Tamoxifen
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Nolvadex, others[1] |
| Other names | TMX; ICI-46474 |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a682414 |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth |
| Drug class | Selective estrogen receptor modulator |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | ~100%[7][8] |
| Protein binding | >99% (albumin)[7][9] |
| Metabolism | Liver (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2D6)[7][14][10] |
| Metabolites | • N-Desmethyltamoxifen[10][11] • Endoxifen (4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen)[10][11] • Afimoxifene (4-hydroxytamoxifen)[10][11] • N,N-Didesmethyltamoxifen[10] • Norendoxifen (4-hydroxy-N,N-didesmethyltamoxifen)[10] • Others, conjugates[10][12][13] |
| Elimination half-life | 5–7 days[7][10] |
| Excretion | Feces: 65% Urine: 9% |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.031.004 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C26H29NO |
| Molar mass | 371.524 g·mol−1 |
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Tamoxifen, sold under the brand name Nolvadex among others, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to prevent breast cancer in women and men.[15] It is also being studied for other types of cancer.[15] It has been used for Albright syndrome.[16] Tamoxifen is typically taken daily by mouth for five years for breast cancer.[16]
Serious side effects include a small increased risk of uterine cancer, stroke, vision problems, and pulmonary embolism.[16] Common side effects include irregular periods, weight loss, and hot flashes.[16] It may cause harm to the baby if taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.[16] It is a selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) and works by decreasing the growth of breast cancer cells.[16][17] It is a member of the triphenylethylene group of compounds.[18]
Tamoxifen was initially made in 1962, by chemist Dora Richardson.[19][20] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[21] Tamoxifen is available as a generic medication.[16] In 2020, it was the 317th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 900 thousand prescriptions.[22][23]
- ^ "NCI Drug Dictionary". 2 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Tamoxifen Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Nolvadex Product information". Health Canada. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
- ^ "Nolvadex-D Product information". Health Canada. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
- ^ "Tamoxifen citrate tablet, film coated". DailyMed. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Soltamox- tamoxifen citrate liquid". DailyMed. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
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Nagar2010was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) tablets". DailyMed. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Tamoxifen Citrate". NCI. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Tamoxifen Citrate". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "Selective estrogen receptor modulators". Archived from the original on 9 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ Cano A, Calaf i Alsina J, Duenas-Diez JL, eds. (2006). Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators a New Brand of Multitarget Drugs. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. p. 52. ISBN 9783540347422.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Viviane M 2017was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jordan VC (January 2006). "Tamoxifen (ICI46,474) as a targeted therapy to treat and prevent breast cancer". British Journal of Pharmacology. 147 (Suppl 1): S269 – S276. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706399. PMC 1760730. PMID 16402113.
- ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ^ "The Top 300 of 2020". ClinCalc. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Tamoxifen Citrate - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2022.