Nolvadex is an effective anti-estrogen that works by preventing the results of estrogens on bodily tissues. Commonly, this medicine is taken by patients to prevent breast cancer, especially if it spreads to other body parts, which means that the tumor becomes metastatic. It’s also taken to treat the same medical condition after special radiation treatment and surgery and to decrease a chance of having breast cancer when it comes to high-risk patients.
Pharmacology and Its Active Ingredient
Each Nolvadex tablet contains tamoxifen as its active ingredient, and it’s a non-steroidal estrogen antagonist that works by binding and blocking estrogen receptors on cell surfaces in peripheral and tumor issues, and these are naturally produced by the body and are responsible for growing cancer cells. Its intake prevents estrogens from activating in these cells, thus, slowing down the process of cancer spreading, because this medication works by interfering with estrogen effects in breast tissues. Once patients take their single Nolvadex dosage, the ability to block estrogens is present for a few weeks. Besides, Nolvadex triggers ovulation in women, while those men who have oligospermia will have increased levels of PH and FSH.
Basic Indications to Use Nolvadex
Nowadays, the most common indication to start taking this medicine is being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in both women and men. It’s the most widespread breast cancer type that is treated by Nolvadex. Doctors also prescribe it to those patients who have undergone special surgeries and radiation therapies, or they have a high risk of developing this serious disease and want to prevent it. This medication is often taken to treat female patients after radiation or surgery for a less widespread breast cancer type called DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ and intraductal carcinoma. The main reason is that there is a high risk of having invasive breast cancer in those women who had this health condition in the past. The good news is that the use of Nolvadex successfully prevents the growth and development of invasive tumors in almost 50% of those patients who have been taking it for the first 5 years of their treatment. Sometimes, this medication is prescribed to women who have certain indications to stimulate their ovulation.
Suggested Doses
It’s possible to find this medicine in the form of standard tablets and oral solutions that have different strengths. For example, tablets contain 10-20 mg, while solutions come as 5 ml or 10 mg. Doses for all patients may vary because they depend on their individual response and other important factors, but there are some basic rules that are followed:
- Those patients who have DCIS or metastatic breast cancer or want to prevent these severe diseases need to take 10 mg of Nolvadex 2 times a day (in the morning and in the evening), or tamoxifen 20 mg only once a day for five years.
- The right dosage to stimulate ovulation varies from 5 mg to 40 mg taken on a daily basis for four days.
Important Guidelines on How to Take Nolvadex
It’s allowed to take this medication with regular meals or without food. Before taking the first dose, it’s important for all the patients to read medical guidelines and follow the recommendations of doctors. For those people who are prescribed to use liquids, it’s necessary to measure each dosage quite carefully and use a special device or spoon for right measuring. Household spoons are not suitable for this purpose because patients may fail to get the necessary dosage and compromise their Nolvadex treatment. This medication must be taken on a regular basis and at the same time every day to get the most out of it.
In addition, those patients who are diagnosed with the breast cancer type that spreads to other body parts are normally prescribed with higher doses, and they may experience reduced flare-up and increased bone pain once they start this kind of treatment. However, this annoying symptom passes over time. There is an opinion that it indicates a proper response to the intake of Nolvadex. Patients who use it may develop other symptoms, such as increased tumor sizes and even having new tumors, but they will disappear fast, too. They need to go and see their doctors once they notice any of these unwanted signs. Pregnant women and those who want to become pregnant shouldn’t take or handle Nolvadex because of possible health risks.
List of Nolvadex Analogs
It’s easy to find generic tamoxifen citrate because it’s present in such drugs as the following:
- Bilem;
- Adifen;
- Zymoplex;
- Adopan;
- Tamona;
- Ebefen;
- Nolgen;
- Respol;
- Tamoxi;
- Bagotam;
- Citofen;
- Panleef.
