This leaflet answers some common questions about Genox.

It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Genox against the benefits expected for you.

You may need to read it again.

Genox is used to treat breast cancer or reduce the risk of breast cancer occurring if you are at increased risk of breast cancer.

If you and your healthcare professional are considering using Genox for reducing the risk of breast cancer occurring, your knowledge of treatment risks becomes more important because you don't currently have breast cancer. Genox therapy may be uncommonly associated with serious side effects such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT - blood clots in veins of your leg), pulmonary embolus (blood clots in your lungs) and uterine cancer. In some women, these events were fatal. Less serious side effects such as hot flushes, vaginal discharge, menstrual irregularities and gynaecological conditions may also occur. Whether the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks depends on your age, health history, your level of breast cancer risk and on your personal judgement. Genox therapy to reduce the risk of breast cancer may not be appropriate for all women at increased risk for breast cancer. An assessment with your healthcare professional of the potential benefits and risks prior to starting therapy for reduction in breast cancer risk is essential. You should understand that Genox reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of breast cancer.

Genox contains the active ingredient tamoxifen, which works by blocking the actions of oestrogen. Oestrogen is a natural female sex hormone. The exact way in which Genox works against breast cancer cells is not exactly known, however it may be related to the way it blocks oestrogen in the body.

Your doctor may have prescribed Genox for another reason.

Genox is not approved for use in children.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

There is no evidence that Genox is addictive.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing; wheezing or shortness of breath.

Genox should not be used during pregnancy. A small number of unwanted complications, such as birth defects, have been reported in the unborn baby of women who have taken this medicine. However, it has not been shown whether these were due to Genox. If sexually active, your doctor may suggest you use a non-hormonal form of contraception while you are taking Genox and for two months after you have stopped treatment with it.

Genox is not recommended during breastfeeding as it is not known whether it passes into breast milk.

Genox is not recommended for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Genox.

Some medicines may be affected by Genox, or may affect how well it works. These include:

Genox should not be taken with aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole, letrozole or exemestane.

These medicines may affect the way Genox works.

Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Genox.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

The usual starting dose is 20 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase this dose to 40 mg a day, depending on your condition and how you respond to the medicine.

Patients with liver problems may need smaller doses.

Genox is not approved for use in children.

Genox tablets can be taken with or without food.

Keep taking Genox for as long as your doctor recommends.

You may need urgent medical attention.

There have been reports of heart rhythm problems associated with an overdose of this medicine.

Unusual bleeding or discharge from the vagina are possible side effects of Genox but they may also be symptoms of uterine or endometrial cancer. These along with other changes to the uterus lining (endometrium) have been reported in association with the use of this medicine.

You will need to have regular gynaecological check-ups while you are taking Genox. Your doctor may also order regular blood tests to check your calcium levels, white blood cell and platelet counts.

Genox may cause dizziness, lightheadedness or blurred vision in some people. If this occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Genox helps most people with breast cancer, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Some are associated with treatment with Genox and some may arise from the breast cancer itself. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Some people, such as those who have not had menopause, may have a greater risk of getting some of these side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

The above list includes the milder side effects of your medicine.

Rarely an increased level of triglycerides (increased levels of fats in the blood) sometimes with pancreatitis (pain or tenderness in the upper abdomen) has been seen with Genox.

Cases of optic nerve diseases have been reported in patients receiving tamoxifen and, in a small number of cases, blindness has occurred.

If you have any unusual vaginal bleeding or other gynaecological symptoms (such as pelvic pain or pressure) when you are taking Genox or anytime afterwards, tell your doctor. This is because a number of changes to the lining of the womb (endometrium) may occur, some of which may be serious and could include cancer.

Genox may decrease bone density in premenopausal women. It is not known if this increases the risk of fractures. Ask your doctor for advice about ways to maintain your bone health.

The above list includes serious side effects which may require medical attention. Many of these side effects are rare.

Increased risk of blood clots and ovarian cysts (in premenopausal women) have been seen with Genox.

The side effects listed above are serious and require urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep well.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Genox is available in 2 strengths:

Each pack contains 30 or 60 tablets.

The active ingredient in Genox is tamoxifen (as tamoxifen citrate).

The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:

The tablets are gluten free.