Anastrozole (Systemic)

Brand Names : Arimidex

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For anastrozole, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to anastrozole. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Anastrozole has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that anastrozole causes miscarriages, decreased weight or death of the fetus, and problems with bone formation. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking anastrozole.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether anastrozole passes into the breast milk. However, anastrozole is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of anastrozole in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of anastrozole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.