Indications
Tamoxifen Citrate is used to treat breast cancer and infertility.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal, triphenylene based drug. Its effects are mixed, because it acts as an oestrogen antagonist in some tissues and has oestrogen agonist like effects in others. In breast cancer patients, at the level of the tumour, Tamoxifen works mainly as an antioestrogen and stops oestrogen from binding to the oestrogen receptor. It has also been reported to help maintain bone mineral density in post-menopausal women.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy: Tamoxifen must not be given during pregnancy. A small number of women who took Tamoxifen have reported miscarriages, birth defects and deaths of the foetus, although no causal relationship has been established. Reproductive toxicology studies in rats, rabbits and monkeys showed no teratogenic potential. Women should be advised not to become pregnant while taking Tamoxifen, and if they are sexually active they should use barrier or other nonhormonal contraceptive methods. Premenopausal patients must be examined carefully before treatment to exclude pregnancy. If a woman wants to become pregnant while taking Tamoxifen, or within two months of stopping therapy, she should be told about the possible risks to the foetus.
Lactation: It is not known if Tamoxifen is excreted in human milk, so the medicine is not recommended during lactation. When deciding whether to stop Tamoxifen, the doctor should take into account how important the medicine is for the breastfeeding mother.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.