Just found out that trazodone reduces effectiveness of Tam.

I was told not to take benadryl but when I had a really bad cold I called my onc to ask him if I could take just one...he said as long as I took Benadryl two hours after taking Tamoxifen it would have been metabolized and it was ok. I take T in the morning and took Benadryl at night when I have really bad cold or allergy symptoms.

Hope that helps.

Diane

I take trazodobe every night. I am going on tamoxifen in a few months.

I believe Zoloft and other drugs like it also interfere with Tamoxifen.  I switched anti-depressants for this reason when I went on Tamoxifen.  

Ladies, don't wait for your doc to inform you of interactions 'cause it may never happen.  Look it it up yourself!  Ask the doctor specific questions!  Preferably in that order. Print the stuff out if you need to and "bring it to the doctors attention."  Here's a great link you all can use:

Drugs.com

MOTC, I didn't mean to make my other post sound like internet VS. doctors, but more as a call to do some homework of your own on the drugs you are taking.   The doctor base their knowledge on what they read (and a lot of that comes from the internet!) and what the findings of the most recent (we hope) studies are.  Until a new study comes out refuting those findings.  So, what you get from them is still somewhat "flavor of the month" also.   A doctor has a lot of patients, and that's a lot of conditions to stay current on.  I, on the other hand, just have me, me and more me to be concerned about.  I trust my own synthesis of internet related information and doctor related information, and I know I feel a lot better when the two don't contradict each other.. 

Hi everyone, 

I'm a pharmacy student and a patient recently asked me about this interaction between trazodone and tamoxifen. There doesn't seem to be any evidence in literature or clinical practice that says they interact. They don't even theoretically interact. Trazodone isnt a 2D6 inhibitor. The only reputable place on the internet that lists this interaction is breastcancer.org on the tamoxifen page but the reference they cite http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/cobra/Tamoxifen and 2D6v7.pdf doesn't list trazodone as an interacting drug. 

I even called the cancer centre in my city to confirm. The pharmacist there informed me that the combination is often used together. 

Can you provide me with your resources or references so I may double check? 

I know this is an old thread but I found it via google so thought I would update - I have searched all over the internet for more evidence beyond the breastcancer.org page citing trazodone as a tamoxifen inhibitor and found nothing. Finally I emailed the doctor who ran the cited 2008 study and he wrote me back:

"Our Study did not include a direct examination of trazodone so these concerns at the moment are theoretical. I think it's perfectly OK to continue taking your trazodone."

Definitive! I don't know where breastcancer.org got their info in this case but it does not appear to be correct.

It's mentioned on this page: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/tamoxifen

Here's Drugs.com's list of drugs with possible major interactions with tamoxifen: http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/tamoxifen-i...

Trazodone isn't on this list (Welbutrin, Geodon, Lexapro, Prozac, dextromethorphan, Benadryl, and many other products are).

Oh, I did get a response! Here is what they said

To start, I would point you to this article:

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/101/20/1370...

It was published in October 2009, right after the first studies suggesting that

certain antidepressants could reduce tamoxifen's effectiveness.

There is also this article from Harvard:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/a...

While trazodone may not be mentioned specifically, your body metabolizes

trazodone much the same way it does Cymbalta, Zoloft, or Benadryl, which is why

it is in the moderate inhibitor category. At Breastcancer.org, we rely on the

Precautionary Principle, meaning we'd rather be safe than sorry. If there is a

chance that something could be risky, then we like to point it out and suggest

that people talk to their doctors.

As we say on this page:

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/ser..., "This list of

medicines to avoid while talking tamoxifen is incomplete and subject to change

over time. Use it as a starting place and ask your doctor if any medications you

are taking or that are recommended to you are compatible with tamoxifen."

We recommend that you talk to your doctor about any potential interactions

between tamoxifen and trazodone.

Again, thank you for your input.

(But Trazodone is not a CYP2D6 inhibitor like the other drugs mentioned.)

I am so happy that trazadone is out there. Its a good ole work horse which is non-addicting. I don't know of any other drug that helps with sleep that does not have the potential for addiction. I have been taking it for a long time and never have problems with sleep. That is really one thing I never have to worry about and that's a biggie. Wish others knew about this drug.

Sunshine0804, I'm sure everything is fine but I would double-check with your oncologist. He will be much more familiar with contraindications for tamoxofin. Good luck!! Let us know what you find out.