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Can Tamoxifen Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?
Question: Hello. I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy for which there is no known cause (idiopathic). I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 5 years (July 1 is when I go off of it). The neuropathy is not painful and does not interfere with my daily activities and exercise. It just feels weird like I have bags around my feet and lower legs. I notice that numbness is a side effect of this medicine. Could the cause of my neuropathy be this medicine? I have also been diagnosed with early cataracts
Please help.
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Please help.
XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The cause of neuropathy may happen not to be found even after extensive testing, actually about 25% of cases remain idiopathic.
As for the possibility of it being due to Tamoxifen, yes it is a possibility, it can lead to peripheral neuropathy. So if symptoms started during treatment or soon after having interrupted it, then it is a real possibility (there are no tests to confirm that though). If on the other hand symptoms have appeared only in recent months then it is unlikely.
From a practical point of view even if due to Tamoxifen it wouldn't change management. After 10 months of removal improvement is not that likely (most improvement happens in the first 3-6 months after the cause is removed, 12 months at most in some cases). However one may feel comforted that since it has been interrupted there is no need to worry about a progression of the symptoms in time.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The cause of neuropathy may happen not to be found even after extensive testing, actually about 25% of cases remain idiopathic.
As for the possibility of it being due to Tamoxifen, yes it is a possibility, it can lead to peripheral neuropathy. So if symptoms started during treatment or soon after having interrupted it, then it is a real possibility (there are no tests to confirm that though). If on the other hand symptoms have appeared only in recent months then it is unlikely.
From a practical point of view even if due to Tamoxifen it wouldn't change management. After 10 months of removal improvement is not that likely (most improvement happens in the first 3-6 months after the cause is removed, 12 months at most in some cases). However one may feel comforted that since it has been interrupted there is no need to worry about a progression of the symptoms in time.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for this reasoned response. The condition has been building for the last 3 years and I thought it due to osteoarthritis in my knees. I t wasn't until this past few months that it was clear that this was not the case. Since it appears to be getting worse should I be talking to my oncologist about discontinuing Tamoxifen?
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Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
First an apology, I had misread your initial question, I thought that you had been on Tamoxifen for 5 years and are off of it since last July the 1st. That is why I said not much improvement can be expected by now, I thought you were already without it, my fault for misreading it. In this case one can hope for some improvement once it is interrupted.
Yes you should discuss with your oncologist the how vital this last month and a half with Tamoxifen really is. If not then it can be interrupted earlier.
Otherwise since it's missing only a month till the end of therapy, given the fact that tamoxifen being the origin is not a certainty and it has been a very slow 3 year process anyway which wouldn't be much affected by one more month of Tamoxifen, I would go through with the theray till July the 1st.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
First an apology, I had misread your initial question, I thought that you had been on Tamoxifen for 5 years and are off of it since last July the 1st. That is why I said not much improvement can be expected by now, I thought you were already without it, my fault for misreading it. In this case one can hope for some improvement once it is interrupted.
Yes you should discuss with your oncologist the how vital this last month and a half with Tamoxifen really is. If not then it can be interrupted earlier.
Otherwise since it's missing only a month till the end of therapy, given the fact that tamoxifen being the origin is not a certainty and it has been a very slow 3 year process anyway which wouldn't be much affected by one more month of Tamoxifen, I would go through with the theray till July the 1st.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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