Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Tamoxifen as follows:
- Tamoxifen use carries the risk for clot formation, resulting in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. Individuals can present with symptoms such as, pain and swelling of extremities – especially swelling of the lower extremities with pain in the calf muscle, episode of sudden cough and shortness of breath, episode of chest pain, and any sudden vision changes. Report to your physician regarding any symptoms of DVT and clot formation immediately. Observe compliance with anticoagulant therapy prescribed, if any. Notify your physician regarding your history of deep vein thrombosis and clot formation, if any, and discuss your safety with tamoxifen intake.
- Tamoxifen intake carries the risk of increasing the blood lipid levels and can contribute to forming atherogenic blocks in the blood vessels. Individuals with history of ischemic heart disease or blocks in the blood vessels supplying to the heart muscle can be at increased risk for development of chest pain and heart attack, leading to debility and sudden cardiac death. Notify your physician regarding your history of ischemic heart disease or chest pain or arrhythmias, if any, and discuss your safety with tamoxifen intake. Report to your physician regarding any signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction or heart attack, such as, gripping chest pain or discomfort, fatigue, sudden exacerbation of shortness of breath, and lightheadedness, so that, appropriate changes in the plan of treatment could be considered.
- Your physician could change the dose of tamoxifen or discontinue on the medication, based on the response obtained and side-effects developed. Maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
