"Arimidex" - instructions for use and reviews

Breast cancer is the most common of the many types of cancer tumors in the female half of humanity. Typically, this disease is found in every ninth woman under the age of forty-five years and every thirteenth - at the age of fifty-five.

The treatment is complicated by the fact that the cancer spreads through the body through the lymphatic system through the formation of metastases. In the early detection of this disease, positive treatment with remission is possible.

But it also happens that after several courses of chemotherapy, prolonged use of concomitant medications, it turns out that the treatment is incorrectly selected. Each type of cancer has its own treatment protocols depending on the age, as well as the course of the disease.

To determine the method of treatment, analyzes are carried out, the main one of which is cytology. Only after this it is possible to receive adequate treatment. One of the main problems in the choice of drugs is the possibility of side effects on female genitalia, eyes, liver and kidneys, as well as bone tissue.

The detection of a hormone-dependent variety of cancer leads to the treatment with hormone antagonists, one of which is Arimidex.

Active substance

Several decades ago, the patient, having received an appointment, went to the pharmacy and bought or ordered from the analyst the drug he needed. Without any questions and regrets, I took up my treatment. In our time the patient wants to know: what will he drink? What additional health problems can arise?

To exclude all objections, it is necessary to study the manufacturer's instructions for Arimidex. The active substance of the drug is anastrozole. This antitumor agent is of chemical origin, which blocks the production of the aromatase enzyme.

Aromatase is a substance that takes part in the transition of male sex hormones (androgens) into female hormones (estrogens). An increased amount of estrogen promotes the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors.

To suppress estrogen and use anastrozole at a therapeutic dose of 1 mg per day. Taking the drug constantly, the patients in the first day reduce the amount of hormones in the blood by 70%, and then by 84%.

Application

If the patient trusts his or her treating doctor, he will unconditionally follow all instructions and prescriptions. Even if they are not always correct. Chemotherapy for most residents is the exposure of radioactive elements to pathogenic cells. But ingesting drugs that depress their growth in tablet form is also chemotherapy.

The instructions for "Arimidex" tablets clearly state that they can only be used to treat common (common) breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is also used as a replacement drug for women who have been treated with Tamoxifen for at least three years.

In addition, patients who have completed the course in the initial stage of cancer, clearly following the instructions, reviews "Arimidex" receives only positive.

Dosage

For easier transfer of side effects of this particular drug, it is worthwhile to carefully study the method of its administration. Anastrazole in a small dosage of 1 mg is not able to cause severe allergic reactions, and also worsen the work of other organs and systems.

To take the medicine easier to digest, take a pill, washing down with a lot of water. Daily intake should occur at one time, so that the concentration of the drug in the blood does not fall.

Drugs that are prescribed for the detection of cancer cells, usually drink from two to five years. The attending physician should schedule a schedule of tests that will help monitor the overall condition of the patient and cancer.

Features

Two years of laboratory research have shown that anastrozole, which is part of "Arimidex", can be used only for women in the postmenopausal period. This is due to the fact that a long reception can provoke infertility.

In animals used during the experiments, preimplantation loss of the oocyte and reduction in the number of safe pregnancies were observed. The offspring were born with various abnormalities.

To avoid various questions about adverse events, all results were included in the instruction of "Arimidex". All adverse events in other areas were detected with a significant increase in dosages for daily intake (from 25 to 50 mg).

Side effects

The instructions for using Armidex show all possible abnormalities observed in female volunteers during the administration of the drug. The study involved about fifty thousand people, most of whom were successfully treated.

• There were disturbances in the work of the nervous system in the form of anxiety, depressive states, drowsiness or insomnia, sudden mood swings, general weakness.
• Cardiovascular system: increased blood pressure, dizziness, severe headaches, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, leukopenia, cardiac edema of the heart.
• Respiratory system: holding the breath, inflammatory diseases of the lungs, throat and nose (bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, laryngitis, rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis).
• Gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, disruption of the intestine (constipation-diarrhea), dry mouth, against the background of problems with the intestine, anorexia or bulimia with a set of excess weight is possible.
• Gynecology: dryness and itching of mucous membranes, impaired reproductive function, uterine bleeding caused by a change in the drug.
• Musculoskeletal: may thinning of bone tissue due to prolonged use, a snapping finger syndrome.

Analogues

In pharmacy chains, it's so easy not to find such a specific drug. For those who carefully studied the instructions for the application of Arimidex, analogues inferior to it in price, to find much easier. Although it is not necessary to talk about a substantially low price, antagonists of hormones, and even a good producer, are always quite expensive.

Complete analogs for the active substance should contain anastrozole in a dosage of 1 mg. In the expanses of the former CIS, there are several such ones, but they are produced in different countries, most often it is the Baltic states. Although there are drugs produced in India, Russia, Ukraine.

"Aksastrol"

The drug is produced by the pharmaceutical factory "Grindeks", Latvia. The package contains twenty-eight tablets in a film shell, each containing 1 mg of anastrozole.

The testimony indicates that they can be treated for advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

From contraindications - pregnancy and lactation, as well as individual sensitivity to anastrozole.

The price of this drug on average for Russia is 5-8 thousand rubles, and for Ukraine - from 1500 to 1800 thousand UAH.

Anastera

The drug contains anastrozole 1 mg, but is produced in Argentina. There are two types of packaging: the first - two blisters for fourteen tablets in each; The second - three blisters of ten tablets each.

The pharmacological group is defined as a hormone antagonist, an enzyme inhibitor.

The indications include, in addition to the treatment of estrogen-positive type of cancer in postmenopausal women, the possibility of use in patients with estrogen negative type, but who had previously had a positive experience with Tamoxifen.

Anastrozole Sandoz

Produced in Germany by the pharmaceutical company Sandoz. The package contains two blisters with twenty-eight tablets. Dosage, method of reception completely coincide with the instructions for the application of "Arimidex".

Contraindications include pregnant, nursing and children.

The cost of this drug is much lower than the original. It is also well tolerated, but more accessible for purchase.

Contraindications

As already mentioned above, according to the instructions, "Arimidex" can not be used in women during pregnancy and lactation.

One of the factors that affect the ability to use the drug is its individual tolerability. Individuals who are sensitive to anastrozole, as well as being in the application of the primer, using "Tamoxifen" or estrogen preparations, "Arimidex" can not be used.

With caution or selectively it can be used by people suffering from osteoporosis, decreased lipid balance, ischemic heart disease.

Women suffering from osteoporosis, a tendency to softening and brittle bones in the instructions of the manufacturer "Arimidex" clearly stated that the application is possible, but with great caution. It is necessary to take tests to check bone density, and additional calcium intake with vitamin D is also desirable. In special cases where there is a high probability of a decrease in density, it is possible to administer bisphosphonates in the early stage of the cancer before the appointment of Arimidex.

Other areas

Great admirers of hormonal preparations of various types are athletes. These are professional athletes in the field of bodybuilding and powerlifting. Before the competition, they undergo a special course of anabolic steroids, allowing them to acquire the optimal physical form.

If you recall, according to the instructions for the application of "Arimidex", its analogues are used to suppress the female hormones involved in the formation of primary sexual characteristics. During steroid therapy, athletes face swelling of the breasts, painful sensations, redness.

In addition to specialized products, athletes often use Arimidex analogs, following the instructions, observing all dosages and duration of application.

To avoid all the "delights" of the chosen therapy, athletes start taking anastrazole on the tenth day from the start of the course with fast-acting steroids. Although this method is not a panacea and should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.

Reviews

The intake of hormonal drugs is a great stress for the body. All organs and systems suffer, and the body, without receiving the necessary substances, tries to compensate for this in various ways.

The opinions of doctors and patients encountered with the drug "Arimidex" are rather ambiguous. A larger number of patients received the appointment of "Arimidex" after treatment with another antagonist of estrogen - "Tamoxifen".

First of all, the cost of the drug was noted. While making the appointment, many specialists suggest studying the instructions for the application of Arimidex, analogues and reviews of people already using it. Why is this the question?

The drug is imported by the manufacturer, for cancer patients it is not given for free. In order to buy it, you need from eight thousand rubles a month. Not every patient will be able to afford it.

But the responses of patients who have opted for the active substance anastrozole, only positive. It is much easier to carry than Tamoxifen. Less toxic to the body, and most importantly, does not give such side effects.

In the first months of admission, depending on individual tolerability, "Arimidex" can give nausea, vomiting and general weakness. Those who were taking chemotherapy at that time could not say with certainty what exactly this condition gave.

In general, the taking of tablets is relatively normal. Patients who tried to save money and bought a domestic drug with the same active substance, were unhappy. He suffered much worse, and most importantly, the first swallow were severe pain in the joints.

The drug of choice?

There is a big problem with getting free treatment for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of the free drugs the patients of oncological dispensaries can count only on "Tamoxifen", but the domestic manufacturer.

This drug is difficult to tolerate, although the results are good. Thanks to reviews, instructions for using Arimidex, its analogues, you can decide which of the drugs should be taken.

Doctors say that the best time to receive Arimidex therapy is a period of three to four years after the beginning of treatment with Tamoxifen. Very rarely it can be seen as a drug for initial therapy.

Assign anastrozole to women according to vital signs, when the other, more aggressive antagonists of enzymes the patient can not bear. But for them the question of the availability of the drug remains open. The medicine package costs more than the pensioner gets. And twenty-eight tablets in the package instead of thirty in a year are added to the extra waste.

To decide on taking the drug, it is necessary to study the description of "Arimidex" in the instructions and reviews of patients who have already passed the course. Perhaps they can help with the decision: to accept or not. Although talking about medicines used in breast cancer as a drug of choice is wrong.

Each of the women, after hearing a terrible diagnosis, struggles for her life and health to the last, using all possible ways.