Breast cancer supportMedical associations and government support

This list of resources is provided merely as a convenience. AstraZeneca takes no responsibility for the content of or services provided by these resources and makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and shall have no liability for any damages or injuries of any kind arising from the information provided.

Web sites belonging to the following organizations use very technical language. As always, talk to your doctor about information you may find on these sites and information you may receive from these organizations.

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
    Phone: 202-638-5577
    Web site: www.acog.com
  • American College of Radiology
    Phone: 800-ACR-LINE (800-227-5463)
    Web site: www.acr.org
  • American Medical Women's Association
    Phone: 703-838-0500
    Fax: 703-546-3864
    Web site: www.amwa-doc.org
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
    Phone: 703-299-0150
    Web site: www.asco.org
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Cancer Prevention and Control
    Phone: 770-488-4751
    Web site: www.cdc.gov/cancer
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
    Phone: 877-267-2323
    Web site: www.cms.hhs.gov
    Also provides information on HIPAA.
  • National Cancer Institute
    Phone: 800-422-6237
    Fax: 301-402-0894
    Web site: www.nci.nih.gov
  • National Medical Association
    Phone: 202-347-1895
    Web site: www.nmanet.org
  • Oncology Nursing Society
    Phone: 412-921-7373
    Web site: www.ons.org
  • Social Security
    Phone: 800-772-1213
    Web site: www.ssa.gov

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Important Information About ARIMIDEX

ARIMIDEX is approved for adjuvant treatment (treatment following surgery with or without radiation) of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

ARIMIDEX is approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed following treatment with tamoxifen. Patients with hormone receptor-negative disease and patients who did not previously respond to tamoxifen therapy rarely responded to ARIMIDEX.

Important Safety Information About ARIMIDEX

  • Prescription ARIMIDEX is only for postmenopausal women. ARIMIDEX should not be taken if you are pregnant because it may harm your unborn child
  • Based on information from a study in patients with early breast cancer, women with a history of blockages in heart arteries (ischemic heart disease) who take ARIMIDEX may have a slight increase in this type of heart disease compared to similar patients who take tamoxifen
  • ARIMIDEX can cause bone softening/weakening (osteoporosis) increasing the chance of fractures. In a clinical study in early breast cancer, there were more fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) with ARIMIDEX (10%) than with tamoxifen (7%)
  • In a clinical study in early breast cancer, some patients taking ARIMIDEX had an increase in cholesterol. Skin reactions, allergic reactions, and changes in blood tests of liver function have also been reported
  • In the early breast cancer clinical trial, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms (including arthritis and arthralgia), weakness, mood changes, pain, back pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, rash, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fractures, swelling of arms/legs, insomnia, and headache
  • In advanced breast cancer trials, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX versus tamoxifen include hot flashes, nausea, decreased energy and weakness, pain, back pain, headache, bone pain, increased cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and swelling of arms and legs. Joint pain/stiffness has been reported in association with the use of ARIMIDEX
  • ARIMIDEX should not be taken with tamoxifen or estrogen-containing therapies

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).