Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Anastrozole as follows:
- Anastrozole can interact with a number of other medications and can precipitate serious reactions. If you are being newly started on anastrozole, discuss with your physician regarding all other medications you are currently taking and their safety with anastrozole. Also, if you have been taking anastrozole for long, discuss with your physician regarding your history of anastrozole intake, when you are being started on any new medication.
- 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 compromised therapeutic benefit with anastrozole. If you are prescribed both these medications at the same time, check with your physician regarding your safety with continuing on the plan and possible compromised therapeutic benefit with anastrozole and treatment response of cancer.
- Taking the medication at regularly spaced intervals help maintain appropriate blood levels of anastrozole needed to derive the desired beneficial effect of preventing further tumor growth and preventing growth of new tumor masses in the breast tissue.
