Dosage and administration
Introducing the ARIMIDEX PACK — in pharmacies June 2008
Beginning in June, ARIMIDEX will be available in the ARIMIDEX PACK rather than the 30-dose bottle. The ARIMIDEX PACK was designed to help remind patients to take their medication every day.
Adherence is a major issue in adjuvant therapy. Data shows less than 50% of all breast cancer patients are taking their medication after 3 years.12 The new package is designed as a useful tool to help remind patients to take their medication every day and to help you when talking to your patient about the importance of adherence.
Tablets not to size
Same tablet, same dosage
The dose of ARIMIDEX is still one 1-mg tablet taken once a day. For patients with advanced breast cancer, ARIMIDEX should be continued until tumor progression.
For adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women, the optimal duration of therapy is unknown. In the ATAC clinical trial, ARIMIDEX was administered for 5 years.
Patients with hepatic impairment
See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY in the full Prescribing Information. Hepatic metabolism accounts for approximately 85% of anastrozole elimination. Although clearance of anastrozole was decreased in patients with cirrhosis due to alcohol abuse, plasma anastrozole concentrations stayed in the usual range seen in patients without liver disease. Therefore, no changes in dose are recommended for patients with mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment, although patients should be monitored for side effects.
ARIMIDEX has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Patients with renal impairment
No changes in dose are necessary for patients with renal impairment.
Use in the elderly
No dosage adjustment is necessary.
