Anastrozole is a type of hormone treatment. It works by lowering the levels of oestrogen hormones in your body. It is mainly prescribed for women who have been through the menopause and have a type of cancer called hormone-dependent breast cancer. It can sometimes also be used: Most people who take anastrozole will have had surgery, radiotherapy or sometimes chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer first. Anastrozole is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets. 3. Who can and cannot take anastrozoleAnastrozole is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting on this medicine if you:
4. How and when to take anastrozoleSwallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew it. You can take anastrozole with or without food. DosageAnastrozole comes as 1mg tablets. The usual dose is 1 tablet, taken once a day. Try to take your anastrozole at the same time each day, this will make it easier to remember. You can choose a time that suits your everyday routine What if I forget to take it?If you forget to take your medicine, just skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the normal time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I take too much?If you take too many anastrozole tablets, you may get symptoms like feeling sick, vomiting or diarrhoea. Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
Call 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk 5. Side effectsLike all medicines, anastrozole can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Anastrozole may affect your blood pressure, cholesterol and bone density. Your doctor will monitor this carefully and can recommend additional treatment if needed. Common side effectsMenopause symptoms usually improve during the first few months of taking anastrozole. These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.
Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: Serious side effectsSerious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 100 people. Tell a doctor if:
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
Face dropping and difficulty speaking can be signs of a stroke, and sudden severe chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. Serious allergic reactionIn rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to anastrozole. Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of anastrozole. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. 6. How to cope with the side effects of anastrozoleMenopause symptoms such as hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, tiredness and low mood usually improve during the first months of taking anastrozole. However, if they are severe or last longer than a few months, talk to your doctor or breast cancer nurse. What to do about:
7. Pregnancy and breastfeedingAnastrozole is not recommended when pregnant or breastfeeding, because it interferes with hormone levels in you and your baby. And there is not enough information available to say if it's safe. Talk to your doctor straight away if there is any chance that you could be pregnant. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
8. Cautions with other medicinesThere are very few medicines that affect the way anastrozole works in the body. However, do not take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or any other medicines that relieve menopausal symptoms. These may contain ingredients similar to the hormone oestrogen and could stop anastrozole working as well as it should in treating your cancer. Mixing anastrozole with herbal remedies and supplementsDo not take any herbal remedies or supplements for menopausal symptoms while taking anastrozole. These can stop anastrozole working as well as it should. There is very little information about taking other herbal remedies and supplements together with anastrozole. Medicine safetyTell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. 9. Common questions about anastrozoleHow does anastrozole work? Anastrozole belongs to a group of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitor medicines are used to treat certain types of breast cancer, where the cancer cells need oestrogen (a hormone) to grow. After the menopause your ovaries stop producing oestrogen. Instead your body makes oestrogen from an enzyme called aromatase. Aromatase inhibitors reduce the amount of aromatase in your body and this in turn stops your body producing oestrogen. This helps prevent cancer cells growing, as they no longer have anything to feed on. What are the benefits of taking anastrozole? Anastrozole helps stop your breast cancer coming back after having treatment for cancer. By taking this medicine for 5 years, you have a better chance of being alive 15 years after your breast cancer was first diagnosed. Your specialist will be able to explain the benefits and risks of taking anastrozole. They can also calculate how well anastrozole is likely to work for you. This is done by comparing your details with those of more than 20,000 other people who have had treatment for breast cancer. The exact benefits and how well it’s likely to work for you depend on a combination of different things. This varies for each person and includes factors like your age when the breast cancer was found, how it was found and whether you’ve had chemotherapy or not. How long does it take to work? Anastrozole will immediately start to reduce the amount of oestrogen in your body. However, it takes several weeks or months for the medicine to work fully. During this time you’re likely to have menopause symptoms as your body gets used to having less oestrogen. These symptoms will gradually improve as your body adjusts to the medicine. How long will I take it for? Most people who take anastrozole will have had surgery, radiotherapy or sometimes chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer first. In this case, surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is the first (primary) treatment and anastrozole is an additional (adjuvant) therapy. Adjuvant therapy helps stop the cancer coming back. Most people will have adjuvant therapy for 5 years. However sometimes your doctor will advise continuing it for longer. During this time you may be given anastrozole only, or tamoxifen (a drug that can also be used to treat breast cancer) for a few years followed by anastrozole for the remaining time. Anastrozole is sometimes used to treat cancer if you cannot have surgery, or to shrink the cancer before surgery if you cannot have chemotherapy. In this case your specialist will tell you how long to take the medicine for. Is it safe to take for a long time? Anastrozole is generally safe to take long term, however your specialist team will monitor your health carefully. This is because anastrozole reduces levels of oestrogen that your body needs for strong and healthy bones. If you take anastrozole for a long time your bones can become weaker (osteoporosis) and more likely to break. You will have bone density scans before you start taking anastrozole, 1 or 2 years into treatment and again after you finish your treatment. Your doctor may recommend a type of medicine called a bisphosphonate to help reduce bone damage. They can also give you advice on exercise and diet to help keep your bones strong. Anastrozole can also increase your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Your doctor will monitor these during your regular check-ups and recommend treatment as needed. Can I stop taking it? If you want to stop taking it for any reason, your doctor will be able to discuss alternatives for treating your breast cancer or preventing it coming back. Sometimes people may have a short break from anastrozole. This can help if you are getting side effects such as joint pain. However, only take a break from your medicine if you have discussed it with your doctor first and they agree to it. Important: ImportantDo not stop taking anastrozole without talking to your doctor first. Are there other medicines like anastrozole? Medicines such as tamoxifen, letrozole and exemestane work in a similar way to anastrozole. These medicines lower your oestrogen levels and can cause similar side effects. However, medicines affect people in different ways. If you are bothered by side effects from taking anastrozole, talk to your doctor. They may recommend one of these other medicines instead. Can I drink alcohol with it? There is no evidence that drinking alcohol causes any problems when taking anastrozole. Some people taking anastrozole may get hot flushes or redness when they drink alcohol. In this case, avoiding alcohol may help. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Most people can eat and drink normally when taking anastrozole. Although some people may get hot flushes or redness when they drink alcohol. Some people find anastrozole affects their appetite. If you lose your appetite, try to make sure you have a balanced diet by eating smaller meals and more often. If it makes you feel hungrier and you’re putting on a lot of weight, ask your doctor or specialist nurse to refer you to a dietitian. Will it affect my contraception or fertility? Anastrozole is generally only given to you if you have gone through the menopause. However, some people find that they start to having periods again after taking anastrozole. If this happens to you, it’s important to use reliable contraception. Talk to your doctor if your periods start again, or if there is any chance that you maybe are pregnant. Anastrozole is not recommended during pregnancy . Can I drive or ride a bike? Some people feel extremely tired when taking anastrozole. If you feel tired or dizzy, or if you get blurred vision, do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery until you feel OK again. What hormone can be used to relieve the symptoms of breast cancer?Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is usually taken daily in pill form. It's often used to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women who have been treated for early-stage breast cancer.
What hormones are used in hormone therapy for cancer?Types of hormone therapy. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole.. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen and raloxifene.. Estrogen receptor antagonists, such as fulvestrant and toremifene.. What hormone antagonist is used in the treatment of breast cancer?Hormone Antagonists and Related Agents. |