Skip navigation | ||
|
||
Other drug names: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9 |
Contents of this page: | |
Your doctor has ordered anastrozole to help treat your illness. Anastrozole comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
This medication is used alone or with other treatments such as surgery or radiation to treat:
Anastrozole is in a class of drugs known as non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors. It decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes. This can slow or stop the growth of many types of breast cancer cells that need estrogen to grow. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Anastrozole is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take anastrozole at around the same time every day.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain anything you do not understand. Take anastrozole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take anastrozole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking anastrozole without talking to your doctor.
Anastrozole is also sometimes used to prevent breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing the disease.Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Before taking anastrozole,
Anastrozole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
Anastrozole may cause or worsen osteoporosis. It can decrease the density of your bones and increase the chance of broken bones and fractures. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication and to find out what you can do to decrease these risks.
Anastrozole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this drug.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Keep anastrozole in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
|
Last Revised -
03/01/2007
Last Reviewed -
08/01/2007
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2008. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.
Home | Health Topics | Drugs & Supplements | Encyclopedia | Dictionary | News | Directories | Other Resources | |
Disclaimers | Copyright | Privacy | Accessibility | Quality Guidelines U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services |
Page last updated: 09 September 2008 |