Tamoxifen

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 02, 2025

Drug Details


Generic Name:

Tamoxifen citrate

Common Brands:

Nolvadex (discontinued), Soltamox (discontinued)

Availability:

Prescription only

Therapeutic Class:

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACE inhibitor)

Forms:

Tablet, oral solution

Administration:

By mouth

Therapeutic Uses:

  • To treat metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread from breast tissue to other parts of the body) in women and men
  • For adjuvant treatment of breast cancer (to prevent breast cancer recurrence after treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation)
  • To reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
  • To reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk women

Controlled Status:

Not a controlled substance


Tamoxifen Citrate Drug Class

Tamoxifen citrate (tam-ox-eh-fen sih-tray-t) belongs to a group of drugs called antiestrogens or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).

Tamoxifen Citrate Age Range

Tamoxifen citrate is approved for use in adults. This medication has been studied for one year of treatment in pediatric patients aged 2 to 10 years with precocious puberty and McCune-Albright syndrome. However, the long-term safety of the medicine in pediatric patients has not been established.