Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Arimidex

Generic Name: anastrozole (Pronunciation: an AS troe zole)

• What is anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• What are the possible side effects of anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• What is the most important information I should know about anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• How should I take anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Arimidex)?
• What happens if I overdose (Arimidex)?
• What should I avoid while taking anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• What other drugs will affect anastrozole (Arimidex)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is anastrozole (Arimidex)?

Anastrozole lowers estrogen levels in postmenopausal women, which may slow the growth of certain types of breast tumors that need estrogen to grow in the body.

Anastrozole is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is often given to women whose cancer has progressed even after taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox).

Anastrozole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Anastrozole 1 mg-ROX

round, white, imprinted with 54 077

Anastrozole 1 mg-TEV

round, white, imprinted with TEVA, A10

Arimidex 1 mg

round, white, imprinted with ADX 1, A

What are the possible side effects of anastrozole (Arimidex)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• a bone fracture;
• swollen glands;
• feeling short of breath;
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• swelling in your hands or feet; or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

• numbness, tingling, cold feeling, or weakness in your hand or wrist;
• problems with your fingers while gripping;
• hot flashes;
• joint pain or stiffness;
• depression, mood changes, sleep problems (insomnia);
• cough, sore throat;
• thinning hair;
• mild nausea, vomiting; or
• back pain, bone pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about anastrozole (Arimidex)?

You may need to take a pregnancy test before using anastrozole, to make sure you are not pregnant.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to anastrozole, if you are breast-feeding a baby, or if you have not yet completed menopause. Anastrozole is not for use in men or children.

Before using anastrozole, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, circulation problems, a history of stroke or blood clot, severe liver disease, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, or low bone mineral density.

Anastrozole may not work as well if you take it together with tamoxifen or an estrogen medication (such as hormone replacement therapy, estrogen creams, or birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings). Before you start taking anastrozole, tell your doctor if you also take tamoxifen or estrogen.

You may need to keep taking anastrozole for up to 5 years. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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