When Do You Take Your Tamoxifen?

amylsp

Hi all. I just finished my radiation treatment today and will be starting tamoxifen, I got the bottle in the mail yesterday and am wondering whether it's better to take with breakfast, dinner, or at bedtime?

I know experience will vary, but I was wondering if there is a time that the majority of people find the best. Thanks!

NineTwelve

I take mine at night because it's easier to remember that way.

Jennie93

It really makes no difference. It's not like, say, birth control pills where you have to take it at the same time each day because it only contains enough for 24 hours. Tamoxifen builds up in your system over time so it doesn't matter whether you take it at the same time each day or even skip a day here and there, it won't change the way you feel. Most docs are fine with us taking occasional "vacations" of 2-3 weeks off of it, even. (And I can tell you from personal experience, the SEs do not go away in that amount of time, so it must really persist in your body.)

That said, occasionally someone will react (usually to one of the fillers) at first, so if it's causing say nausea or dizziness, take it at bedtime so you sleep through that, or if it's causing insomnia, take it in the morning. Those things usually go away after a few weeks. After that, just choose whatever time is easiest to remember.