Can you take anastrozole long term?

Can you take anastrozole long term?

“We have confirmed that the benefit of [anastrozole] lasts long term. In addition, although there are early musculoskeletal events associated with aromatase inhibitors, in the long term this does not appear to impact compliance or increase the risk for fractures.”

Should you take Arimidex longer than 5 years?

A study has found that taking Arimidex for an extra 5 years — for a total of 10 years of hormonal therapy — offers no more benefits than taking Arimidex for an extra 2 years — for a total of 7 years of hormonal therapy.

Is tamoxifen as effective as Arimidex?

Earlier ATAC results found that Arimidex was more effective than tamoxifen in reducing the risk of recurrence of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Other studies comparing tamoxifen to the other two aromatase inhibitors (Aromasin and Femara) have shown similar results.

How much does anastrozole reduce recurrence?

Lower recurrence rates for anastrozole were maintained after treatment completion, especially for the hormone-receptor-positive population where the absolute benefit of 2.8% at 5 years increased to 4.8% at 9 years (Figure 1).

How quickly does Arimidex lower estrogen?

Official Answer. Arimidex works quickly to lower estrogen and some side effects start within 24 hours of starting Arimidex. Side effects that tend to come on quickly include hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, headache, and pain. Many of these will improve after a few days or weeks.

Which is worse anastrozole or tamoxifen?

“Tamoxifen significantly increased the severity of vasomotor symptoms, bladder control, and gynecologic symptoms compared with anastrozole, while anastrozole-treated patients had significantly increased severity of musculoskeletal and vaginal symptoms compared to tamoxifen.

Can I stop taking anastrozole after 2 years?

Stopping anastrozole You won’t need to stop taking it gradually. Some people worry about stopping their treatment, but there’s evidence that anastrozole continues to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it.

Can I take Arimidex every day?

In most cases, Arimidex is taken daily for five years, although some women may take it for a shorter period. Arimidex is usually taken in addition to other medications.