Arimidex
Brand name: Arimidex
Chemical name: Anastrozole
Class: Aromatase inhibitor hormonal therapy. Aromasin and Femara are other aromatase inhibitors.
How it works: Aromatase inhibitors lower the amount of estrogen in postmenopausal women.
Uses: Arimidex, used to treat postmenopausal women, typically is used to:
- reduce the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back after surgery and other treatments
- treat advanced-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer
Research presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that Arimidex can lower the risk of first-time, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk who haven’t been diagnosed. Arimidex isn’t approved by the FDA for this use, but doctors may consider it a good alternative to other hormonal therapies approved to reduce risk in high-risk women.
It’s possible that the FDA may approve Arimidex to be used to reduce risk in high-risk postmenopausal women who haven’t been diagnosed.
Arimidex usually is taken for 5 years. Doctors may recommend that some women take it for a longer or shorter period of time.
How it's given: Arimidex is taken orally as a pill.
Additional information: Arimidex shouldn't be taken at the same time as tamoxifen.
Side effects:
- weakness
- fatigue
- headache
- mood swings
- depression
- nausea
- mild diarrhea
- increased or decreased appetite
- sweating
- hot flashes
- vaginal dryness
- temporary hair thinning
- joint pain
- bone pain and weakness
- lower bone density
Read more about Arimidex.
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