Can Tamoxifen cause a skin reaction after 4 weeks of use?

Question

I have been taking Tamoxifen since March 6. Last Friday, April 5, I had a reaction in my lower face: redness and burning. My pharmacist thought it was a skin reaction and advised me to stop the medication until I could talk to my doctor (which I did). My doctor, through the nurse navigator, did not believe that the reaction was caused by the medication. The nurse navigator is leaning towards an allergic reaction. It is up to me to decide if I try to take the medication again and see how I react. Of course, I am concerned if it was an allergic reaction at first. My reaction subsided partially on April 6 (burning) and more fully on Monday, April 8 (redness). Since I don't know how long the medication lasts in the body, I wouldn't want to delay taking it again if it wasn't responsible for the reaction. But I am hesitant, for fear of a more severe allergic reaction. How do I know if it was a skin reaction or an allergy? Thank you in advance for your help. Okay, thank you very much!

Genevieve Duperron · Accepted Answer

Any medication can cause an allergic reaction at any time. While I am not sure if your reaction was actually due to your medication, I understand your doctor's desire to check so that you do not cut off an excellent treatment. So, if your reaction has been completely gone for at least 48 hours, try taking the medication again. If the reaction was due to it, it will return very quickly upon reintroduction (to be safe, perhaps have Benadryl tablets at home to take if the allergic reaction occurs). You could then review with the doctor for another treatment option. Hopefully everything will go well for you though... It's a pleasure