Anastrozole Fertility Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Anastrozole Fertility Tablet (generic name anastrozole) is an aromatase inhibitor mainly used to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause, and also known by the brand name Arimidex. It works by lowering oestrogen levels in the body, which can help slow or stop the growth of oestrogen-sensitive breast cancers. In selected patients, it may also be used to support fertility treatment under specialist supervision. It is taken as a once-daily tablet, usually for five to ten years as part of breast cancer treatment.

What is Anastrozole Fertility Tablet

Anastrozole is a hormone therapy tablet mainly used to treat hormone-dependent (oestrogen receptor positive) breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause. It is also known by the brand name Arimidex.

Anastrozole Fertility Tablet uses

• Treats breast cancer in women who no longer have menstrual periods (naturally, due to age, or after surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
• Used alongside ovarian suppression in women who haven't yet been through the menopause
• Can be used as adjuvant (additional) therapy after surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning
• Sometimes used before surgery to shrink a larger breast cancer
• Used to treat breast cancer that has come back locally or spread to other parts of the body
• Can be used in men with breast cancer, though tamoxifen is more commonly used for this
• May be used to try to reduce the risk of breast cancer developing in people with a higher risk due to family history

Benefits of Anastrozole Fertility Tablet

• May stimulate ovulation in selected patients
• May support egg development
• May help treat certain ovulation-related fertility problems
• May support fertility treatment when selected by a specialist
• Lowers estrogen production temporarily

How Anastrozole Fertility Tablet works

Anastrozole lowers the amount of oestrogen made in the body by blocking an enzyme called aromatase, which normally helps produce oestrogen. Since some breast cancers use oestrogen to grow, reducing oestrogen can slow or stop the cancer from growing.

Anastrozole Fertility Tablet dosage

Take one tablet a day, swallowed whole with a glass of water. It does not matter if you take it before, with, or after food. Try to take it at about the same time every day to help you remember and get the best effect.

Keep taking it every day for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel well — do not stop without talking to your doctor first. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember as long as it is at least 12 hours before your next dose is due; if it's less than 12 hours before the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Most people take this medicine for five to ten years as part of breast cancer treatment.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (1 mg, film-coated)

Side effects of Anastrozole Fertility Tablet

Common

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Feeling weak or lacking energy
• Joint or muscle pain and stiffness
• Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
• Mild skin rash
• Feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
• Headache
• Feeling depressed or low mood
• Feeling sleepy or dizzy
• Vaginal dryness
• Vaginal bleeding
• Thinning of hair (hair loss)
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in the hand)
• Pins and needles
• Loss of taste or changes in taste
• Low sex drive
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Difficulty sleeping
• High cholesterol
• Changes to hair or facial hair

Serious

• Sudden signs of allergy such as shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other body parts, rash, itching or hives
• Severe skin reactions with lesions, ulcers or blisters
• Liver pain, swelling, or feeling generally unwell, with or without yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Tendon pain or swelling (inflammation of a tendon)
• Trigger finger (a finger or thumb catching in a bent position)
• Signs of a blood clot such as pain, redness, heat or swelling in an arm or leg, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, or coughing up blood
• Worsening chest pain or trouble breathing (possible sign of reduced blood flow to the heart)

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to anastrozole or any of its ingredients, if you are still having menstrual periods, or if you are a man (men are not normally treated with this medicine)
• This medicine may decrease bone density and increase the risk of fractures, and may cause tendon inflammation. If you notice tendon pain or swelling, rest the area and contact your doctor
• Do not take oestrogen-containing medicines, such as hormone replacement therapy or certain birth control pills, while on this medicine, as they may interfere with how it works
• It is possible to become pregnant while taking this medicine even if your periods have stopped due to ovarian suppression, so use a non-hormonal method of contraception if you are sexually active
• Do not give this medicine to a child, as it is not recommended for use in children
• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it may harm your developing baby. If you think you may be pregnant, stop taking it and tell your specialist straight away
• Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine, as the drug can pass into breast milk and affect your baby
• Check with your doctor if you have kidney problems before taking this medicine
• Check with your doctor if you have liver problems before taking this medicine, as it can occasionally cause changes to how the liver works
• There are no known interactions between this medicine and alcohol
• Be careful driving or using machinery until you know how this medicine affects you, as it can sometimes cause weakness, sleepiness or dizziness

Storage

• Keep tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them
• Keep in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C
• Store away from moisture, heat or sunlight — do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills
• Keep where young children cannot reach it
• If you no longer need the medicine or it is out of date, take it to a pharmacy for safe disposal
• Do not use after the expiry date

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other body parts, or a rash, itching or hives
• Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a severe skin reaction with blisters, ulcers or lesions
• Call your doctor straight away or go to the emergency department if you have liver pain or swelling, or feel generally unwell with or without yellowing of the skin or eyes
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, get urgent medical help, even if you feel fine, by contacting your doctor or going to the nearest hospital emergency department
• Contact your local emergency department, GP or treatment team straight away if you have signs of a blood clot, such as swelling, redness or pain in an arm or leg, shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood
• Get emergency help right away if you develop new or worsening chest pain or trouble breathing while taking this medicine

Alternatives

• Tamoxifen
• Clomiphene citrate
• Letrozole