Apo Tamox

The recommended dose of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) is 20 mg to 40 mg daily taken in 1 dose or in 2 divided doses. It may be taken with or without food. For the treatment of early breast cancer, the recommended duration of treatment is 5 years.

Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) sometimes causes nausea, but it is important to keep taking the medication even if you begin to feel ill, unless otherwise directed by the doctor. Do not stop taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) unless you discuss it with your doctor first.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a different dose than the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to that Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause hot flashes; it may cause vaginal discharge; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause a general feeling of weakness; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting; occasionally, it may cause weight loss. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

10 mg
Each white-to-off-white, round, biconvex tablet, engraved "APO" on one side and "TAM" over "10" on the other side, contains 10 mg of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) (as 15.2 mg of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) citrate). Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

20 mg
Each white-to-off-white, octagonal, biconvex, compressed tablet, engraved "APO" on one side and "TAM" over "20" on the other side, contains 20 mg of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) (as 30.4 mg of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) citrate). Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

Do not take Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) if you:

• are allergic to Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) or any ingredients of the medication
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

There may be an interaction between Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) and any of the following:

• Amiodarone
• Anagrelide
• Anastrozole
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., candasartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Aprepitant
• asunaprevir
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• barbiturates (e.g., Phenobarbital, secobarbital)
• Bosentan
• Bupropion
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• chloroquine
• Cinacalcet
• conivaptan
• Darifenacin
• Deferasirox
• Disopyramide
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• Flecainide
• Gemfibrozil
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• hydroxychloroquine
• Leflunomide
• Letrozole
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Methadone
• mifepristone
• milk thistle
• Mirabegron
• nefazodone
• Omeprazole
• other cancer medications (e.g., Capecitabine, Doxorubicin, Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Paclitaxel)
• Phenytoin
• Pimozide
• Pioglitazone
• primidone
• procainamide
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib)
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin)
• Repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Rosiglitazone
• St. John's wort
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• simeprevir
• Sotalol
• "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin)
• "sulfa" antibiotics (e.g., sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole)
• terbinafine
• Tetrabenazine
• Tocilizumab
• Tolbutamide
• tretinoin (systemic)
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Trimethoprim
• Warfarin
• Zafirlukast

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen).

Blood Clots: Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may increase the chance of developing blood clots in the lungs or legs. This chance may be further increased if Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) is given with other forms of chemotherapy. If you have a history of blood clots, discuss with your doctor how Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

A blood clot in the blood vessels of the brain can prevent blood from reaching parts of the brain, causing a stroke. If you experience signs of a stroke such as confusion, difficulty speaking, loss of coordination, sudden headache or vision changes, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Cataracts: Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may cause cataracts or worsen existing cataracts for some people. If you experience any vision changes while taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), contact your doctor.

High blood calcium levels: Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may cause an increase in blood calcium levels for women with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Your doctor will monitor for this with blood tests.

Uterine cancers: Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may increase the chance of developing certain types of Uterine Cancer. Talk to your doctor about whether any special monitoring is needed. If you experience any vaginal bleeding while or after taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), contact your doctor immediately.

White blood cells and platelets: People with low white blood cells or platelets should discuss with their doctor how Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Worsening symptoms: For some women taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), pain may worsen and the size of the affected tissue may increase at the beginning of treatment. This usually resolves within a few weeks of starting Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen). If you experience these effects, contact your doctor.

Pregnancy: Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may cause birth defects or death to the developing fetus and should not be used during pregnancy. Effective birth control should be used while taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) and for about 2 months after finishing it. Tell the doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen).

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) have not been established for children.

<p>Apo Tamox (<a href="/drug/tamoxifen">Tamoxifen</a>) belongs to the group of cancer-fighting medications known as <i>antineoplastics</i>, and specifically to the type of antineoplastics known as <i>antiestrogens</i>. It is used in combination with other medications to <b>treat early Breast Cancer</b>.</p><p>Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) fights certain types of breast cancer, called hormone responsive or estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, by blocking the effects of the hormone <i>estrogen</i> in the body. This prevents the growth of the types of breast cancer cells that require estrogen for growth and survival. It is also used to treat breast cancer that is advanced or has spread to other parts of the body.</p><p><b>Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms.</b> Any specific brand name of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.</p><p><b>Your doctor may have suggested Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles.</b> If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen), speak to your doctor. <b>Do not stop taking Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) without consulting your doctor.</b></p><p><b>Do not give Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do.</b> It can be harmful for people to take Apo Tamox (Tamoxifen) if their doctor has not prescribed it.</p>