Zymoplex

About Zymoplex (Tamoxifen Citrate)

Tamoxifen is a medicine that blocks the effects of the estrogen hormone in the body. It is used to treat breast cancer in women or men. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Tamoxifen also may be used to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Women at high risk for developing breast cancer are at least 35 years of age and have a combination of risk factors that make their chance of developing breast cancer 1.67% or more over the next 5 years. Your doctor will help to determine your risk of developing breast cancer.

The exact way that tamoxifen works against cancer is not known, but it may be related to the way it blocks the effects of estrogen on the body.

Before you begin treatment with tamoxifen, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Usage and Dosage of Zymoplex

Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. The exact amount of medicine you need has been carefully worked out. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.

Tamoxifen sometimes causes mild nausea and vomiting. However, it may have to be taken for several weeks or months to be effective. Even if you begin to feel ill, do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor . Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. You can take the tablets with or without food.

If you vomit shortly after taking a dose of tamoxifen, check with your doctor. You will be told whether to take the dose again or to wait until the next scheduled dose.

The dose of tamoxifen will be different for different patients. The following information includes only the average doses of tamoxifen. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For oral dosage form (tablets)
  • For breast cancer in women or men:
    • Adults—20 to 40 milligrams (mg) daily.
  • For reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk women:
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) a day, for five years
  • For reducing the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in women with ductal carcinoma in situ:
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) a day, for five years

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, do not take the missed dose at all and do not double the next one. Instead, go back to your regular dosing schedule and check with your doctor.

Side Effects of Zymoplex

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Some side effects will have signs or symptoms that you can see or feel. Your doctor will watch for others by doing certain tests.

Also, because of the way this medicine acts on the body, there is a chance that it might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. Tamoxifen increases the chance of cancer of the uterus (womb) in some women taking it. Tamoxifen may cause blockages to form in a vein, lung, or brain. In women, tamoxifen may cause cancer or other problems of the uterus (womb). It also causes liver cancer in rats. In addition, tamoxifen has been reported to cause cataracts and other eye problems. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

For both females and males

• Less common or rare

Anxiety; blistering, peeling, or loosening of skin and mucous membranes; blurred vision; chest pain; confusion; cough; dizziness; fainting; fast heartbeat; lightheadedness; pain or swelling in legs; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; weakness or sleepiness; yellow eyes or skin

For females only

• Less common or rare

Change in vaginal discharge; chills; fever; hoarseness; lower back or side pain; pain or feeling of pressure in pelvis; pain, redness, or swelling in your arm or leg; painful or difficult urination; rapid shallow breathing; skin rash or itching over the entire body; sweating; vaginal bleeding; wheezing

For females and males

• Frequency not determined

Bloating; constipation; darkened urine; diarrhea; difficult breathing; indigestion; itching; joint or muscle pain; large, hard skin blisters; large hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, and sex organs; loss of appetite; nausea; pain in stomach or side, possibly radiating to the back; red, irritated eyes; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sore throat; sores, ulcers or white spots in mouth or on lips; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting

This medicine may also cause the following side effect that your doctor will watch for:

For both females and males

• Less common or rare

Cataracts in the eyes or other eye problems; liver problems

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For both females and males

• Less common

Bone pain; headache; nausea and/or vomiting (mild); skin rash or dryness

For females only

• More common

Absent, missed, or irregular periods; confusion; decrease in amount of urine; feeling of warmth redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest; lower back or side pain; menstrual changes; nausea; noisy, rattling breathing; painful or difficult urination; rapid, shallow breathing; skin changes; stopping of menstrual bleeding; swelling of fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs; troubled breathing at rest; vaginal bleeding; weight gain; weight loss; white or brownish vaginal discharge

• Less common or rare

Abdominal cramps; black, tarry stools; bleeding gums; blood in urine or stools; Bluish color changes in skin color; discouragement; feeling sad or empty; irritability; itching in genital area; lack of appetite; loss of interest or pleasure; pain; pinpoint red spots on skin; stomach or pelvic discomfort, aching or heaviness; swelling; trouble concentrating; trouble sleeping; unusual bleeding or bruising

For males only

• Less common

decreased interest in sexual intercourse; inability to have or keep an erection; loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

This medicine may infrequently cause hair thinning or partial loss of hair.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Alternative names

• Apo-Tamox
• Gen-Tamoxifen
• Nolvadex
• Nolvadex-D
• Novo-Tamoxifen
• PMS-Tamoxifen
• Tamofen
• Tamone