The drug Tamoxifen Ebeve is an immunomodulatory and antineoplastic agent. It is used in the hormonal therapy of cancer. It belongs to the group of androgenic drugs. “Tamoxifen Ebeve” is produced in Austria.
Structure
The content of this pharmacological product contains the main active element - tamoxifen citrate (40, 30, 20 or 10 mg per tablet). It is produced in contour cells of 10 tablets, placed in cardboard packaging of 10 pieces.
1 tablet contains:
- tamoxifen citrate;
- lactose;
- magnesium stearate;
- starch;
- cellulose;
- silica colloidal.
The tablets have a round shape, white color, a cross-shaped dividing groove on one side.
Pharmacological properties
The active component amoxifen is an anti-estrogenic non-steroidal substance, which also has a weak estrogenic property. Its antitumor effect is based on the ability to block estrogen receptors.
Tamoxifen and its metabolites compete with estradiol instead of binding to cytoplasmic estrogen receptors in the tissues of the mammary glands, vagina, uterus, anterior pituitary gland and neoplasms with a high concentration of estrogen receptors. Tamoxifen does not stimulate the production of DNA in the nucleus, but inhibits cell division, which contributes to the regression of pathological cells and their destruction.
Pharmacokinetics
After taking tamoxifen, it is well absorbed. The highest concentration in the blood is observed approximately 4-7 hours after a single dose. The equilibrium level of this active element in serum is usually achieved after 3 weeks of use. It undergoes a metabolic process in the liver with the formation of several substances. Excretion from the body has a two-stage nature with an initial half-life of 7 to 13 hours and with a subsequent terminal half-life of 7 days. This substance is excreted mainly in the form of conjugates, with feces and in small quantities with urine.
Medical indications for the use of this drug
This medicine is used mainly for signs of early stage breast cancer. Typical symptoms of such a pathology are:
- formation in the gland of seals in the chest;
- retraction or thickening of the nipple;
- the appearance of a "lemon peel" over the pathological focus;
- redness of the skin;
- compaction of axillary and sternal lymph nodes;
- disproportionate increase in one breast in size;
- the occurrence of pain pain;
- breast deformity;
- swelling;
- the formation of crusts, ulcers;
- the presence of discharge from the nipple (including bloody);
- temperature rise;
- general weakness;
- sharp weight loss;
- dizziness.
In addition, the drug "Tamoxifen-Ebeve" is prescribed for the following pathologies:
- estrogen-dependent breast cancer in men;
- cancer of the ovaries, endometrium, kidneys;
- melanoma;
- soft tissue sarcoma with estrogen receptor tumors;
- prostate cancer in the presence of resistance to other medications.
Contraindications to the use of this medication
Tamoxifen-Ebeve medicine is contraindicated in the following cases:
- sensitivity to tamoxifen or another ingredient of the product;
- lactation, pregnancy.
With caution, this drug is prescribed for renal failure, diabetes mellitus, eye diseases (cataract), deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolic disease (including a history), hyperlipidemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcemia.
Dosage regimen and rules for taking this drug
To achieve the best effect with signs of breast cancer at an early stage, the following regimen of this medication is recommended: the daily dosage is from 20 to 40 mg orally daily for a long course. When symptoms of progression of the pathological process appear, the drug is canceled.
The tablets do not require chewing, washed down with a small amount of water, once in the morning or, dividing the dose into two doses.
Side effects of Tamoxifen Ebeve
During therapy with tamoxifen, side effects associated with its antiestrogenic effect are often encountered, which are manifested in the form of an attack-like feeling of heat (hot flashes), vaginal discharge or bleeding, itching in the genital area, alopecia, soreness in the affected area, weight gain, ossalgia. The following adverse reactions are somewhat less common:
- fluid retention;
- nausea;
- anorexia;
- vomiting
- stool disorders;
- fatigue;
- depressive states;
- confusion of consciousness;
- cephalgia;
- dizziness;
- increased drowsiness;
- hyperthermia;
- skin rash;
- visual impairment;
- retinopathy
- retrobulbar neuritis.
At the beginning of therapy, a local exacerbation of the disease can occur - an increase in the size of soft tissue neoplasms, which is sometimes accompanied by pronounced episodes of erythema in the affected areas and adjacent areas - which in most cases disappears within 14 days.
The likelihood of developing thromboembolism and thrombophlebitis may also increase. Transient thrombocytopenia and leukopenia, as well as an increase in the concentration of liver enzymes, in rare cases accompanied by severe impairment of liver functionality, for example, fatty infiltration, hepatitis and cholestasis, can sometimes occur.
In some patients with bone metastases, symptoms of hypercalcemia were observed at the beginning of therapy. Tamoxifen can contribute to the development of amenorrhea or cause irregular menstruation in the premenopausal period, as well as the reversible formation of cystic formations on the ovaries.
With prolonged treatment with this medication, changes in the endometrium, for example, hyperplasia, polyps and, in rare cases, cancer of the endometrium, uterine fibroma, can also occur.
Reviews about Tamoxifen Ebeve
There are very few reviews of such a medicine on medical sites, and this is due to the fact that cancer does not occur in people too often, especially since such medications are not always prescribed.
From the information on the few reviews, we can conclude that Tamoxifen-Ebeve was not always effective, but only in about half of its cases. Patients indicate a good tolerability of this treatment. In many of them, the growth of a pathological neoplasm during therapy was stopped, in others this effect was not noticed, and other people were prescribed other treatment.