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What are the side effects of tamoxifen?

Tamoxifen (brand name Nolvadex is no longer available by the manufacturer) is a medicine used to treat estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. In some cases, it's prescribed to prevent the disease. The drug works by blocking the effects of estrogen in the breast tissue and slowing tumor growth.

Most side effects of tamoxifen are mild and don't require stopping the drug. The most common side effects include hot flashes, vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and weight gain. Other, less common side effects include headache, nausea or vomiting, and skin rash.

Some serious, but rare side effects include an increased risk of blood clots, cancer of the uterus, more severe cataracts, and temporary liver damage, resulting in yellowing of the eyes or skin.

You shouldn't take tamoxifen if you have a history of blood clots.

Sources:
The Johns Hopkins Complete Home Encyclopedia of Drugs. Medletter Associates Inc., 1998.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Nolvadex Product Information. Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, 2006.
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. Appleton & Lange, 1999.
USP-DI Advice for the Patient: Drug Information in Lay Language, Micromedex Inc., 1998.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2006.

This answer prepared 5/21/2000.
This information updated 12/01/2006.