PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

1MG FILM-COATED TABLETS

(anastrozole)

WHAT IS YOUR MEDICINE?

‘Arimidex’ comes in film-coated tablets and each tablet contains 1 milligram of anastrozole.

Each tablet contains a number of inactive ingredients which allow it to be made. These are lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, povidone, sodium starch glycollate and titanium dioxide.

‘Arimidex’ comes in blister packs of 28 tablets.

‘Arimidex’ belongs to a group of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. This means that it interferes with some of the actions of aromatase, an enzyme within the body which affects the level of certain female sex hormones such as oestrogens.

WHAT IS YOUR MEDICINE FOR?

‘Arimidex’ is used to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

WHEN SHOULD ‘ARIMIDEX’ NOT BE USED?

• ‘Arimidex’ must not be taken by pre-menopausal women, pregnant women or mothers who are breast feeding their babies.
• ‘Arimidex’ must not be taken by patients with certain disorders or diseases which affect the liver or kidneys.
• ‘Arimidex’ must not be taken by patients who are taking tamoxifen or oestrogen-containing medicines, for example hormone replacement therapy.
• ‘Arimidex’ should not be given to children.
• ‘Arimidex’ should not be used if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ‘Arimidex’ or to any particular ingredient.
• The tablets are only for you and must never be given to anyone else.

WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH ‘ARIMIDEX’?

• Before taking your medicine, tell your doctor if:
  • you have a history of or are suffering from any condition which affects the strength of your bones.
  • you are taking any LHRH analogues (medicines used to treat breast cancer, certain gynaecological conditions and infertility).
  • you are taking tamoxifen. It may lessen the effect of ‘Arimidex’.
  • you are taking any other medicines including those which you have bought.
  • you are suffering from any disorder or disease which affects your liver or kidneys.

 

• Your tablets are unlikely to adversely affect your ability to drive a car or to operate machinery. However, some patients may occasionally feel weak or sleepy. If this happens to you, ask your doctor for advice.
• If you go into hospital let the medical staff know you are taking ‘Arimidex’.
• As mentioned earlier, your tablets contain lactose monohydrate, sodium starch glycollate and titanium dioxide, which may cause a problem in a small number of patients who are sensitive to them.
• Only stop taking your tablets if your doctor tells you.
• ‘Arimidex’ lowers the levels of female hormones and this may lead to a loss of the mineral content of bones, which might decrease their strength.

HOW SHOULD I TAKE MY ‘ARIMIDEX’?

• Follow your doctor's instructions about when and how to take your tablets. He or she will tell you how long to take the tablets for. Please READ THE LABEL on the container. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• The usual adult dose is one tablet taken daily.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
• Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
• You should take ‘Arimidex’ as prescribed. However, if you miss a dose do not take an extra dose. Just resume your usual schedule.
• If you take more than your normal dose contact your doctor or nearest hospital.
• Do not stop taking your tablets even if you are feeling well, unless your doctor tells you.

WHAT UNDESIRABLE EVENTS MAY BE EXPERIENCED WITH ‘ARIMIDEX’?

As with all medicines, undesirable events are sometimes experienced with ‘Arimidex’.

Call an ambulance or contact a doctor immediately if the following happens to you, as you may need further examinations or treatment:

• Extremely severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) with lesions, ulcers or blisters.
• Allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat (angioedema), which may cause difficulty in swallowing and/or breathing.

These reactions are very rare (less than 1 in 10,000 patients).

Other undesirable events may include:

• hot flushes
• thinning of the hair
• vaginal dryness
• anorexia (loss of appetite)
• raised or high levels of fatty substances called lipids in the blood
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• feeling weak
• headache
• joint pain or joint stiffness
• sleepiness
• skin rash
• vaginal bleeding (usually in the first few weeks of treatment)
• allergic reactions such as hives or nettle rash
• ‘Arimidex’ lowers the levels of female hormones and this may lead to a loss of the mineral content of bones, which might decrease their strength and in some cases might result in fractures.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible events. You may not have any of them.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you think you have any of these or any other problems with your tablets.

HOW SHOULD I STORE ‘ARIMIDEX’?

• You should keep your tablets below 30°C.
• Keep your tablets in the container they came in.
• If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any left-over tablets to your pharmacist.
• Do not take your tablets after the expiry date on the container.
• Keep your tablets in a safe place where children cannot see or reach them. Your tablets could harm them.