title: Double-blind controlled trial of tamoxifen therapy for mastalgia.
abstract: 60 patients with severe mastalgia of more than 6 months' duration were randomly selected for treatment with either tamoxifen 20 mg daily or placebo for 3 months. As measured by linear analogue scoring, pain relief was achieved in 22/31 (71%) of those receiving tamoxifen and 11/29 (38%) of those taking placebo. Patients who did not respond to the first course of treatment were allocated to the alternative treatment for 3 months. Pain control was achieved in 8/12 (75%) of those receiving tamoxifen and 2/6 (33%) of those receiving placebo. The commonest side-effects were hot flushes (27% of patients receiving tamoxifen and 11% of those receiving placebo) and vaginal discharge (17% tamoxifen, 7% placebo). Side-effects caused 6 patients in each group to discontinue treatment. Tamoxifen is of value in the management of severe cyclical and non-cyclical mastalgia, and relief can be achieved without undue side-effects in the majority of patients.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Fentiman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caleffi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brame
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chaudary
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hayward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen