Drug Detail:Anastrozole (Anastrozole [ an-as-troe-zole ])
Drug Class: Aromatase inhibitors Hormones / antineoplastics
Usual Adult Dose for Breast Cancer
Initial dose: 1 mg orally taken once a day
Duration of therapy: Until tumor progression (treatment of advanced breast cancer); unknown (adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer)
Uses:
- Adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer;
- First-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer;
- Second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen therapy.
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Mild to moderate liver dysfunction: No adjustment recommended.
Stable hepatic cirrhosis: No adjustment recommended.
Severe liver dysfunction: Data not available.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to the active component or any of the ingredients
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available.
Other Comments
Administration Advice:
- This drug can be taken with or without food.
General:
- No glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid replacement therapy is necessary during treatment with this drug.
- There are no data to support the use of this drug with LHRH analogs.
- Overdosage: There is no specific antidote; dialysis may be helpful because this drug is not highly protein bound.
Monitoring:
- Bone mineral density; serum cholesterol
Patient Advice:
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
- This drug may cause side effects such as drowsiness that can affect your ability to perform certain activities; avoid driving and other potentially dangerous activities until you know how this drug affects you.
- Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during therapy and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose.
- Advise females to contact their healthcare provider if they become pregnant, or if pregnancy is suspected, during treatment.
- Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens when you stop taking Arimidex?
- Does anastrozole cause weight gain?
- How soon do the side effects of Arimidex start?
- Does anastrozole cause hair loss?
- How long do side effects last after stopping Arimidex?
- What does anastrozole do to your body?
- How do I take anastrozole on a cycle and how much?
- How much does Arimidex increase survival?
- What is Veridex used for?
