Drug reference

Anastrozole

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1028

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Adjuvant treatment of oestrogen-receptor-positive early invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women | Adjuvant treatment of oestrogen-receptor-positive early breast cancer in postmenopausal women following 2–3 years of tamoxifen therapy | Advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women which is oestrogen-receptor- positive or responsive to tamoxifen ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 mg daily Breast cancer [chemoprevention in postmenopausal women at moderate to high risk] (initiated under specialist supervision) ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 mg daily for 5 years l UNLICENSED USE g Anastrozole is used for chemoprevention of breast cancer, l but it is not licensed for this indication.

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Contra Indications

Not for premenopausal women

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Cautions

Susceptibility to osteoporosis

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Pre Treatment Screening

Laboratory test for menopause if doubt.

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National Funding Access Decisions

ARIMIDEX ® Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions The Scottish Medicines Consortium has advised (August 2005 and October 2006) that anastrozole (Arimidex ®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland, within the licensed indications, for early breast cancer and early invasive breast cancer.

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Safety

Side Effects

▶Common or very common Alopecia. appetite decreased. arthritis. asthenia. bone pain. carpal tunnel syndrome. diarrhoea. drowsiness. headache. hot ﬂush. hypercholesterolaemia. hypersensitivity. joint disorders. myalgia. nausea. osteoporosis. sensation abnormal. skin reactions. taste altered. vaginal haemorrhage. vomiting. vulvovaginal dryness ▶Uncommon Hepatitis. hypercalcaemia. trigger ﬁnger ▶Rare or very rare Angioedema. Stevens-Johnson syndrome . vasculitis ▶Frequency not known Mood altered

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Pregnancy

Avoid.

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Breast Feeding

Avoid.

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Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises use with caution in moderate-to-severe impairment.

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Renal Impairment

Avoid if creatinine clearance less than 20 mL/minute.

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Monitoring Requirements

▶Osteoporosis Assess bone mineral density before treatment and at regular intervals.

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Tablet ▶Anastrozole (Non-proprietary) Anastrozole 1 mg Anastrozole 1mg tablets | 28 tablet P £68.56 DT = £1.84 ▶Arimidex (AstraZeneca UK Ltd) Anastrozole 1 mg Arimidex 1mg tablets | 28 tablet P £68.56 DT = £1.84

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Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Driving and skilled tasks Asthenia and drowsiness may initially affect ability to drive or operate machinery.

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Dose text by age group

Adult

1 mg daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

1 mg daily for 5 years

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1028

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Anastrozole

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1028

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 1028

Contra Indications

Not for premenopausal women

PDF page 1028

Cautions

Susceptibility to osteoporosis

PDF page 1028

Pre Treatment Screening

Laboratory test for menopause if doubt.

PDF page 1028

National Funding Access Decisions

PDF page 1028

Safety

Side Effects

PDF page 1028

Pregnancy

Avoid.

PDF page 1028

Breast Feeding

Avoid.

PDF page 1028

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises use with caution in moderate-to-severe impairment.

PDF page 1028

Renal Impairment

Avoid if creatinine clearance less than 20 mL/minute.

PDF page 1028

Monitoring Requirements

▶Osteoporosis Assess bone mineral density before treatment and at regular intervals.

PDF page 1028

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 1028

Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Driving and skilled tasks Asthenia and drowsiness may initially affect ability to drive or operate machinery.

PDF page 1028

Dose text by age group

Adult

1 mg daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1028

Adult

1 mg daily for 5 years

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1028

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.