Wine and Tamoxifen

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Jul1970
Jul1970 Member Posts: 20
edited October 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello ladies! Quick question. I'm a wine drinker. Pino grigo and pino noir are my favorites. :) I drink 2 glasses 3 -5 nights weekly. Has anyone taking Tamoxifen experienced problems or interactions drinking wine or alcohol beverages? I've read health articles discouraging alcohol use with Tam because of possible liver issues.

Thank you for your input.

Julia

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  • Salex
    Salex Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2016

    Hi

    I too enjoy wine, and I have been taking tamoxifen since January 2016. Prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer, I would have one daily, but I don't drink it as much anymore, sometimes I can't finish a glass. I have not experienced anything weird from having a glass.

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited September 2016

    My MO recommends that I limit myself to 3 drinks per week. My liver enzymes were elevated at my last physical, my doc thought possibly due to Tamox. She had me come back one month later to do a follow up blood test. During that month time I did not drink a drop of alcohol or do anything else that might affect my liver negatively. The follow up test was normal. Now that I know Tamox can hurt the liver, I have taken my docs advice and I limit myself to 3 drinks per week.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited September 2016

    3 drinks a week is the max for most bc patients, no matter what adjuvant treatment—has little to do with liver damage and more with impeding the liver’s ability to clear estrogen from the bloodstream before it can reach breast tissue. (Of course, impeding liver function also impedes the liver’s ability to make aromatase, which turns the androgens made by fat cells & adrenals into estrogens, making aromatase inhibitor drugs’ job easier, so it’s a two-edged sword).

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited September 2016

    Alcohol and breast cancer treatment is a perennial topic here and the archives show a variety of takes on the subject. As to it's effect in combination with tamox, I can only report on two years without any side effects on the drug, which I take as a standard 20mg tablet three hours after having had a glass of wine with dinner. Never miss either. I'd say that I will reduce intake, likely stop (gulp!) as time goes on, since they say we need tamox for 10 years and, yes, potential liver damage would be the worry for me too.


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  • Jul1970
    Jul1970 Member Posts: 20
    edited September 2016

    Thank you for the feedback. I start Tamoxifen tomorrow. I think I'll cut down how often I drink wine considering the impact on the liver.

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited September 2016

    Hi:

    I agree that the liver has a role in estrogen metabolism, both in synthesis and excretion.

    Please note that the FDA label for Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) does indeed state:

    "NOLVADEX has been associated with changes in liver enzyme levels . . ."

    "Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of side effects listed below . . .

    -- Liver problems, including jaundice. The signs of liver problems include lack of appetite and yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes."

    Patients should take the time to read all literature received with their endocrine therapy prescription, with a particular focus on contraindications, dose and administration, potential interactions, and adverse side effect profiles, to aid in adherence and to be alert to any issues which should be reported to a doctor.

    BarredOwl

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited September 2016

    I have enjoyed wine with dinner nearly daily since starting tamoxifen. Sometimes 2 glasses. I had a full blood panel done for other easing last month and my liver enzymes were normal. Everything in moderation they say.

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  • jojo9999
    jojo9999 Member Posts: 202
    edited September 2016

    I take my tamox in the morning, and if I have any wine, it is at least 8+ hours after the tamox. I do this without any medical knowledge that it is better - it just seems like I am not taxing my liver so much.

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited September 2016

    Molliefish- how have you been?  Haven't seen any posts lately from you until tonight.  Hope all is well.

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited September 2016

    Hey HH! I am doing really really well thank you for checking in. Back to the gym full time, working a lot as usual and enjoying my little family. Life is good for me.

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  • Kath1228
    Kath1228 Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2016

    As with many things related to breast cancer and its treatment - this is a confusing topic! I have read about people who refuse to take a drop of alcohol (especially those who are estrogen receptor pos) because it increases the amount of estrogen in our bloodstream due to the way our bodies metabolize alcohol.

    I used to drink a few glasses of wine per week. Since being diagnosed three years ago, I don't think I've had more than two per week - and most weeks no alcohol at all. I've made that choice out of fear of increasing my estrogen levels from the alcohol - not related to potential liver damage from meds.

    My doctor said maybe three glasses a week is ok - but I can't get past the fear and keep going back to how many people I've read about that never consume another drop after being diagnosed - on top of the fact that so many also give up dairy, wheat, and sugar. What's left?!!!! I'm doing my best but it is so hard to keep up with all this!!

    I still eat wheat, a little dairy (mostly organic), and some sweets - so I guess the alcohol had to be the one to go

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