Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate)
Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) is a medicine intended for the treatment of cancer

Nolvadex

Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) is a medicine intended for the treatment of cancer that has managed to spread to other parts of the body. Nolvadex is an anti-estrogen that works by blocking the activity of a specific female hormone - estrogen, therefore depriving breast tumors of this hormone that they need for growth. Your health care provider may also prescribe this medicine to induce ovulation if you are willing to get pregnant but your ovaries do not produce the eggs. In some cases this medicine is prescribed to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by women that belong to the high-risk group and according to some studies it reduces the risk by 44%. Although this is an anti-cancer treatment Nolvadex side effects include development of uterine and some other kinds of cancer. This is why it's so important that any woman receiving this treatment should visit her gynecologist regularly for examinations. Other risks related to taking Nolvadex regularly include developing uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, uterine polyps and endometriosis. In some rare cases Nolvadex can also cause liver damage.

Before you start taking this drug make sure you are not using any of the following medicines that are not supposed to be combined with Nolvadex: aminoglutethimide, bromocriptine, cancer chemotherapy medication, anastrazole, phenobarbital, rifampin or medroxyprogesterone. Your dosage can depend on a number of different aspects your health care provider will have to clarify during your first visit. The usual daily dosage ranges from 20 to 40 mg taken once a day, although if you are prescribed a dose higher than 20 mg it will be divided into two doses per day. If you think you may have taken too much of this medicine and have such overdose symptoms as tremor, overactive reflexes and dizziness, report them to your local emergency center as soon as possible.

Nolvadex is usually taken for a long period of time - up to 5 years. Every tablet of Nolvadex should be taken whole, without crushing or chewing it. Make sure you continue taking it and do not stop without consulting your health care provider first. In case of a missed dose do not try to make up for it - just carry on with your regular dosing schedule and try not to miss any more doses. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you missed as this is not going to make your treatment more efficient. Even if you develop some side effects you need to continue the treatment. Side effects are actually mild and tend to go away after some time, once your body adjusts to the treatment. Nausea, vomiting and hot flashes are the most common ones. If they develop or change in intensity it's best to tell about them to the doctor that prescribed Nolvadex to see if you need a dose adjustment or some other changes made to the treatment. More serious side effects that must be reported as soon as you notice them can include loss of appetite, fever, rash, blisters, muscle weakness, restlessness, swelling of the eyes, face, and lips, thirst, vision problems and unusual bruising or bleeding.

You must not take this medicine in case of getting pregnant. Discontinue the use of Nolvadex immediately when you suspect a pregnancy and talk to your health care provider as soon as possible to learn about your options. This medicine can cause birth defects in the fetus. Self examination of breasts is also required during the treatment. In case you find a new formation in your breast (a lump) contact your doctor immediately.

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