Anastrozole (Oral Route)

Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

ARTICLE SECTIONS

US Brand Names

Arimidex

Description

Anastrozole is a medicine that is used to treat breast cancer.

Many breast cancer tumors grow in response to estrogen. This medicine interferes with the production of estrogen in the body. As a result, the amount of estrogen that the tumor is exposed to is reduced, limiting the growth of the tumor.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, anastrozole is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

Breast cancer, neoadjuvant treatment for hormone receptor-positive, operable or potentially operable, locally advanced disease in postmenopausal women (treatment for advanced breast cancer that may be operable in women who have already gone through menopause)

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of anastrozole in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric

This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	D	Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or a serious disease, may outweigh the potential risk.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of anastrozole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered.

Anastrozole sometimes causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, it is very important that you continue to use the medicine, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for ways to lessen these effects.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For breast cancer:
  - Adults—1 mg once a day. Your doctor will determine how long you need to take this medicine.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Swelling of feet or lower legs

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Cough or hoarseness
Difficult or painful urination
Dizziness, severe
Fever or chills
Headache, continuing
Increased blood pressure
Lower back or side pain
Pain, tenderness, bluish color, or swelling of foot or leg
Sore throat
Sudden shortness of breath
Unusual tiredness or weakness
Vaginal bleeding (unexpected and heavy)

Frequency not known

Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin
Fast heartbeat
Hives
Itching, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue
Large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs
Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
Sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or on lips
Welts

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common