What are the side effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene?
Most of the side effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene are mild. The common side effects are hot flashes, vaginal discharge and/or bleeding. The latter problem could be harmless or a sign of a serious condition. Skin rashes and hair loss are uncommon and when they occur, are mild in nature. Probably the most serious side effect of tamoxifen is blood clotting, which can be life-threatening such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT – clots in the veins, usually the leg veins), pulmonary embolism (clots in the lung veins) and stroke. DVT more frequently occurs in the legs. One may experience leg swelling, calf pain and redness at the involved area. When untreated, DVT might lead to pulmonary embolism, although pulmonary embolism and stroke could happen without DVT. Symptoms associated with pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath, chest pain and cough. The chances of having a stroke are somewhat higher if you are taking these medicines, which could manifest in many ways, including, but not limi
Related Questions
- I am currently using raloxifene (brand name: Evista) along with tamoxifen for breast cancer chemoprevention. Is raloxifene metabolized in the same way as tamoxifen (using 2D6)?
- Should postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer take raloxifene or tamoxifen based on these results?
- What determined which participants received tamoxifen or raloxifene?
