Feeling Better While on Tamoxifen: CoQ10

If you were diagnosed with a hormone-sensitive breast cancer before you went through menopause, likely Tamoxifen is part of your long-term support plan. As a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) this medication acts to block estrogen receptors on cancer cells to prevent estrogen from stimulating their growth. We have seen that in women with breast cancer, especially younger women with hormone-sensitive breast cancers, Tamoxifen can be a foundational part of helping to prevent a recurrence. But what options are there for women who want to stay on Tamoxifen but continue to struggle with side-effects?

Tamoxifen Side Effects

While some women have no trouble with this medication and can take it easily throughout their course of treatment, other women continue to battle side-effects that alter how well they feel on a day-to-day basis. The most common side-effects discussed are often hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, it’s not uncommon for women to also experience:

Joint pain
Muscle aches
Cognitive changes (ex. difficulty with memory or word recall, changes in ability to focus, etc)
Mood changes (depression and/or anxiety)

How CoQ10 Might Help

I often speak with my breast cancer patients about using CoQ10 long-term to protect their heart and bone health (especially if they were treated with chemotherapy after diagnosis). It now appears that there may be even more benefit to including this antioxidant in your integrative care plan!

CoQ10 has recently been researched alongside ongoing Tamoxifen use, to see if it can reduce some of those side-effects to improve women’s quality of life during treatment.

They found that the same dose used to support your heart and bone health long-term may also help to improve:

Discomfort and reduced physical function
Emotional / mood changes
Cognitive functioning

This not only shows us what we already know, that CoQ10 is safe with Tamoxifen, but gives us even more reasons why it could play an important part in helping you feel well and stay healthy long-term.

A Final Note

If you're on Tamoxifen and struggling with side-effects there are options available to you. However not all supplements are safe. As I often remind patients, just because it's natural doesn't mean it's always the right choice for you. When in doubt, speak with your Naturopathic Doctor or primary care provider to ensure your supplements are appropriate for your health and long-term goals.