Arimidex (Anastrozole)

General information

Arimidex is a prescription medication used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It 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.

Directions

Take Arimidex exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is usually taken once per day with or without food at the same time. The recommended dose of Arimidex in postmenopausal women is 1 mg a day. Do not stop taking the drug without discussing it with your doctor.

Precautions

Before using Arimidex, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, circulation problems, a history of stroke or blood clot, severe liver disease, high cholesterol, osteoporosis. It can decrease bone mineral density, which may increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Your bone mineral density may need to be tested before and during treatment with this medicine.

Contraindications

Do not use Arimidex if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to anastrozole, or if you have not yet completed menopause. The drug is not for use in men or children.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Arimidex: hives, difficulty breathing, or if you have weakness, swollen glands, headache, problems with vision or speech. The most common side effects included: back pain, osteoporosis, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dizziness.

Drug interactions

Arimidex can interact with other medications including estrogens, oral contraceptives. Before you start taking Arimidex, tell your doctor if you also take tamoxifen.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are stomach pain, blood in the stool, nausea and vomiting.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.