• Metabolism: Hepatic. Tamoxifen is extensively metabolized after oral administration. N-Desmethyl-tamoxifen is the major metabolite found in plasma. N-Desmethyl-tamoxifen's activity is similar to tamoxifen. 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and a side chain primary alcohol derivative of tamoxifen have been identified as minor metabolites in plasma. 4-Hydroxy-tamoxifen formation is catalyzed mainly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, and also by CYP2C9 and 3A4. At high tamoxifen concentrations, CYP2B6 also catalyzes 4-hydroxylation of the parent drug. 4-Hydroxy-tamoxifen possesses 30- to 100-times greater affinity for the estrogen receptor and 30- to 100-times greater potency at inhibiting estrogen-dependent cell proliferation compared to tamoxifen. It is also metabolized by flavin monooxygenases FMO1 and FMO3 to form tamoxifen-N-oxide. Route of Elimination: 65% of the dose was excreted from the body over 2 weeks in which fecal excretion was the primary route of elimination. Tamoxifen is excreted mainly as polar conjugates, with unchanged drug and unconjugated metabolites accounting for less than 30% of the total fecal radioactivity. Half Life: The decline in tamoxifen plasma concentrations is biphasic with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 5 to 7 days. The estimated half-life of N-desmethyl tamoxifen is 14 days.
• Uses/Sources: Tamoxifen is indicated for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in women and men and ductal carcinoma in Situ.
• Symptoms: Signs observed at the highest doses following studies to determine LD₅₀ in animals were respiratory difficulties and convulsions.
• Route of Exposure: When a single oral dose of 20 mg is given, the average peak plasma concentration (Cmax) is 40 ng/mL which occurred approximately 5 hours after dosing (Tmax). The Cmax of N-desmethyl tamoxifen is 15 ng/mL. Steady-state concentrations for tamoxifen is achieved in 4 weeks, while steady-state concentrations for N-desmethyl tamoxifen is achieved in 8 weeks.

Tamoxifen is a nonsteroidal agent that binds to estrogen receptors (ER), inducing a conformational change in the receptor. This results in a blockage or change in the expression of estrogen dependent genes. The prolonged binding of tamoxifen to the nuclear chromatin of these results in reduced DNA polymerase activity, impaired thymidine utilization, blockade of estradiol uptake, and decreased estrogen response. It is likely that tamoxifen interacts with other coactivators or corepressors in the tissue and binds with different estrogen receptors, ER-alpha or ER-beta, producing both estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects.