Arimidex 1 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
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Arimidex® 1mg Film-coated Tablets (anastrozole)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• The name of this medicine is Arimidex 1mg Film-coated Tablets but will be referred to as Arimidex throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1) What Arimidex is and what it is used for
2) Before you take Arimidex
3) How to take Arimidex
4) Possible side effects
5) How to store Arimidex
6) Further information
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) BEFORE YOU TAKE ARIMIDEX Do not take Arimidex
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to anastrozole or any of the other ingredients of Arimidex (see Section 6: Further information).
• 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.
Take special care with Arimidex
Before treatment with Arimidex check with your doctor or pharmacist
• 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 ‘Taking other medicines').
• 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.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. 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.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Arimidex
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.
3) HOW TO TAKE ARIMIDEX
Always take Arimidex exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• The usual 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 tells you to. It is a longterm treatment and you may need to take it for several years.
Use in children
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 or pharmacist.
4) POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Arimidex can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
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).
POM
Common side effects (affect 1 to 10 people in 100)
• Loss of appetite.
• Raised or high levels of a 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).
• 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).
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).
Rare side effects (affect 1 to10 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'.
Very rare side effects (affect less than 1 person in 10,000 people)
• 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'.
If any of these happen to you, call an ambulance or see a doctor straight away - you may need urgent medical treatment.
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.
5) HOW TO STORE ARIMIDEX
• Keep your tablets in a safe place where children cannot see or reach them. Your tablets could harm them.
• Do not take your tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the container. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store above 3013.
• If your tablets become discoloured or show any sign of deterioration, return them to your pharmacist.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6) FURTHER INFORMATION What Arimidex contains
The active substance is anastrozole. Each film-coated tablet contains 1 mg anastrozole.
The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 300 and titanium dioxide (E171).
What Arimidex looks like and contents of the pack
Arimidex comes as film-coated tablets. The tablets are white, round and biconvex. They are marked with a logo on one side and ‘Adx 1' on the other.
Arimidex comes in calendar blister packs of 28 tablets.
Manufacturer
Procured from within the EU by the Product Licence holder:
MPT Pharma Ltd, Westgate Business Park, Unit 5-7 Tintagel Way, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 8ER Repackaged by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Manufactured by: AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK
Arimidex 1mg Film-coated Tablets PL: 33532/0151
Leaflet dated: 28th June 2012 Leaflet coded: XXXXXXXXX
Arimidex® is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.