Patient leaflet - ARIMIDEX 1 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS, ANASTROZOLE 1 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
1. what arimidex is and what it is used for
Arimidex contains a substance called anastrozole. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘aromatase inhibitors’. Arimidex is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause.
Arimidex works by cutting down the amount of the hormone called estrogen that your body makes. It does this by blocking a natural substance (an enzyme) in your body called ‘aromatase’.
2. what you need to know before you take arimidex
Do not take Arimidex
-
– if you are allergic to anastrozole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
-
– if you are pregnant or breast-feeding (see the section called ‘Pregnancy and breast-feeding’).
Do not take Arimidex if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Arimidex.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse before taking Arimidex
-
– if you still have menstrual periods and have not yet gone through the menopause.
-
– if you are taking a medicine that contains tamoxifen or medicines that contain estrogen (see the section called ‘Other medicines and Arimidex’).
-
– if you have ever had a condition that affects the strength of your bones (osteoporosis).
-
– if you have problems with your liver or kidneys.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Arimidex.
If you go into the hospital, let the medical staff know you are taking Arimidex.
Other medicines and Arimidex
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Arimidex can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Arimidex.
Do not take Arimidex if you are already taking any of the following medicines:
-
– Certain medicines used to treat breast cancer (selective estrogen receptor modulators), e.g. medicines that contain tamoxifen. This is because these medicines may stop Arimidex from working properly.
-
– Medicines that contain estrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
If this applies to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following:
-
– A medicine known as an ‘LHRH analogue’. This includes gonadorelin, buserelin, goserelin, leuprorelin and triptorelin. These medicines are used to treat breast cancer, certain female health (gynaecological) conditions, and infertility.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Arimidex if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stop Arimidex if you become pregnant and talk to your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Arimidex is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use any tools or machines. However, some people may occasionally feel weak or sleepy while taking Arimidex. If this happens to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Arimidex contains lactose
Arimidex contains lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Arimidex Sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.
3. how to take arimidex
Always take Arimidex exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
-
– The recommended dose is one tablet once a day.
-
– Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
-
– Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
-
– It does not matter if you take Arimidex before, with or after food.
Keep taking Arimidex for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
It is a long-term treatment and you may need to take it for several years. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Use in children and adolescents
Arimidex should not be given to children and adolescents.
If you take more Arimidex than you should
If you take more Arimidex than you should, talk to a doctor straight away.
If you forget to take Arimidex
If you forget to take a dose, just take your next dose as normal.
Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Arimidex
Do not stop taking your tablets unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Arimidex and seek urgent medical treatment, if you experience any of the following serious but very rare side effects: – An extremely severe skin reaction with ulcers or blisters on the skin.
This is known as ‘Stevens-Johnson syndrome’.
-
– Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions with swelling of the throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This is known as ‘angioedema’.
Very common side effects (affect more than 1 in 10 people)
-
– Headache.
-
– Hot flushes.
-
– Feeling sick (nausea).
-
– Skin rash.
-
– Pain or stiffness in your joints.
-
– Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
-
– Feeling weak.
-
– Bone loss (osteoporosis).
Common side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 100)
-
– Loss of appetite.
-
– Raised or high levels of fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood. This would be seen in a blood test.
-
– Feeling sleepy.
-
– Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in parts of the hand).
-
– Tickling, tingling or numbness of skin, loss/lack of taste.
-
– Diarrhoea.
-
– Being sick (vomiting).
-
– Changes in blood tests that show how well your liver is working.
-
– Thinning of your hair (hair loss).
-
– Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions including face, lips, or tongue.
-
– Bone pain.
Vaginal dryness.
-
– Bleeding from the vagina (usually in the first few weeks of treatment – if the bleeding continues, talk to your doctor).
-
– Muscle pain.
Uncommon side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 1,000)
-
– Changes in special blood tests that show how your liver is working (gamma-GT and bilirubin).
-
– Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
-
– Hives or nettle rash.
-
– Trigger finger (a condition in which your finger or thumb catches in a bent position).
-
– Increased amounts of calcium in your blood. If you experience nausea, vomiting and thirst, you should tell your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse as you may need to have blood tests.
Rare side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 10,000)
-
– Rare inflammation of your skin that may include red patches or blisters.
-
– Skin rash caused by hypersensitivity (this can be from allergic or anaphylactoid reaction).
-
– Inflammation of the small blood vessels causing red or purple colouring of the skin. Very rarely symptoms of joint, stomach, and kidney pain may occur; this is known as ‘Henoch-Schonlein purpura’.
Effects on your bones
Arimidex lowers the amount of the hormone called estrogen that is in your body. This may lower the mineral content of your bones. Your bones may be less strong and may be more likely to fracture. Your doctor will manage these risks according to treatment guidelines for managing bone health in women who have gone through the menopause. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and treatment options.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store arimidex
-
– Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Keep your tablets in a safe place where children cannot see or reach them. Your tablets could harm them.
-
– Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
-
– Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original package.
-
– If your tablets become discoloured or shown any sign of deterioration, please contact your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine.
-
– Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Arimidex contains
The active substance is anastrozole.
Each film-coated tablet contains 1 mg anastrozole.
The other ingredients: lactose monohydrate, povidone (K28–32), sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 300, titanium dioxide.
What Arimidex looks like and contents of the pack
Arimidex is available as a white, round, biconvex film-coated tablet with an ‘arrow A’ logo on one side and ‘Adx 1’ on the other.
Arimidex comes in calendar blister strips of 28 tablets.
Manufacturer and product licence holder
Manufactured by:
-
– AstraZeneca AB, Gartunavagen, SE-151 85 Sodertalje, Sweden.
-
– AstraZeneca UK Ltd., Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK.
-
– AstraZeneca GmbH., Tinsdaler Weg 183, D-22880 Wedel, Germany.
Procured from within the EU by product licence holder Star Pharmaceuticals Ltd, 5 Sandridge Close, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1XD. Repackaged by Servipharm Ltd.
POM PL 20636/2692
Leaflet revision and issue date (Ref) 02.03.21[9]
Arimidex is a trademark of the AstraZeneca UK Limited.
Blind or partially sighted?
Is this leaflet hard to see or read? Call 020 8423 2111 to obtain the leaflet in a format suitable for you.
Anastrozole 1 mg Film-Coated
Tablets
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
-
– Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
-
– If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse.
-
– This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
-
– If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
Your medicine is available using the above name but will be referred to as Anastrozole throughout this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
-
1. What Anastrozole is and what it is used for
-
2. What you need to know before you take Anastrozole
-
3. How to take Anastrozole
-
4. Possible side effects
-
5. How to store Anastrozole
-
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. what anastrozole is and what it is used for
Anastrozole contains a substance called anastrozole. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘aromatase inhibitors’. Anastrozole is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause.
Anastrozole works by cutting down the amount of the hormone called estrogen that your body makes. It does this by blocking a natural substance (an enzyme) in your body called ‘aromatase’.
2. what you need to know before you take anastrozole
Do not take Anastrozole
-
– if you are allergic to anastrozole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
-
– if you are pregnant or breast-feeding (see the section called ‘Pregnancy and breast-feeding’).
Do not take Anastrozole if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Anastrozole.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse before taking Anastrozole – if you still have menstrual periods and have not yet gone through the menopause.
-
– if you are taking a medicine that contains tamoxifen or medicines that contain estrogen (see the section called ‘Other medicines and Anastrozole’).
-
– if you have ever had a condition that affects the strength of your bones (osteoporosis).
-
– if you have problems with your liver or kidneys.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Anastrozole.
If you go into the hospital, let the medical staff know you are taking Anastrozole.
Other medicines and Anastrozole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Anastrozole can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Anastrozole.
Do not take Anastrozole if you are already taking any of the following medicines:
-
– Certain medicines used to treat breast cancer (selective estrogen receptor modulators), e.g. medicines that contain tamoxifen. This is because these medicines may stop Anastrozole from working properly.
-
– Medicines that contain estrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
If this applies to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following:
-
– A medicine known as an ‘LHRH analogue’. This includes gonadorelin, buserelin, goserelin, leuprorelin and triptorelin. These medicines are used to treat breast cancer, certain female health (gynaecological) conditions, and infertility.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Anastrozole if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stop Anastrozole if you become pregnant and talk to your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Anastrozole is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use any tools or machines. However, some people may occasionally feel weak or sleepy while taking Anastrozole. If this happens to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Anastrozole contains lactose
Anastrozole contains lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Anastrozole Sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.
3. how to take anastrozole
Always take Anastrozole exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
-
– The recommended dose is one tablet once a day.
-
– Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
-
– Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
-
– It does not matter if you take Anastrozole before, with or after food.
Keep taking Anastrozole for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to. It is a long-term treatment and you may need to take it for several years. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Use in children and adolescents
Anastrozole should not be given to children and adolescents.
If you take more Anastrozole than you should
If you take more Anastrozole than you should, talk to a doctor straight away.
If you forget to take Anastrozole
If you forget to take a dose, just take your next dose as normal.
Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Anastrozole
Do not stop taking your tablets unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Anastrozole and seek urgent medical treatment, if you experience any of the following serious but very rare side effects: – An extremely severe skin reaction with ulcers or blisters on the skin.
This is known as ‘Stevens-Johnson syndrome’.
-
– Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions with swelling of the throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This is known as ‘angioedema’.
Very common side effects (affect more than 1 in 10 people)
-
– Headache.
-
– Hot flushes.
-
– Feeling sick (nausea).
-
– Skin rash.
-
– Pain or stiffness in your joints.
-
– Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
-
– Feeling weak.
-
– Bone loss (osteoporosis).
Common side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 100)
-
– Loss of appetite.
-
– Raised or high levels of fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood. This would be seen in a blood test.
-
– Feeling sleepy.
-
– Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in parts of the hand).
-
– Tickling, tingling or numbness of skin, loss/lack of taste.
-
– Diarrhoea.
-
– Being sick (vomiting).
-
– Changes in blood tests that show how well your liver is working.
-
– Thinning of your hair (hair loss).
-
– Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions including face, lips, or tongue.
-
– Bone pain.
Vaginal dryness.
-
– Bleeding from the vagina (usually in the first few weeks of treatment – if the bleeding continues, talk to your doctor).
-
– Muscle pain.
Uncommon side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 1,000)
-
– Changes in special blood tests that show how your liver is working (gamma-GT and bilirubin).
-
– Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
-
– Hives or nettle rash.
-
– Trigger finger (a condition in which your finger or thumb catches in a bent position).
-
– Increased amounts of calcium in your blood. If you experience nausea, vomiting and thirst, you should tell your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse as you may need to have blood tests.
Rare side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 10,000)
-
– Rare inflammation of your skin that may include red patches or blisters.
-
– Skin rash caused by hypersensitivity (this can be from allergic or anaphylactoid reaction).
-
– Inflammation of the small blood vessels causing red or purple colouring of the skin. Very rarely symptoms of joint, stomach, and kidney pain may occur; this is known as ‘Henoch-Schonlein purpura’.
Effects on your bones
Anastrozole lowers the amount of the hormone called estrogen that is in your body. This may lower the mineral content of your bones. Your bones may be less strong and may be more likely to fracture. Your doctor will manage these risks according to treatment guidelines for managing bone health in women who have gone through the menopause. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and treatment options.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store anastrozole
-
– Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Keep your tablets in a safe place where children cannot see or reach them. Your tablets could harm them.
-
– Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
-
– Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original package.
-
– If your tablets become discoloured or shown any sign of deterioration, please contact your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine.
-
– Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Anastrozole contains
The active substance is anastrozole.
Each film-coated tablet contains 1 mg anastrozole.
The other ingredients: lactose monohydrate, povidone (K29–32), sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 300, titanium dioxide.
What Anastrozole looks like and contents of the pack
Anastrozole is available as a white, round, biconvex film-coated tablet with an ‘arrow A’ logo on one side and ‘Adx 1’ on the other.
Anastrozole comes in calendar blister strips of 28 tablets.
Manufacturer and product licence holder
Manufactured by:
-
– AstraZeneca AB, Gartunavagen, SE-151 85 Sodertalje, Sweden.
-
– AstraZeneca UK Ltd., Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK.
-
– AstraZeneca GmbH., Tinsdaler Weg 183, D-22880 Wedel, Germany.