Anastrozole: Side Effects, Dosage, Uses and More

Long-term efficacy and safety of the use of aromatase inhibitors has not yet been established in males, however, and their routine use is therefore not yet recommended. When estrogen levels in males are higher than testosterone levels, estrogen blockers may be needed to restore the balance of these hormones and prevent health problems caused by a rise in estrogen. Most estrogen blockers are well-tolerated, but there are some side effects. If you notice symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), or hot flashes, contact your healthcare provider. One significant interaction to be aware of is with tamoxifen, another medication commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer.

What types of drugs are used in hormone therapy?

  • Thus, another clinical takeaway from this study is that “men with azoospermia rarely respond to anastrozole and should be counseled on alternative treatments,” Dr. Lundy notes.
  • Anastrozole is a type of medication known as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor.
  • This is very important when there is too much estrogen in the body as it can help to decrease estradiol and maintain testosterone levels.
  • Aromatase, also known as estrogen synthetase, is the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis.

It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. Anastrozole is not approved for use in premenopausal women, so there are no studies of the drug in women who are breastfeeding.

Anastrozole has a large number of possible side effects that have a significant incidence rate. That means side effects can and should be expected when taking anastrozole or other estrogen suppression treatments. A few smart moves can help minimize or even prevent some side effects. Anastrozole can worsen some pre-existing conditions including heart disease related to narrowed arteries, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis.

What Are the Side Effects of Anastrozole?

Various aches and pains are common side effects of anastrozole treatment. Generalized pain, joint pain, back pain, abdominal pain, breast pain, muscle pain, and bone pain were all reported by participants in clinical trials at rates ranging from 8% to 17%. Now, nearly the same number of people not taking anastrozole also had these pain problems, but it is clear that anastrozole and an alternative aromatase inhibitor, Femara (letrozole), can cause pain as a side effect. Report any pain to the prescribing healthcare provider especially if the pain if the pain changes dramatically, is severe, unrelenting, or persistent.

Some breast cancers grow in response to the hormones estrogen or progesterone. Estrogenand progesterone are usually thought of as female hormones, but men have them in their bodies, too, just at lower levels. Hormone therapy (sometimes called endocrine therapy) is a way to treat cancer by using hormones or drugs or other treatments that affect hormones.

Side effects that don’t improve during treatment typically go away once treatment ends. It may take several days or a week after the last dose is taken for these problems to improve, though. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. You may be more likely to have a broken bone while using anastrozole. Lab and/or medical tests (such as cholesterol levels, liver function, bone density) should be done while you are taking this medication.

Don’t take double doses to make up for a missed dose

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