Anastrozole, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat advanced breast cancer. Take it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer); aromatase inhibitor; hormone antagonist

Generic and brand names: anastrozole, oral; Arimidex

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women (those who no longer have monthly periods) who have hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It is also used for cancer that has not responded to treatment with tamoxifen.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Liver disease
• Osteoporosis or thinning bones

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not intended for use by women who have not been through menopause. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine has been reported to cause birth defects. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it at the same time each day to help you remember to take it. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the medicine will upset your stomach. Take this medicine once every day.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss doses. If you do miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. If you do not remember that day, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose the next day. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, blood in your bowel movements.

What should I watch out for?

For this medicine to be effective, you must continue taking it even if you have side effects. Discuss side effects with your healthcare provider.

This medicine may raise the level of cholesterol in your blood. You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Continued treatment with this medicine may affect bone density. Your healthcare provider may order tests to determine if this medicine is affecting your bones.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat); sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling, especially on one side of your body; sudden or severe headache; sudden trouble with vision, speech, balance, or walking.

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fever; chills; chest pain; trouble breathing; swelling in feet or legs; broken bones; depression; dark urine, light-colored bowel movements; yellowing of the skin and eyes; severe stomach pain; loss of appetite; severe nausea or vomiting.

Other: Headache, tiredness, nausea, hot flashes, back or joint pain, muscle aches and pains; nervousness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, mild vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, increased sweating, itching, hair thinning.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
• Hormonal birth control pills, implants, shots, patches, vaginal rings, and IUDs, and hormones such as conjugated estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Climara, Estrace, Estraderm, Vivelle), medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, Provera), and norethindrone (Aygestin, Micronor)
• Natural remedies such as black cohosh, chasteberry, dong quai, red clover, soy, and St. John's wort
• Rifampin (Rifadin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.