No Benadryl or Tylenol PM While on Tamoxifen?????

Hi pupfoster1 - I have been on Tamoxifen for about 8 months now.  My MO told me I could not take either Benadryl or Tylenol PM and gave me a URL for a more extensive list of medication to avoid.  Here is the link http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/tamoxifen-index.html   

I was also told to avoid grapefruit and to go easy on the soy.

Tamoxifen is the only one which pre-menopausal can take.  Menopausal women can take either Tamoxifen or and AI, depending on their medical history.

Make sure you have both an Estradiol and FSH blood tests done to make sure you are officially in menapause.  My MO said for accuracy purposes the FSH test should be done after you have been off of Tamoxifen for at least a month because the Tamoxifen can inter with those results and you don't want to switch to an AI if you are not truly in menapause because AIs do not block estrogen produced by ovaries.  

I am post menopausal and would not take an aromatase inhibitor because of the severe side effects. 

I have been on the post menopausal form of Tamoxifen called Fareston (Touremifene).  I don't think there is a generic form of it and has been around since the 1990's but few women have heard of it.

I have been on it for a year and have experienced NO side effects at all.  You may want to do some research on it and discuss it with your onco.

Judy

tamox can be used in both pre and post menopause.  I took it for 5 years and was never told I couldn't take benadryl or tylenol PM, but never take those anyway, so a moot point. the only thing my pharmacist said to avoid was grapefruit and grapefruit juice. (decreases the efficacy of tamox),

Anne

I right there with you, Sharon.  I didn't know about the interaction with benadryl.  I used to take that to help me get to sleep but gave up when I'd take 2 tabs and no effect.  My onc won't prescribe ambien for me.  What has been working for me these last two months is melatonin.  To begin with, I tried taking one 3mg in the evening but didn't see any difference.  So I went to two 3mg.  It's been working great for me.  I get tired and I stay asleep.

Uh-oh.... does this link

http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/tamoxifen-index.html 

mean aspirin in contraindicated? I hope not !! 

I knew about benadryl -- it was news to my onc. I checked that link -- please someone clarify -- is aspirin on it also??? Aspirin been getting press as a preventative to bc and I've been taking it, then I believe I saw it on the drug interaction list.

Rachel 

I did not see plain aspirin on the list.  I did see it listed in combination with other medications.  I am trying really hard to stay alway from those listed as major interactions.  When I am in doubt I just call my doctor or pharmacist so that I can make an informed choice on what to take and not take.  

I wasn't told I couldn't take benedryl or any other over the counter remedies or herbals. Some doctors my not "believe" in the interactions. I think it comes down to how valid they think the   cyp2d6 test is & what might interfere with metabolism or how much is really known about metabolim of Tamox (& other drugs). But then again, maybe I wasn't told to avoid certain drugs because I didn't list(wasn't taking) any when I filled out the questionaire.

My oncologist said that drugs like Benadryl could slow down the metabolism of Tamoxifen but ultimately they're not sure about the degree of interference. She didn't think it was a big deal to take Tylenol PM once in a while but she didn't recommend taking it regularly.

j