Anastrozole: Side Effects, Uses & Monitoring
Facts extracted from current FDA product labeling for Anastrozole. Educational only — not medical advice.
Reported adverse reactions
| Reaction | Highest frequency reported* |
|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal disturbance | 81% |
| Nausea | 48% |
| Asthenia | 47% |
| Headache | 44% |
| Pain | 38% |
| Weight gain | 30% |
| Back pain | 28% |
| Peripheral edema | 28% |
| Vomiting | 26% |
| Bone pain | 26% |
| Dyspnea | 24% |
| Pharyngitis | 23% |
| Cough increased | 22% |
| Diarrhea | 22% |
| Constipation | 21% |
| Coronary and cerebral ‡ | 19% |
| Anorexia | 19% |
| Rash | 19% |
| Abdominal pain | 18% |
| Chest pain | 18% |
*Highest percentage across placebo-controlled trial tables summarized in current labeling.
Labeled uses
1.1 Adjuvant Treatment Anastrozole tablets are indicated for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. 1.2 First-Line Treatment Anastrozole tablets are indicated for the first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. 1.3 Second-Line Treatment Anastrozole tablets are indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen therapy. Patients with ER-negative disease and patients who did not respond to previous tamoxifen therapy rarely responded to anastrozole tablets.
Medical disclaimer: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about any medication.