Arimidex: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
Arimidex® (
anastrozole) if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Arimidex Warnings and Precautions
Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Arimidex include the following:
- It is not known if Arimidex is safe and effective for breast cancer treatment in premenopausal women, although it is sometimes used in an off-label fashion for this use.
- Arimidex (as well as most medications that decrease the effects of estrogens) can lead to osteoporosis. If you already have osteoporosis (or are at risk for the condition), your healthcare provider may recommend certain lifestyle changes or medication to protect you from fractures (see Osteoporosis Prevention).
- Arimidex can interact with other medications (see Arimidex Drug Interactions).
- Arimidex is a considered a pregnancy Category D medication. This means that it is likely to cause harm to a fetus during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of the drug during pregnancy (see Arimidex and Pregnancy).
- It is not known if Arimidex passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Arimidex and Breastfeeding).