Material Safety Data Sheet and ToxNet

Tamoxifen Citrate is a chemotherapeutic agent given to women undergoing metastatic breast cancer treatment. The chemical name for Tamoxifen is 2- [4(1Z)-1,2-diphenyl-1-buten-yl)phenoxy] -N,N-dimethyl-ethanamine. This medication is available in oral tablets or an oral solution and is highly toxic. The MSDS describes Tamoxifen as Category 1A carcinogen and reproductive toxin. It can also cause harm to breastfeeding babies. Safety precautions that should be used when administering this medication include wearing gloves and washing hand after handling it, not breathing it or breaking the tablets, and avoid contact during pregnancy or nursing. If accidentally swallowed, it is advised to call poison control. In addition to ingestion instructions, there are specific instructions on first aid measures in case of inhalation, skin contact, and eye contact.  

 All nurses are trained to administer medications during their schooling and orientation. In addition, chemotherapy nurses are required to undergo more specific training on how to safely administer chemotherapy. Only chemo nurses are supposed to administer chemo and without this training, a nurse is not supposed to give chemotherapy to a patient. 

 ToxNet describes the adverse exposure effects as mostly hot flashes and nausea/vomiting, however other adverse effects can occur that include hyperlipidemia and peliosis hepatis. Side effects from treatment or ongoing exposure are more severe including vaginal bleeding, pruritus vulvae, dizziness, lethargy, depression, irritability, cerebellar dysfunction, reversible retinopathy, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. 

 In other words, use the proper precautions when administering tamoxifen.

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