Neuropsychiatric Effects of Tamoxifen: Challenges and Opportunities.

Neuropsychiatric Effects of Tamoxifen: Challenges and Opportunities. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2020 Aug 18;:100869 Authors: Novick AM, Scott AT, Neill Epperson C, Schneck CD Abstract Epidemiological, clinical, and basic research over the past thirty years have described the benefits of estrogen on cognition, mood, and brain health. Less is known about tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modifier (SERM) commonly used in breast cancer that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. In this article we review the basic pharmacology of tamoxifen, as well as its effects on cognition and mood. The literature reveals an overall impairing effect of tamoxifen on cognition in breast cancer patients, hinting at central antiestrogen activity. On the other hand, tamoxifen demonstrates promising effects in psychiatric disorders, like bipolar disorder, where its therapeutic action may be independent of interaction with estrogen receptors. Understanding the neuropsychiatric properties of SERMs like tamoxifen can guide future research to ameliorate unwanted side-effects and provide novel options for difficult to treat disorders. PMID: 32822707 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Front Neuroendocrinol Source Type: research