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-Sep-02 9:14 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Sep-02 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Tamoxifen
- Tamoxifen Citrate
- Tamofen
- Nolvadex
- Nolvadex D
- 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*
- 289,500
- 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.
Recent alerts for Tamoxifen
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Tamoxifen during the past year.
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 2,100 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% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Tamoxifen work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 2,100 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 2,100 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 significant side-effects on Tamoxifen
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Hot Flashes
-
Sweating
-
Weight Gain
-
Hair Loss
-
Increased Appetite
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Tamoxifen ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I Was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. After chemo and radiation I was put on Tamoxifen. I've only been one it for about a month. Chemo put me in Menopause, Tamoxifen gives me horrible hot flashes. I'm working with my Onc. to try and get these under control. Effexor and Clonidine did not work. That's all for the side effects. For now anyway
34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-27 13:02:09
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma and underwent bilateral mastectomies in 2006. I have been on Tamoxifen for four years following chemotherapy. At first I had significant hot flashes, but these have since subsided and I seem to tolerate the medicine very well. I will be taking Tamoxifen for one more year.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-21 19:32:02
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
Member 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
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
79
Patient Comments About
Tamoxifen