Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Anastrozole as follows:
- Anastrozole can interact with medications such as, tamoxifen and raloxifene, which are estrogen receptor modulators that reduce the response to estrogens and help prevent the growth of tumors in the breast tissue. Concurrent administration of anastrozole with these medications can result in increased estrogen availability and compromised therapeutic benefit with anastrozole. Also, concurrent tamoxifen intake can lead to induction of liver enzymes that speed up the metabolism of anastrozole, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of anastrozole further. So, anastrozole should be avoided taken along with estrogen receptor modulator drugs, tamoxifen and raloxifene.
- Anastrozole intake can result in increased risk for elevated blood pressure. Taking anastrozole along with medications like ergotamine, that also stand a chance of increasing the blood pressure can result in complementation of their individual actions on blood pressure and lead to dangerously elevated blood pressure numbers. Acutely elevated blood pressure in these individuals can significantly increase the risk for development of stroke. So, anastrozole can be avoided taken along with any medications that stand a chance of increasing the blood pressure.
