Recently diagnosed gallstones after taking Tamoxifen .

Posted by colely @colely, Mar 30, 2023

My PCP couldn't figure out what could be causing my G. I. problems. I had an ultrasound yesterday. Surprise, surprise, surprise! "Western studies have found 30% incidence in gallstones in patients who are taking Tamoxifen. There is a proven significant association between the two."

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angepatri | @angepatri | Mar 31, 2023

And thus my resistance into starting this treatment. I had double mastectomy earlier this month after DCIS diagnosis. I’m recommended to be in this Tamoxifen and after reading pros and cons I’ve have yet to make a decision on this.
How long have you been on it?

Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Mar 31, 2023

@colely
I took Tamoxifen briefly around 2000. Developed typical gallbladder symptoms. Had gallbladder out 1991. ERCP showed “ gravel “ in bile duct. Cleaned out. Stayed off Tamoxifen while traveling. All well until I started Tamoxifen again. Same thing happened. ERCP cleaned bile duct and enlarged opening. Never took it again.
However, since then I’m much more sensitive to many fats.

colely | @colely | Apr 1, 2023

In reply to @angepatri "And thus my resistance into starting this treatment. I had double mastectomy earlier this month after..." + (show)

I have been on it 3 years. I don't want to dissuade anyone from taking Tamoxifen, though. This side-effect was not included in my oncologist's list, along with mood swings. As a result, my doctor did not look for gallstones for a year.

traceyjoanne | @traceyjoanne | Sep 7 2:13am

I was rushed to the hospital in Aug 2026 with constant severe pain on the right side of my stomach and a terrible burning sensation in my chest. I had been vomiting bile on and off for six hours. After being admitted, I was operated on the next morning to remove my Gallbladder. It had turned gangrenous; this means the tissue of the organ is dying due to a loss of blood flow, which is a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate surgery. I was very lucky, as my blood count was 426. After ten days in hospital, I returned home. We believe tamoxifen has caused the gallstones. I started tamoxifen in 2019 along with Zoladex. Zoladex was injected four times a week for five years, and I stopped taking Tamoxifen in January 2026, after 6.3 years. The reason I stopped early was due to a thin lining and polyps in my womb. I never thought it could have caused gallstones. The only symptom I had weeks prior was a sore right shoulder.