ARIMIDEX

ANASTROZOLE

Adjuvant treatment of post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer, and also advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women. First-line treatment of hormone receptor-positive post-menopausal women who have received 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen.

Hormonal Chemotherapy

The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. In postmenopausal women, estrogens are mainly derived from the action of the aromatase enzyme, which converts adrenal androgens (primarily androstenedione and testosterone) to estrone and estradiol. The suppression of estrogen biosynthesis in peripheral tissues and in the cancer tissue itself can therefore be achieved by specifically inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. Anastrozole is a selective non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor. It significantly lowers serum estradiol concentrations and has no detectable effect on formation of adrenal corticosteroids or aldosterone.

Adults and elderly: 1 mg tablet to be taken orally once a day.

Antipyrine and cemetidine clinical interaction studies indicate that the co administration of anastrozole with other drugs is unlikely to result in clinically significant drug interactions mediated by cytochrome P450. Tamoxifen should not be co-administered with anastrozole as this may reduce its pharmacological action.

Patients with severe renal impairment (Creatinine clearance less than 20 mL/min), patients with moderate to severe hepatic disease and known hypersensitivity to anastrozole or to any of the excipients. Oestrozen-containing therapies should not be co-administered with anastrazole as they would negate its pharmacological action.

More common side effects are: Blurred vision chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, headache nervousness, pounding in the ears, shortness of breath, slow or fast heartbeat, swelling of the feet or lower legs

Anastrozole is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women.

Clinical trials have been conducted with Anastrozole tablets, up to 60 mg in a single dose given to healthy male volunteers and up to 10 mg daily given to postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer; these dosages were tolerated. A single dose of Anastrozole tablets that results in life-threatening symptoms has not been established. There is no specific antidote to overdosage and treatment must be symptomatic. In the management of an overdose, consider that multiple agents may have been taken. Vomiting may be induced if the patient is alert. Dialysis may be helpful because Anastrozole tablet is not highly protein bound. General supportive care, including frequent monitoring of vital signs and close observation of the patient, is indicated.

There are no data to support the safe use of anastrozole in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment, or patients with severe impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance less than 20 mL/min). Women with osteoporosis or at risk of osteoporosis should have their bone mineral density at regular intervals monitored. There are no data available for the use of anastrozole with LHRH analogues. This product contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Product should be stored within 308C