The present invention provides topical compositions and methods for administering tamoxifen citrate while minimizing the incidence and or severity of adverse drug experiences associated with tamoxifen therapy. In one aspect, these compositions and methods provide a lower plasma concentration of tamoxifen metabolites, such as 4-hydroxytamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen, which is presumed to be contributing at least in part to some of the adverse drug experiences, while maintaining sufficient tamoxifen as the sole active agent to benefit a subject with tamoxifen therapy.
