Arimidex

Brand Names

Arimidex

What is Arimidex

Arimidex (anastrozole) is a prescription medicine that effective for treating breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is also often given to women whose cancer has progressed even after taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox).

It works by lowering estrogen levels in postmenopausal women which may slow the growth of certain types of breast tumors that need estrogen to grow in the body.

Side effects of Arimidex

There is a list of common side effects of Arimidex:

• weakness
• headache
• hot flashes
• sweating
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• weight gain
• joint, bone or muscle pain
• breast pain
• mood changes
• depression
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• nervousness
• dizziness
• vaginal bleeding
• vaginal dryness or irritation
• pain, burning or tingling in the hands or feet
• dry mouth
• hair thinning

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, you should stop using it and inform your doctor immediately:

• chest pain
• sore throat, cough, fever, chills, swollen glands or other signs of infection
• swelling, redness or warmth in hand or arm
• difficult, painful or urgent urination
• blurred vision or vision changes
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• skin lesions, ulcers or blisters
• rash
• hives
• itching
• shortness of breath
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs

Indication

Arimidex is used for treating postmenopausal women with:

• Early breast cancer that is hormone receptor-positive. It is used after breast cancer surgery with or without radiation. This is known as adjuvant therapy or treatment that is used to help prevent the cancer from returning.
• Advanced or metastatic breast cancer that is either hormone receptor-positive or the hormone receptor status is not known.
• Advanced breast cancer that has not responded to tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox).

Precautions

You should inform your doctor before taking Arimidex if you have:

• Not gone through menopause
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes or preservatives
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or want to become pregnant
• Are taking any other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements

Dosage forms

Arimidex dose for Breast Cancer

The recommended dose of Arimidex in postmenopausal women is Arimidex 1 mg a day. For women with advanced breast cancer, the medication should be taken until the tumor begins to grow or spreads (metastasizes). For women with early breast cancer who have undergone surgery or radiation, it is not known how long Arimidex should be taken.