Fulvestrant (Systemic)

Brand Names : Faslodex

Before Using This Medicine

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

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

Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Fulvestrant has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that fulvestrant causes serious problems with the fetus. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. It is best to avoid pregnancy during treatment with this medicine.

Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking fulvestrant

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether fulvestrant passes into the breast milk. However, because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding generally is not recommended while you are taking it.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people.

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. When you are taking fulvestrant, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (e.g., Coumadin, Warfarin sodium) - may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising

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

• Bleeding problems - May be worsened by fulvestrant

• Liver disease - Effects of fulvestrant may be increased because of slower removal from the body