Arimidex 1 mg ( Anastrozole ) 28 tablets

Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole) is an aromatase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

• postmenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer after surgery (or possibly chemotherapy and radiation) to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back
• postmenopausal women diagnosed with advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer 

Arimidex won't work on hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer. Arimidex shouldn't be taken at the same time as tamoxifen.

Arimidex is a pill taken once a day. Most doctors recommend taking Arimidex at the same time each day.

You should not take Arimidex if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if there is any chance that you could be pregnant. Arimidex may cause damage to developing embryos. You should use an effective non-hormonal type of birth control -- such as condoms, a diaphragm along with spermicide, or a non-hormonal I.U.D. – while you are taking Arimidex. Ask your doctor which type of non-hormonal birth control would be best for you, as well as how long you should use this type of birth control after you stop taking Arimidex.

Benefits of Arimidex

The large ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination) trial compared Arimidex to tamoxifen after surgery. The researchers wanted to know how the medicines worked by themselves as well as together to see which combination would be the best treatment for postmenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Based on the results of this trial, giving Arimidex and tamoxifen at the same time isn't recommended.

The ATAC study found that 5 years of Arimidex is better than 5 years of tamoxifen as the first hormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Arimidex is better than tamoxifen for:

• increasing the time before the cancer comes back in those who experience recurrence
• reducing the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body
• reducing the risk of a new cancer developing in the other breast

Research presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that Arimidex can lower the risk of first-time, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk who haven’t been diagnosed. Arimidex isn’t approved by the FDA for this use, but doctors may consider it a good alternative to other hormonal therapies approved to reduce risk in high-risk women.

It’s possible that the FDA may approve Arimidex to be used to reduce risk in high-risk postmenopausal women who haven’t been diagnosed.

Side effects of Arimidex

Because Arimidex lowers the amount of estrogen in the body, less estrogen reaches bone cells, which can lead to bone thinning and weakening and a higher-than-average risk of broken bones. This side effect can be very troubling for some women. If you have osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend that you take tamoxifen rather than Arimidex because of this possible side effect.

The ATAC results reported in 2007 showed a finding that hadn't been seen before. The higher risk of broken bones associated with Arimidex disappeared after the women stopped taking Arimidex. The researchers will see if this result continues as more data is collected and analyzed.

Other common side effects of Arimidex are:

• bone and joint pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• hot flashes
• weakness
• fatigue

Some women may have other side effects while taking Arimidex:

• headache
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• weight gain
• mood changes
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness
• vaginal bleeding
• vaginal dryness
• dry mouth
• dry skin
• cough
• hair changes

Some side effects may mean that you're having an allergic reaction to Arimidex. If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• chest pain
• blurred vision
• racing heartbeat
• rash or hives
• swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• breast pain or new lumps in the breast

How long do I take Arimidex?

In most cases, you'll take Arimidex for 5 years. Doctors may recommend that some women take it for a longer or shorter period of time.

Does insurance cover Arimidex?

While costs vary, Arimidex can cost several hundred dollars per month. Arimidex also is available as a generic medicine, which is usually less expensive. If you have health insurance, check with your insurance company to see if and how much of the cost of Arimidex is covered. If you don't have health insurance or your insurance doesn't cover the cost of Arimidex, ask your doctor or nurse about programs in your area that may be able to help.

AstraZeneca, the company that makes Arimidex, offers the AZ Cancer Support Network, which can help you learn about prescription programs. In the United States, call 1-866-992-9276, or visit the AstraZeneca patient prescription assistance programs page.

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