Progestational Effects of Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is the generic name for Nolvadex, a prescription cancer fighter. If you are at high risk for developing breast cancer, or are a man or woman with breast cancer, you may be prescribed tamoxifen. It is taken as a pill, once a day. Though tamoxifen has proven effective, it may cause hot flashes. Nonetheless, combining it with a progestational agent typically used to control hot flashes, should be done cautiously.

• Tamoxifen is an oral prescription drug taken once a day.

Estrogen Agent

• Tamoxifen has been used to treat breast cancer in both men and women for more 30 years. For more than a decade, it has also been used to prevent breast cancer in those identified at higher risk. Tamoxifen works by interfering with the female hormone estrogen.

Less Serious Side Effects

• As a result, tamoxifen has been associated with several less serious side effects. You may experience swelling in your hands or feet; or bone, joint or tumor pain. Vaginal itching or dryness has also been reported. Depression and a decreased sex drive, impotence or sexual performance problems may also occur. Weight loss, a cough or sore throat and thinning hair are other potential side effects.

More Serious Side Effects

• More serious side effects, which you should immediately report to your doctor, include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, sudden headache or vision, speech or balance difficulty, chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing up blood; pain or swelling in legs; flu-like symptoms or new breast lumps. Also, tell your doctor if you have unusual vaginal discharge, to include bleeding; irregular menstrual periods, pelvic pain, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark colored stools or dark urine. Pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding should also be reported to your doctor.

Hot Flushes

• The most common side effects of all, however, are hot flashes or flushes. On the front line of treatment for these in menopause are progestational agents. Progestational relates to the phase of menstruation right after ovulation, just before the start of the period. Progestational agents affect the hormone progesterone, whose function it is to prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg.

Warning

• You may think combining a therapy of tamoxifen and a progestational agent to prevent the hot flashes tamoxifen would be feasible. However, this may not be a wise idea. Your doctor may be reluctant to prescribe them in combination because of the list of potential side effects of each prescription. Most seriously, both have the potential for blood clots.