Anastrozole

Precautions

Before taking Anastrozole talk with your doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medication-related to it. The drug may contain some inactive ingredients which will cause serious allergic reactions or some other serious problems. Before using the drug talk with your doctor if you are having any medical history such as: Kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and blood clots. The drug is primarily prescribed to women during menopause. This drug should not be used during pregnancy if you have not yet reached menopause. When taking this drug and for at least 3 weeks after stopping it, talk to your doctor about using a safe method of birth control (such as latex condoms).

How to use Anastrozole?

Anastrozole should be taken orally and is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take the drug at around the same time every day. For getting benefited from this drug, take it on a daily basis. Take it at the same time every day to help you remember. Avoid increasing your dosage or try take this medication more often or for longer than recommended.

Dosage for breast cancer

Missed Dose

If you forget to take your dose, try to do so as soon as possible. If you only have a few hours until the next dose, only take one dose at that time. Never try to make up for missed doses by taking two at once. This could have dangerous consequences.

Overdose

If you take too much of this medication then it can cause some serious side effects like severe bleeding, death of tissues and gastritis. Talk with your doctor immediately if you are getting any adverse effects due to an overdose of these medications.

Interactions

Other drugs, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking may interact with an anastrozole oral tablet. When a substance alters the way a drug functions, this is known as interactions. This can be dangerous or impair the drug's effectiveness. To prevent drug reactions, your doctor should closely monitor all of your drugs. Make sure your doctor is aware of any medications, vitamins, or herbs you're using. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to learn how this medication can interact with other medications you're taking. The medications that interact with anastrozole are tamoxifen and estrogens.

Warnings for Serious Health Conditions

For people with osteoporosis: Anastrozole reduces oestrogen levels in the body, which can lead to brittle or thin bones. This could aggravate your osteoporosis and boost your risk of fractures even further. Before and during treatment with this medication, your doctor will check your bone mineral density.

For people with high cholesterol: This medicine has the potential to raise your cholesterol levels. This can improve the odds of having serious heart problems. When you're on anastrozole, the doctor will monitor your cholesterol levels.

For people with Heart Disease: The drug can cause low blood flow to your heart if you have a history of heart artery blockage. Discuss the dangers and benefits of taking this drug to treat your breast cancer with your doctor.

For pregnant women: Anastrozole is a pregnancy drug classified as category X. Drugs in the range X can never be used during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or about to become pregnant, tell your doctor. If you become pregnant while taking anastrozole, you should stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor.

Breastfeeding: Anastrozole does not tend to move by breast milk. If it does, it could have significant consequences for an infant who is breastfeeding. It's up to you and your doctor to determine whether you'll take the medication or breastfeed your infant.

Storage

Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.

Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).

Anastrozole vs Letrozole

Citations