Tamoxifen: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

Tamoxifen is the hormone therapy of choice in pre-menopausal estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in women and sometimes in post-menopausal women. The environmental and genetic factors widely affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of a drug and this effect is known as pharmgeonetics. The pharmacokinetic parameters that are what a body does with the drug, such as bioavailability, half-life, distribution and excretion, has primary importance in the treatment of a disease. The pharmacodynamic parameters which elaborate what a drug does with the body like side effects and positive symptoms are the pillars of therapeutic outcome. In depth knowledge of both parameters is essential to get maximum benefits from a treatment plan in a disease for example breast cancer. This review enlightens the pharmacological aspects of tamoxifen in detail.