Anastrozole (Arimidex)

Anastrozole

Arimidex 1 mg Tablet is used along with other therapies in the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This medicine is also used to treat women whose breast cancer has worsened after tamoxifen therapy.

How should I use this medication?

Take one 1 mg tablet each day. For patients with advanced breast cancer, the medication should be continued until tumor progression. Arimidex may not work as well if taken with tamoxifen or an estrogen medication. Other drugs may interact with Arimidex. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. Arimidex is used mainly in women after menopause.

You can take the tablet before or after food.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, and it is more than 12 hours until your next dose, take the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. If it is less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very common side effects
• Headache.
• Hot flushes.
• Feeling sick (nausea).
• Skin rash.
• Pain or stiffness in your joints.
• Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
• Feeling weak.
• Bone loss (osteoporosis).

Common side effects

• Loss of appetite.
• Raised or high levels of fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood. This would be seen in
a blood test.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in parts of the hand).
• Tickling, tingling or numbness of skin, loss/lack of taste.
• Diarrhoea.
• Being sick (vomiting).
• Changes in blood tests that show how well your liver is working.
• Thinning of your hair (hair loss).
• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions including face, lips, or tongue.
• Bone pain.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Bleeding from the vagina (usually in the first few weeks of treatment – if the bleeding continues, talk
to your doctor).
• Muscle pain.

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not use anastrozole if you:

are allergic to anastrozole or any ingredients of the medication
are allergic to any other aromatase inhibitor medications (e.g., letrozole, exemestane)
are breast-feeding
are pregnant