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Brand name: Anastrozole (AN) TM
Active ingredients: anastrozole
What it is used for
Early breast cancer: . Adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women with oestrogen/progesterone-receptor-positive disease. . Advanced breast cancer :. First line treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with oestrogen/progesterone-receptor-positive disease. . Treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen therapy. Patients with oestrogen-receptor-negative disease and patients who have not responded to previous tamoxifen therapy rarely respond to anastrozole
How to take it
The way to take this medicine is: Oral. This medicine is taken by mouth.
- Store below 25 degrees Celsius
- Shelf lifetime is 36 Months.
You should seek medical advice in relation to medicines and use only as directed by a healthcare professional.
Always read the label. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.
Visual appearance
White to off white, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet debossed with "AHI" on one side and plain on other side
Images are the copyright of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Food interactions
For the active ingredient anastrozole
- Food decreases the rate of absorption, but the extent of absorption is not affected.
Do I need a prescription?
This medicine is available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is
Is this medicine subsidised?
This medicine was verified as being available on the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) on March 1, 2019. To learn more about this subsidy, visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website.
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
For the active ingredient anastrozole
You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
Download leaflet
For side effects, taking other medicines and more
Download consumer medicine information leaflet (pdf) from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website
Reporting side effects
You can help ensure medicines are safe by reporting the side effects you experience.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Breast cancer and oestrogen - Better Health Channel
There are different types of breast cancer, and around 70 per cent are sensitive to the female sex hormone oestrogen.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Hormonal Treatment - Counterpart
Find information on the various hormonal treatments that can be used in the treatment of some types of breast cancer.
Read more on Counterpart - Women supporting women with cancer website
Breast cancer - myDr.com.au
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women.The good news is that with advances in treatment and diagnosis, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before.
Read more on myDr website
The World Anti-Doping Code in sport: Update for 2015 | Issue 5 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits certain methods and drugs that may enhance performance, harm the athlete or violate the spirit of sport. Some may be...
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Top results
Aromatase inhibitors for treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women | Cochrane
Advanced (or metastatic) breast cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the breast and regional lymph node areas. Breast cancer can progress to metastatic disease despite the person undergoing a range of therapies given after initial treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Metastatic breast cancer is treatable but it is not curable. Most breast cancer is sensitive to the female hormone oestrogen. Sensitive cancer cells need oestrogen to stay alive and removal of oestrogen from the body, or stopping any circulating oestrogen getting to the cancer cells, is very effective treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Endocrine (hormonal) therapy removes the influence of oestrogen on breast cancer cells. Hormonal treatments for advanced breast cancer include tamoxifen, the progestins megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate, and aromatase inhibitors (AIs). AIs reduce the body's ability to make (synthesise) oestrogen and have tumour-regressing effects. The AIs in current clinical use include anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer | Cochrane
Tumours characterised by the presence of the HER2 protein are found in about one in five women with metastatic breast cancer. These tend to be more aggressive and the prognosis and choice of treatment are affected. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a targeted biological drug (a monoclonal antibody) that attaches to the HER2 protein, blocking the growth of malignant cells.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Vaginal health after breast cancer: A guide for patients - Australasian Menopause Society
Women who have had breast cancer treatment before menopause might find they develop symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, joint aches and vaginal dryness.These are symptoms of low oestrogen, which occur naturally with age, but may also occur in younger women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. These changes are called the genito-urinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which was previously known as atrophic vaginitis.Unlike some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, which may go awa
Read more on Australasian Menopause Society website
The World Anti-Doping Code in sport: Update for 2015 | Issue 5 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits certain methods and drugs that may enhance performance, harm the athlete or violate the spirit of sport. Some may be...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
