Arimidex 1 mg 28 tablets

Trade Name:

Arimidex 1 mg 

28 film-coated tablets

Composition:

Each film-coated tablet contains:

Anastrozole 1 mg

Inactive ingredients:

Lactose monohydrate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 300, titanium dioxide.

Properties:

Arimidex contains a substance called anastrozole. This belongs to a group of medicines called “aromatase inhibitors”. Arimidex is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause.

Arimidex works by cutting down the amount of the hormone called estrogen that your body makes. It does this by blocking a natural substance (an enzyme) in your body called ‘aromatase’.

Indications:

-adjuvant therapy for early hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women;

-treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women;

-adjuvant therapy of early hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women after tamoxifen therapy for 2-3 years.

Directions for use:

• Always take Arimidex exactly as your doctor has told you. 
• The recommended dose is one tablet once a day.
• Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
• It does not matter if you take Arimidex before, with or after food.
• Keep taking Arimidex for as long as your doctor tells you to. It is a long-term

treatment and you may need to take it for several years. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.

• Arimidex should not be given to children and adolescents.
• If you take more Arimidex than you should, talk to a doctor straight away.
• If you forget to take the Arimidex dose, just take your next dose as normal.

Do not take a double dose.

• Do not stop taking your tablets unless your doctor tells you to.

Side effects:

• Very common:

Headache, hot flushes, nausea, skin rash, pain or stiffness in your joints, inflammation of the joints (arthritis), feeling weak, osteoporosis, depression.

• Common:

Loss of appetite, raised or high levels of cholesterol in your blood, feeling sleepy, Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in parts of the hand), tickling, tingling or numbness of skin, loss/lack of taste, diarrhea, vomiting, changes in blood tests, hair loss, bone pain, vaginal dryness, bleeding from the vagina (usually in the first few weeks of treatment – if the bleeding continues, talk to your doctor), muscle pain.

• Uncommon: 

Changes in special blood tests(gamma-GT and bilirubin, hepatitis, hives or nettle rash, trigger finger, increased amounts of calcium in your blood. 

• Rare: 

Rare inflammation of your skin that may include red patches or blisters,

Skin rash caused by hypersensitivity Inflammation of the small blood vessels causing red or purple coloring of the skin. •Very rare:

Joint, stomach, and kidney pain may occur; this is known as ‘Henoch-

Schönlein purpura’.

• Stop taking Arimidex and seek urgent medical treatment, if you experience any of the following serious but very rare side effects:

-An extremely severe skin reaction with ulcers or blisters on the skin. This is known as ‘Stevens-Johnson syndrome’.

-Allergic reactions with swelling of the throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This is known as ‘angioedema”.

Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor before taking Arimidex:

-if you still have menstrual periods and have not yet gone through the menopause;

-if you are taking a medicine that contains tamoxifen or medicines that contain estrogen;

-if you have ever had osteoporosis;

-if you have problems with your liver or kidneys;

-if you are already taking any of the  medicines that contain tamoxifen, estrogen, gonadorelin, buserelin,

goserelin, leuprorelin and triptorelin. 

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

Do not take Arimidex if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stop Arimidex if you become pregnant and talk to your doctor.

• Driving and using machines:

Arimidex is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use any tools or machines. However, some people may occasionally feel weak or sleepy while taking Arimidex. If this happens to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Arimidex contains lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

Storage:

Store at a temperature not exceeding 30°C

Package:

Carton box holds a blister pack of 28 tablets and paper instructions.