Rash from Tamoxifen?

You could be having a reaction to Tamoxifen.  When I started this journey I was drinking 12 oz of grapefruit juice a day throughout all my treatments.  No wonder I kept getting allergic reactions and weird side effects.  Just wish I had known earlier.  BTW - no grapefruit juice with tamoxifen.

Here is a link to a site that lists all drugs that interact with Tamoxifen:  Ok, I hate the fact I can't cut and paste URL's using Mozilla Firefox so here is the handtyped version:

 http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/tamoxifen-index.html?filter=3&generic_only#R

Hope I didn't mess that up since my eyesight is so bad right now.  Let me know if it doesn't work.

joojoo:

I can't comment on Tamoxifen, but I have been taking Arimidex for just over six months and have developed an unexplained rash.  I was referred to a dermatologist by my rad onc and so far, nothing has helped.  I've had my rash for almost two months and it hasn't responded to OTC topicals, lotions, antihistamines, etc. nor the prescribed topicals.  I've talked with my pharmacist about possible medication interactions as well as Arimidex in particular but so far have no explanation.  In follow-up with the dermatologist, I'm now taking Tetracycline twice daily to see if that makes any difference.  Skin biopsy is the next step.

My rash is mainly on my face, neck, and chest toward the left breast area.  I completed my rad in April '09 and the rad onc didn't seem to think it was related to my tx. 

I welcome comments from anyone who may be having problems with rashes.

I started taking Tamoxifen about 4 weeks ago. I haven't had any rashes but I have had unusual side effects.  My arms get heavy and weak (hands get numb) when I'm trying to drive, type, etc.  I also get foggy headed when this happens and I have an overall fatigue that is more severe than when I had chemo (which was only mild).   Coincidentally, the day these symptoms started (they came on like a light) I started having hot flashes. I've been thoroughly checked out; blood work, tests, etc. and everything looks good.  I'm sensitive to medications overall so I just have to assume it's the Tamoxifen.  Good luck with your symptoms. 

I've read of a couple of people having rashes with tamoxifen.

Sometimes people are allergic to the fillers they use the construct the pill. One gal developed it after her pharmacy switched to a new manufacturer. She tried having them order the drug from a different manufacture and it went away. 

It's no longer available as a not-generic so your pharmacy will buy it from whoever is offering them the lowest price. 

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me on this rash situation.  After a week on the Tetracycline, still no improvement.. I think this is just another "rule out" option anyway.  The areas on my face are a bit worse, if anything, and the redness on the eyelid and near the eye can't be treated with topicals.  I've had plenty of time to think about any new product that I could have brought into my home and there just aren't any obvious things that come to mind. 

As Lisa mentioned, the symptoms appeared all at once.  Not there one day, right pink cheeks the next.  I first thought of sun, wind exposure but when it didn't respond to the usual potions, I disregarded those possible causes.  We could all probably write on and on about the joint pain, muscle pain/weakness, stiffness in the hands and fingers, etc., etc.

I will see my BS next week for repeat mammograms and MRI.  Perhaps he has seen this before.  Otherwise, it's back to the Dermotologist soon.  Our road is long and winding, not to mention, unpredictable.  We have to keep plugging along, don't we?  Thanks for your responses and God Bless you everyone. 

hopeful4ever - Sometime ago I started a thread called "Itching & Cancer".  You might want to check it out.  I have been dealing with a rash for almost 2 years!  It started about 8 months before I was diagnosed and the unsatisfactory answers I was getting from the dermatologist, allergist etc. is what prompted me to have evertything checked out.  I thought after treatment it would go away.  It has improved, but is still driving me crazy on my face, neck and hands.  What's weird is last week I had 2 really good days on my face and during this time it appeared on the chest above my breasts and under my arm where I had surgery.  Now that is cleared up & it's back on my face & neck and the itching is so intense.  Last month one dermatologist gave me a cortizone shot which was wonderful.  I was supposed to get another one on Thursday, but I went to see a dermatologist at Columbia Pres. a few weeks ago and am going for some patch testing on Monday.  Just so you know I have also tried everything.  The itch is so intense I can't even describe it.  In my case I don't think it's the Tamoxifen.  I thought it was related to the cancer & one dermatologist told me it could be as cancer canm throw your whole immune system off.

Also, bear in mind that Clobetasol cannot be used on the face.  There is Tobradex which is a steroid you can use on your eyelids.  I wish anyone with this problem luck because it is driving me crazy!

Sue

Carolyn - I'm curious if you did chemo.  You were diagnosed a few days before me.  I did not do chemo.  Makes me wonder what would be going on if I had.

Sue

Carolyn - I agree.  I wound up having 3 biopsies.  The second one was because they saw an area on the MRI they weren't sure about.  They did an ultrasound biopsy and got the wrong area.  Then my surgeon said they didn't think it was anything so I was going to go ahead with the surgery just to get it over with but I came down with shingles!  I had to postpone my surgery so I thought maybe it was a sign to have the MRI biopsy to make sure.  I had the 3rd biopsy & it turned out to be nothing but it gave me peace of mind.  I go today to get the results of my patch testing.  Can't wait!

Sue

I really feel that Tamoxifen blocks estrogen use by my skin and in doing so has totally changed my skin. Where it was oily before, if I use the same soaps and moisturizers and makeup I was using before it's a flaky, irritated mess. I had to completely switch to other types of cleansers - things I would NEVER have considered before due to their overly gentle, moisture-enhancing nature, which would've totally left me slimey with my prior skin.

The way my skin over-reacts to the products I "normally" used pre-Tamoxifen made me think to suggest you consider all of your cleansers and shampoos, etc.  Even though you aren't "allergic" to things, I think it's possible that Tamoxifen can cause skin changes that are drastic enough to cause sensitivity to things that were previously fine...

Another thing - my oncologist recommended fish oil to help with skin issues, and when I remember to take it, my skin does much better.

I hope the dermatologist provides some good ideas and suggestions! A rash in the eye area sounds VERY annoying! And do you need that, with these other things going on? No!!

I also developed a rash within days of starting tamoxifen, though my onco and my GP say it wan't connected...my dermatologist says maybe, but that tamoxifen is not known for skin side effects...he will biopsy this rash when I get back home after the holidays.  It started in the radiation are around the breast, spread across my chest, down one arm, and up my neck, onto my face.  I've had five days of antibiotics (GP feared a strep or staph skin infection) and four days of steroid cream (dermatologist added this) and the rash is now gone from my face, mostly gone from  my chest, much better on my arm...but my legs just exploded with it yesterday.  It's all up and down the legs, itchy as heck...so I started with the cream there, too.  If I were not out of state visiting relatives for the holidays, I'd be calling my dermatologist to biopsy it.

Hopeful4ever and others, did you get biopsies of your skin rashes?  How are they doing?

I was told by a dermatologist that Tamoxifen dries out your skin. Then, on top of that, the bar soap I use was drying it out more. The rash started on my arms, then moved to upper back and neck, lower legs, then face and then oddly the palm of my hands. The dermatologist suggested switching to a soap called Vanicream. It has been a game changer for me. It is a bar soap and an be found at your local CVS or Walgreens. Each bar is about $5, but worth it. You can als9 find online. My face cleared up the next day and arms, legs, back, and neck a few days later. The palm of my hands continue to be a problem. Hope this helps relieve your rashes too!