Tamoxifen (Soltamox)

Description

Tamoxifen is a drug used by individuals who have breast cancer that has spread to the rest of their body. The drug is also useful in reducing the occurrence of breast cancer among high risk females. Tamoxifen is also commonly referred to as Nolvadex in the field.

How It Works

Most breast cancers require estrogen to grow. Estrogen is a female hormone that influences the deterioration of breast cancer among women. Tamoxifen stops the growth of breast cancer by blocking the actions of estrogen. It eliminates the effects this hormone has on the breast tissues and thereby prevents the condition from deteriorating into a worse state.

Uses

Tamoxifen is highly helpful in treating various problems regarding breast cancer. A particular type of breast cancer has a tendency to spread to the rest of the body with time. Tamoxifen is highly useful in curing this condition. The drug can also reduce the risk of breast cancer among women with high risk. For instance, an individual with a genetic predisposition for breast cancer can decrease her chances of developing this condition through the use of

Tamoxifen. Those who have gone through breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy also use this medication as a part of their treatment. Moreover, this drug can be useful in treating breast cancer among men too.

Dosage

Tamoxifen is used as a part of a long-term treatment for breast cancer. The medication must be used for at least a period of five years to experience its full benefits. Do not stop the medication in between, especially without informing your physician. This can result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Tamoxifen can be consumed in both tablet and liquid forms. If you are opting for the latter option, then you might want to use a proper measuring device to measure the dose.

If you are taking this medication to treat breast cancer that has spread to the rest of the body, you will experience increased bone pain during the treatment period. Do not be alarmed since this is a symptom that the medication is working.

Side Effects

The following are some adverse effects of Tamoxifen that you may or may not experience during your treatment period.

 Pain in the pelvic area
 Blurred vision
 Jaundice
 Unusual vaginal bleeding
 Increased blood calcium levels

Do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider at the event of such effects.

Precautions

The following safety instructions have to be followed during the course of the treatment to avoid any unnecessary complications.

 Check whether you are allergic to any ingredients used in the medication.

 Inform your physician about your current use of medications.

 Do not double the dose if you accidently skipped or missed the previous one.

Self-Care

This drug is highly harmful for pregnant women. Do not consume this medication during the period of breastfeeding or pregnancy. This can affect the child negatively.

Tamoxifen can be absorbed through the lungs and skin. Therefore, it is highly important to store this medication in a safe place. Make sure that pregnant women are not exposed to the drug. Even the slightest exposure to the tablet can affect the child’s health to a significant extent.