Do you know someone recovering from breast cancer?
Sharing this information could help save her life.
Approximately a half-million breast cancer survivors take a medicine called tamoxifen to help prevent a recurrence. However, new research shows that taking some antidepressants and some other medications at the same time may make the tamoxifen less effective– almost doubling a woman’s chance that her breast cancer will return.
Many breast cancer survivors may be prescribed antidepressants for a number of reasons, including to help cope with depression and to minimize certain side effects of tamoxifen. Because the research is new, many women and their physicians may not be aware of the risks. Don't let a friend or loved one with breast cancer be among them. Share this research with her now so she can have an informed conversation with her doctors.
Important! Abruptly stopping medications can be harmful. Doctors often gradually lower the dose to help prevent side effects. Make sure your friend or loved one continues to take all medications as prescribed by her doctor until the doctor instructs otherwise. While there may be other treatments for these conditions available, have her talk to her doctor to see if such a change is right for her.
Which combinations are a concern?
If you know someone who is taking tamoxifen to protect from breast cancer recurrence in combination with any of the listed drugs, you can help by sharing this information and encouraging her to speak to her doctors.
Medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen therapy
- Anafranil®
- Bupropion
- Chlorpromazine
- Clomipramine
- Clozapine
- Clozaril®
- Cymbalta®
- Desipramine
- Duloxetine
- FazaClo®
- Fluoxetine
- Haldol®
- Haloperidol
- Imipramine
- Mellaril®
- Norpramin®
- Parnate®
- Prozac®
- Paroxetine
- Paxil®
- Sarafem®
- Symbyax®
- Thioridazine
- Thorazine®
- Tofranil®
- Tranylcypromine
- Wellbutrin®
- Zyban®
What you can do to help
1 While it may be awkward, ask your friend or loved one if she is taking tamoxifen and any one of the antidepressants listed above.
2 Then download this research summary written for doctors to help them understand the risks. 
3 Ask your friend or loved one to send the summary to her doctor, or offer to do it for her if she needs help.
4 Make sure a conversation with the doctor takes place to close the loop.
