with your existing conditions.
Posted: 2009-09-22 21:46:44
Question/Comment:
I take tamoxifen because I could not tolerate Arimidex or Arimicin. The joint pain was so severe on those drugs that somedays I couldn't move. I still have joint pain with the tamoxifen but it is being controlled with Ultram. I also experience severe nausea at times with the tamoxifen. I am very drug sensitive though. However with all that said I will take this drug because after all anything beats the cancer and it's side effects. My question on tamoxifen is has anyone else heard that it is not as effective as arimidex and arimicin at preventing reccurrence in menopausal women. I had a bilateral mastectomy and radical hysterectomy in June of 08. I am considered a NED now...No evidence of disease:)
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-03 12:21:08
Answer/Reply:
There is no documented difference in survival between women treated with Arimidex or with Tamoxifen. However, Arimidex signficantly reduces the recurreance rate of breast cancer. See
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/ATAC1204/print
I am a male bc survivor so I'm really interested in this subject.
66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-16 13:51:39
Answer/Reply:
I've also been on Tamoxifen -- for 2 1/2 years so far and have another 2 1/2 to go to complete 5 years. I found that I don't get nausea if I take it with food, only if I should take it on an empty stomach. I get joint, muscle and bone pain from it and have to limit exercising, or be careful not to do certain exercises. My oncologist told me to stay with Tamoxifen for the 5 years as the Aromatase inhibitors would make the pains much worse. To minimize them, I take natural supplements like omega-3 fish oils, glucosamine & chondroitin with MSM and Boswellia. Mostly I experience the pains at night and can't sleep on my left side as a result, but they seem to be at a minimum in the daytime.
73 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-16 22:40:49
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking Tamoxifen since September of last year. The only thing that I noticed about it is that I have been having severe hot flashes. I had lobular carcinoma incitu,which is precancerous. I had a lumpectomy last year and started Tamoxifen after. This is the only treatment I have for this.Great that you are mow cancer free and hope you continue to do well.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-18 15:04:04
Answer/Reply:
I,ve been on tamoxifin for 3 years and my side effects are hot flashes and night sweats
49 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-23 15:08:23
Question/Comment:
I was on Tamoxifen for 1 1/2 years,started having dizzyness and blurred vision,was send for
MRI show I was having a stroke.After all the test it was caused by tamoxifen.Switch to Femara
have some slight joint pain and sweats but no vision problems.
63 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-10 15:04:25
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed w/ breast cancer 11/06. Had 4 months of chemo followed by 6-1/2 weeks of radiation. I have been taking 20mg of Tamoxifen daily since July, 07. I was told that I would be on it for 5 years. I have a sweater on, then I have the sweater off. I too have the hot flashes and night sweats but I feel that is a small price to pay as long as the cancer stays away.
53 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-27 14:29:37
Answer/Reply:
I have no flash... I am always hot... I keep two fans on in my bedroom besides a ceiling fan. I wear shorts all year long, but I too, feel it is a small price to pay to keep the cancer away..I am going on three years in remission and am grateful for every day.
Sherry
Oklahoma
51
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-31 16:26:41
Answer/Reply:
Dear 52 year old female.
I am 47 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 11/07. I was lucky, I didn't need chemo or radiation, but I was also put on Tamoxifen 20mg daily. I have been on it for about a year. I too experience hot flashes and night sweats but am told that is because I am perimenopausal, Thank goodness I am cancer free at this point. I currently have about 4 more years to go. I hope all goes well for you.
48 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-01 12:39:45
Answer/Reply:
I am a man who has been taking Tamoxifen for 4 years. I get night sweats which are really annoying. Last year I found a item called "Bed Fan" which has helped tremendously. I bought mine through Amazon but other sites carry it as well.
65 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-17 07:07:15
Answer/Reply:
I too did chemo and radiation followed by tamoxifen and had the hot flashes. My DR suggested cutting out caffine. They just about stopped completely. Now when I have caffine I get the hot flashes but if I stay off it I rarely experience them.
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-02 13:25:42
Answer/Reply:
i had my brest lumpactime in 2004 . i had a good job that took care of every thing for me. now, my job down sized. i cant even find a job. so , as you no i dont have insurence.
my question is. is their any way i can get on something to help me with this. i tryed to get medicare and i was turn down.
i have doctor bills that need to be paid. and i still need to go to the doctor.i cant just sit around and let the cancer come back.i need help. get back with me. talk to me.
53 year old female
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-04 01:19:10
Answer/Reply:
Have you tried getting in touch with your local cancer society? There are also a number of different organizations out there that can help you with your bills. Also,have you tried contacting the local medicaid office., I also contacted the hospital for my bills and applied for charity help since I was out of work for a year and a half with very little income,although this was not my choice But,It also was not my choice to have cancer either. I didn't want to do this as I am sure you may not want to either,but, look at this as only temporary help until you can get back on your feet again. Good Luck I hope I have been of some help.
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-05 19:02:31
Answer/Reply:
if i were you i would try the health dept. i hope they can help you. this is what i worry about if i ever lose my insurance. i think the health dept has a special program for breast cancer patients.
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-23 19:32:54
Answer/Reply:
I was diagnosed in may '07 and I also took Tamoxifen until 3 months ago. I still suffer from the sweater on and off hot flashes. Although they are annoying I would much rather be going through the hot flashes than dealing with the chemo and radiation side effects.
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-05 18:53:45
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78
Patient Comments about
Tamoxifen