Tamoxifen citrate
blocks the effects of the hormone estrogen in breast tissue
, which may help keep breast cancer cells from growing. It is a type of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM).
What are the side effects of tamoxifen citrate tablets?
- increased tumor or bone pain.
- hot flashes.
- nausea.
- fatigue.
- mood swings.
- depression.
- headache.
- hair thinning.
What does tamoxifen do to the body?
Tamoxifen is a type of hormonal therapy known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). The drug attaches to hormone receptors
(specific proteins) in breast cancer cells
. Once the medication is inside the cells, it stops the cancer from accessing the hormones they need to multiply and grow.
How does tamoxifen make you feel?
Some people go through
mood swings
or feel low or depressed while they are taking tamoxifen. Or it may be harder to think clearly or concentrate. Tell your doctor or nurse if this is a problem, especially if you are feeling depressed. Tamoxifen may slightly increase your chances of having a blood clot.
When should I take tamoxifen morning or night?
be taken with food or on an empty stomach with a glass of water or juice. Tamoxifen may be
taken at any time of the day
but should be taken at the same time each day.
Does tamoxifen affect sleep?
Background:
Insomnia is a frequent adverse effect reported by women
taking tamoxifen, an estradiol receptor-antagonist, for breast cancer.
What foods should not be eaten when taking tamoxifen?
You certainly don’t want to take a medication to reduce breast cancer risk, only to eat or drink something that renders the tamoxifen less effective. The foods of most concern for women taking tamoxifen are
grapefruit and tangerines
. Grapefruit is well-known to interfere with numerous medications.
Why you should not take tamoxifen?
Tamoxifen may
cause hot flashes and increase the risk of blood clots and stroke
. Aromatase inhibitors may cause muscle and joint aches and pains. Less common but more severe side effects of aromatase inhibitors are heart problems, osteoporosis, and broken bones.
Does tamoxifen make you tired?
Tamoxifen: Not Without Side Effects
Side effects include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, fatigue, and nausea.
Is tamoxifen an anti inflammatory?
Tamoxifen is a drug of choice for treatment of breast cancer but it has also
been reported to bear anti-inflammatory activity
.
Can tamoxifen cause belly fat?
Tamoxifen users had more visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and more liver fat than controls. This is the first study to demonstrate that fatty liver and
intra-abdominal fat accumulation
are common in breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen.
Does tamoxifen affect memory?
The researchers found that
tamoxifen users had lower scores in verbal memory
and executive functioning — which includes such things as being able to shift attention between two different parts of a task — than did women without breast cancer.
Can tamoxifen make you emotional?
TUESDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) — Some women who take tamoxifen to treat or prevent breast cancer report experiencing a mental fogginess while on the drug, and researchers have now confirmed that there’s a biological basis for those symptoms.
Can you drink alcohol with tamoxifen?
Alcohol can raise the risk of side effects with tamoxifen
, some of which can be serious. Alcohol makes it harder for tamoxifen to work properly and should be limited or avoided while you’re taking this medication. Alcohol can raise your risk of developing breast cancer.
Can you take tamoxifen before bed?
Take your tamoxifen before going to bed. If you have night sweats that keep you awake, try taking
tamoxifen in the morning
. Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate).
Can I skip tamoxifen?
Postmenopausal patients with “ultralow-risk” breast cancers may be able to forgo standard endocrine treatment with tamoxifen, which is routinely prescribed after surgery for many patients.
