Missed a dose of Tamoxifen

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Trailrunner4
Trailrunner4 Member Posts: 34
edited May 2018 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

This is the second Sunday in a row that I missed my dose of Tamoxifen and I get bad side effects when I miss a dose. I didn't even realize I forgot until the hot flashes, nausea, and dizziness suddenly set in. My next dose is 7am tomorrow morning. It's almost 7pm now...can I take a dose now and then my regular dose in the morning?

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited May 2018

    Did your prescription come with a description sheet of directions? (usually it tells you what to do if you miss a dose). I am sure I missed some during the 5 years that I took it, but I did not have any side effects from missing a pill now and then.

    I just looked on the Mayo clinic website, and this is what it says re tamoxifen :

    Missed Dose

    If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

    Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.


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  • Trailrunner4
    Trailrunner4 Member Posts: 34
    edited May 2018

    I must have thrown out the sheet, but on the internet everything just says to take the missed dose as soon as you remember it, but not double dose.

    I went ahead and took the missed dose. I take 20mg a day, and women who take 40mg a day split the dose between morning and evening. So, I figured that taking 20mg now, 12 hours before my regular dose shouldn't hurt me any. And, hopefully it will take care of these withdrawals and let me sleep tonight.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2018

    I think you are ok with taking the missed pill when you did. I also think you would have been ok skipping it. You are right some women take 40 mg, so nowhere near an overdose. Also one missed tamoxifen is ok. I skipped a day when I had severe nausea and vomiting one day and they (onc) told me to just skip it.

    Now, get into a rhythm so you don't miss anymore pills!!

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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited May 2018

    I have missed 3 since I started on March 1 and thankfully I don't get SEs for missing. I have also switched from night time taking to am with no problem. The 12 hour difference shouldn't be too big a deal, you could always take the next one a few hours later than normal and then start the next at your regular time. Just a thought. {HUGS}

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  • Trailrunner4
    Trailrunner4 Member Posts: 34
    edited May 2018

    Thanks! I did take the missed dose and after about 40 minutes, I got relief from the SEs. Whew.

    I had stopped using my week/daily pill container. I'm using it again. Apparently that's the only way I'll remember. 10 years of this. Ugh

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited May 2018

    Trailrunner - I'd miss most of my doses if it wasn't for my DH. Previous to cancer I never had to take meds on a daily basis, so it seems foreign to me. I don't sweat screwing up occasionally on timing, after all this time I figure there's plenty tamox floating through my system. I use the daily/weekly container too...buying it made me feel ancient..had to replace mine last month due to wear. I bought a purple case this time....didn't help me feel less ancient. Ugh indeed. Meh, I'm still kickin'

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