What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. A side effect may be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. Not everyone will experience side effects, and which side effects a person experiences cannot be anticipated.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- abdominal
cramps
- bone
pain
- changes
in menstrual period
- cough
- depression
- fatigue
- fluid
retention
- hot
flashes
- loss
of appetite
- muscle
pain
- nausea
- ovarian
cysts
- pain
- weight
gain
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Be sure to inform your doctor of all your medical conditions before you begin taking a medication. Some conditions can affect how you should take this medication.
Eye changes:
Tamoxifen can cause cataracts or worsen existing cataracts in some people. It
has also been associated with changes in color vision perception, and changes
in the retina of the eye.
Menstrual changes:
Tamoxifen may cause women to stop having menstrual periods or cause menstrual
irregularity. Contact your physician if this develops.
Pregnancy: This
drug should not be used during pregnancy. Effective birth control should be
practiced while using this medication and for about 2 months after finishing
with it. Tell the doctor immediately if you become pregnant while using this
drug.
Breast-Feeding:
It is not known if tamoxifen passes into breast milk. If you are a
breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby.
Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The
safety and effectiveness of tamoxifen in children have not been established.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
An interaction between medications does not always mean that
you must stop taking one of them. The following medications may affect the way
tamoxifen works, be affected by tamoxifen, or increase the risk of side
effects:
- bromocriptine
- estrogen
- other
cancer drugs
- rifampin
- warfarin
and other anticoagulant medications
If you are taking any
of these or other medications (including non-prescription, herbal, and
supplement products), speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want
you to change your therapy or suggest ways of managing any interactions. Since
caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the
action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use
them. Medications other than those listed above may also interact with this
medication.