New Articles About Arimidex 1mg (100tabs)/Buy Arimidex 1mg Online

New Articles About Arimidex 1mg (100tabs), Arimidex is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s used to treat breast cancer in women who’ve gone through menopause.

Specifically, Arimidex is approved to treat the following types of breast cancer:

Early hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. For this type of cancer, Arimidex is given to lower the risk of the breast cancer coming back or spreading after it’s already been treated with surgery. This type of treatment is called adjuvant treatment. (Early breast cancer hasn’t spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. And HR+ cancer is stimulated to grow by hormones, including estrogen.)
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that’s either HR+ or HR-unknown. Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer typically can’t be treated with surgery. For these conditions, Arimidex is given as a first-line treatment. With first-line treatment, the drug is the first treatment used for the cancer. (Locally advanced breast cancer has spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes, while metastatic breast cancer has spread to other parts of your body. And while HR+ breast cancer is stimulated to grow by hormones, HR-unknown cancer may or may not be encouraged to grow by hormones.)
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that’s come back or spread after treatment with the cancer drug tamoxifen. For this use, Arimidex can be given to treat HR+, HR-negative (HR–), or HR-unknown breast cancer. However, if your breast cancer is estrogen receptor-negative (ER–), or it didn’t improve with tamoxifen treatment in the past, it’s unlikely to improve with Arimidex. (ER– cancer doesn’t need estrogen in order to grow.)
Arimidex contains the drug anastrozole. It’s a hormone therapy used for breast cancer. Hormone therapies for breast cancer work by stopping estrogen from stimulating the cancer to grow. Specifically, Arimidex is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. It works by lowering the amount of estrogen that your body makes.

Arimidex comes as a 1-mg tablet that’s taken by mouth once a day.

Effectiveness

One large clinical study showed that Arimidex was more effective than the cancer drug tamoxifen in treating early HR+ breast cancer.

The study compared women with early HR+ breast cancer who took tamoxifen for 5 years to women who took Arimidex for 5 years. Compared to those taking tamoxifen, women taking Arimidex had a 17% lower risk of:

their cancer coming back
their cancer spreading to other parts of their body
developing new cancer in their other (unaffected) breast
death caused by any reason
For advanced breast cancer, studies have shown that Arimidex treatment was either more effective or similarly effective to tamoxifen treatment.

For more information about the effectiveness of Arimidex, see the “Arimidex uses” section below.

Arimidex generic
Arimidex contains the active drug anastrozole.

Generic forms of Arimidex are available. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. Generics also tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Arimidex side effects

Arimidex can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Arimidex. These lists do not include all possible side effects. And your side effects may vary from those listed below depending on the condition you’re using Arimidex to treat.

For more information on the possible side effects of Arimidex, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect you’ve had with Arimidex, you can do so through MedWatch.

When side effects of Arimidex may start
It’s possible to have certain side effects of Arimidex very soon after you start taking the medication. This is because Arimidex lowers your body’s estrogen level by about 70% within 24 hours of when you start taking the drug. This action may lead to side effects that are similar to those seen with menopause, such as hot flashes or trouble sleeping.

Other side effects can take much longer to develop. This includes side effects such as thinning and weakening of your bones and increased cholesterol levels. You’re unlikely to notice side effects such as these, but your doctor will monitor you for them.

How long side effects of Arimidex may last
It’s hard to say how long your side effects will last, as each person’s reaction to the drug can be different. How long you’ll have side effects from the drug depends on how your body reacts to Arimidex.

If you’re concerned about side effects that don’t seem to be improving, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help you manage the side effects.

Mild side effects
The mild side effects* of Arimidex can include:

hot flashes
feeling weak
fatigue (lack of energy)
pain, which may affect your joints, back, or bones
arthritis (inflammation in your joints)
nausea and vomiting
rash
insomnia (trouble sleeping)
headache
peripheral edema (swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet that’s caused by fluid retention)
lymphedema (buildup of lymphatic fluid in the tissues of your arm, which causes swelling in the area)
sore throat
dizziness
mood changes, such as depression
carpal tunnel syndrome (a nerve condition that affects your wrist), which may cause pain, tingling, or numbness in your hand
* This is a partial list of mild side effects of Arimidex. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the drug’s prescribing information.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Arimidex aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

Liver problems, such as hepatitis (inflammation in your liver). Symptoms can include:
generally not feeling well
pain on the right side of your belly
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
Skin reactions. Symptoms can include:
skin sores or ulcers
blisters
Other serious side effects, explained in more detail below in “Side effect details,” include:

allergic reaction
reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones)
increased cholesterol level
Side effect details
You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Here’s some detail on several of the side effects this drug may cause.

For the side effects described below, results from clinical studies of women with either early breast cancer or advanced breast cancer are shown.

With early breast cancer, the cancer hasn’t spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. But with advanced breast cancer, the cancer has either spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes (called locally advanced breast cancer) or spread to other parts of your body (called metastatic breast cancer).

Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Arimidex. But it’s not known how often this occurs in people using Arimidex.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

skin rash
itchiness
flushing (warmth and redness in your skin)
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
trouble breathing
Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Arimidex. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Reduced bone mineral density
It’s possible to have reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones) with Arimidex treatment.

Estrogen helps to keep your bones strong. But Arimidex lowers your estrogen levels. This means the drug can weaken your bones and increase your risk of osteoporosis (thin, weak bones) or bone fractures. But keep in mind that the increased risk of breaking a bone goes away after you stop taking Arimidex.

In a clinical study of women with early breast cancer who took Arimidex for 5 years, 11% developed osteoporosis. And 10% of the women taking Arimidex had bone fractures. In comparison, of women who took the cancer drug tamoxifen for 5 years, 7% had osteoporosis. And 7% of the women had a bone fracture.

Your doctor may check your bone mineral density both before you start Arimidex and during your treatment. Checking your bone mineral density is how your doctor measures how strong your bones are. To do this, your doctor will order a type of X-ray test called a DEXA scan.

Depending on the result of your DEXA scan, your doctor may prescribe medication to help protect your bones. For example, they may recommend that you take a calcium and vitamin D supplement, a type of drug called a bisphosphonate, or both.

To help reduce the risk of weakened bones while you’re taking Arimidex, you can:

make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D (either through your diet or by taking a supplement as recommended by your doctor)
routinely do weight-bearing exercises
avoid smoking
avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol
If you have questions about your risk of reduced bone mineral density while you’re taking Arimidex, talk with your doctor.

Raised cholesterol level
Arimidex may raise the level of fat (called cholesterol) in your blood. Having a high cholesterol level can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. These risks are also increased if you have ischemic heart disease (a type of heart disease that’s caused by narrowed arteries in your heart).

In a clinical study of women with early breast cancer, increased cholesterol levels were seen in 9% of women who took Arimidex for 5 years. In comparison, 3.5% of women who took the cancer drug tamoxifen for 5 years had the same result.

However, in another study, raised cholesterol levels weren’t reported in women who took Arimidex for just 1 year.

Your doctor may order blood tests to monitor your cholesterol level while you’re taking Arimidex. If your cholesterol level rises too much, your doctor may recommend that you take a medication to lower the level.

You can reduce your risk of having an increased cholesterol level by:

not smoking
exercising regularly
eating a healthy diet
If you have questions about your risk of increased cholesterol with Arimidex treatment, talk with your doctor.

Side effects after 5 years of treatment
Both the mild and serious side effects of Arimidex that are listed above were seen in women who took the drug for up to 5 years.

Clinical studies of Arimidex followed women with early breast cancer who took the drug for 5 years. And the studies were continued for an additional 5 years after the women stopped taking the drug. No new side effects were reported during this additional time.

If you have concerns about the side effects that you may have after Arimidex treatment, talk with your doctor. They can discuss with you what you may expect after treatment.

Weight gain
Some people using Arimidex may gain weight during treatment. In fact, in a clinical study of women with early breast cancer, 9% of those taking Arimidex had weight gain. And 9% of women who took the cancer drug tamoxifen for 5 years had weight gain.

In studies of women with advanced breast cancer, 2% of those taking Arimidex had weight gain. In comparison, weight gain occurred in 2% of women taking tamoxifen and in 12% of women taking megestrol. (Megestrol is also a drug that’s used to treat breast cancer. But it can also increase people’s appetite.)

Both cancer itself and cancer treatments can often cause changes in your appetite and body weight. If you’re concerned about weight gain during breast cancer treatment, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help you manage a weight that’s healthy for you.

Back or joint pain
You may have some pain in your back or joints while you’re taking Arimidex.

For example, in one clinical study of women with early breast cancer:

joint pain was reported in:
15% of women who took Arimidex for 5 years
11% of women who took the cancer drug tamoxifen for 5 years
back pain was reported in:
10% of women who took Arimidex for 5 years
10% of women who took tamoxifen for 5 years
Joint pain, achiness, and stiffness are common side effects of aromatase inhibitors, such as Arimidex. (Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medications.)

On average, joint pain seems to begin about 6 weeksTrusted Source after starting an aromatase inhibitor. And it may improve after the first year of taking the drug. Various studiesTrusted Source have shown that these joint-related side effects can often be eased with gentle physical exercise, such as walking.

If you have pain in your joints or your back while you’re taking Arimidex, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help manage your discomfort.

Fatigue
Taking Arimidex can make you feel either weak or fatigued (lacking energy).

In a clinical study of women with early breast cancer, weakness and fatigue occurred in 19% of women taking Arimidex for 5 years. And these side effects occurred in 18% of women taking the cancer drug tamoxifen for 5 years.

Fatigue and weakness are common side effects of cancer treatments. Because of this, it’s important to rest while you’re undergoing cancer treatment. However, the American Cancer SocietyTrusted Source also notes that staying active is important for managing fatigue. Talk with your doctor about what kind of physical activity is right for you. They can also recommend how much activity you should try to do.

If you feel weakness or fatigue during Arimidex treatment, talk with your doctor about the best ways to manage these side effects.

Heart palpitations (not a side effect)

Heart palpitations weren’t reported in clinical studies of Arimidex. (With heart palpitations, you may feel your heart flutter, race, or skip a beat.) However, other heart-related side effects, such as heart attack and angina, were rarely reported. (Angina is a type of chest pain that’s caused by the heart not getting enough oxygen.)

One long-term studyTrusted Source found that women taking aromatase inhibitors had a higher risk of less serious heart-related side effects than did women taking tamoxifen. (Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medications that includes Arimidex.) These side effects included abnormal heartbeat patterns and problems with heart valves. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

If you have any heart problems, talk with your doctor about whether Arimidex is right for you.

If you have heart palpitations while you’re taking Arimidex, call your doctor right away. Also call your doctor if you have changes in your heartbeat pattern, new or worsening chest pain, or shortness of breath. But if your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911.

Arimidex dosage
The following information describes Arimidex dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths
Arimidex comes as 1-mg tablets that are taken by mouth.

Dosage for breast cancer
The usual dosage of Arimidex for breast cancer is one tablet taken once a day. It’s best to take your dose at the same time each day.

What if I miss a dose?
If you forget to take a dose of Arimidex, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Don’t take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. A medication timer may be useful, too.

Will I need to use this drug long term?
Arimidex is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for breast cancer. If you and your doctor determine that Arimidex is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

The length of time that you’ll take this drug depends on the type of cancer you’re using it to treat. Below we describe the typical length of time that Arimidex is given. But to know for sure how long you should take Arimidex, talk with your doctor.

For advanced breast cancer
If you’re taking Arimidex to treat advanced breast cancer, you’ll usually take the drug for as long as your doctor feels this treatment is right for you. (With advanced breast cancer, the cancer has either spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes, called locally advanced breast cancer, or spread to other parts of your body, called metastatic breast cancer.)

For early breast cancer
If you’re taking Arimidex as adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer, you’ll usually take the drug for at least 5 years. Adjuvant treatment is used to lower the risk of your breast cancer coming back or spreading after it’s already been treated with surgery. (With early breast cancer, the cancer hasn’t spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit.)

It’s not currently known if Arimidex should be continued after these 5 years. And if so, it’s not known for how long after the first 5 years it should be taken.

Some studiesTrusted Source found that breast cancer is less likely to come back if an aromatase inhibitor is taken for an additional 5 years after the first 5 years of adjuvant therapy. (Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medications.) With this approach to treatment, the drug would be taken for a total of 10 years. However, other studies didn’t show a benefit for extending the treatment beyond 5 the usual years.

In addition, one recent studyTrusted Source found that taking Arimidex for a total of 10 years didn’t provide any more benefit than taking it for a total of 7 years.

How long you take Arimidex for early breast cancer will depend on how likely your breast cancer is to come back. It will also depend on your risk of side effects from treatment.

Arimidex uses
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Arimidex to treat certain conditions. Arimidex may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition.

Arimidex for breast cancer Arimidex is FDA-approved to treat breast cancer in women who’ve gone through menopause.

Specifically, Arimidex is used to treat the following types of breast cancer:

Early hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. For this type of cancer, Arimidex is given to lower the risk of the breast cancer coming back or spreading after it’s already been treated with surgery. This type of treatment is called adjuvant treatment. (Early breast cancer hasn’t spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. And HR+ cancer is stimulated to grow by hormones, including estrogen.)
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that’s either HR+ or HR-unknown. Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer typically can’t be treated with surgery. For these conditions, Arimidex is used as a first-line treatment. With first-line treatment, the drug is the first treatment used for the cancer. (Locally advanced breast cancer has spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes, while metastatic breast cancer has spread to other parts of your body. And while HR+ breast cancer is stimulated to grow by hormones, HR-unknown cancer may or may not be encouraged to grow by hormones.)
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that’s come back or spread after treatment with the cancer drug tamoxifen. For this use, Arimidex can be given to treat HR+, HR-negative (HR–), or HR-unknown breast cancer. However, if your breast cancer is estrogen receptor-negative (ER–), or it didn’t improve with tamoxifen treatment in the past, it’s unlikely to improve with Arimidex. (ER– cancer doesn’t need estrogen in order to grow.)
Arimidex contains the drug anastrozole. It’s a hormone therapy used for breast cancer. Hormone therapies for breast cancer work by stopping estrogen from stimulating the cancer to grow. Specifically, Arimidex is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. It works by lowering the amount of estrogen that your body makes.

Effectiveness for breast cancer
One large clinical study showed that Arimidex was more effective than tamoxifen in treating early HR+ breast cancer. (Tamoxifen is another hormone therapy used to treat cancer. It’s a standard treatment option for breast cancer, as recommended in current guidelines.)

their cancer coming back
their cancer spreading to other parts of their body
developing new cancer in their other (unaffected) breast
death
The women in this study were followed for an additional 5 years after they stopped taking Arimidex. After the additional 5 years, compared to women who took tamoxifen, the women who took Arimidex had a 14% lower risk of:

their cancer coming back
their cancer spreading to other parts of their body
developing new cancer in their other (unaffected) breast
death
For advanced breast cancer, studies have shown that Arimidex treatment was either more effective or similarly effective to tamoxifen treatment.

In one study of women with advanced breast cancer, first-line treatment with Arimidex was more effective than first-line treatment with tamoxifen in slowing down cancer growth and spread. In this study, 88% of the women had HR+ cancer. However, hormone receptor status wasn’t known for 11% of the women.

A second study of women with advanced breast cancer found Arimidex to be similarly effective as tamoxifen in slowing worsening of people’s cancer. In this study, 45% of women had HR+ cancer. But hormone receptor status wasn’t known for 54% of the women.

Two studies looked at women with advanced breast cancer that had come back or spread after treatment with tamoxifen. For these women, second-line treatment with Arimidex was similarly effective as treatment with another hormone therapy drug called megestrol.

Other uses for Arimidex
In addition to the uses listed above, Arimidex may be used off-label. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved for one use is used for a different one that’s not approved. And you may wonder if Arimidex is used for certain other conditions. Below is information on other possible uses for X drug.

Arimidex for breast cancer treatment in premenopausal women (off-label use)
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved to treat breast cancer in premenopausal women. (Women who haven’t gone through menopause are called premenopausal.) But sometimes the drug is used off-label in this group of women to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+) cancers. With HR+ breast cancer, the cancer is encouraged to grow by hormones.

In fact, aromatase inhibitors (the class of drugs Arimidex belongs to) are listed as a breast cancer treatment option in current guidelines for premenopausal women.

It’s important to note that Arimidex works by stopping the aromatase enzyme (type of protein) from working in your body. This enzyme helps to make your body’s estrogen. However, before women reach menopause, most of their estrogen is made by their ovaries. And only a small amount is made by the aromatase enzyme.

While Arimidex stops the aromatase enzyme from working, it doesn’t stop your ovaries from making estrogen.

If you take Arimidex to treat breast cancer before you’ve reached menopause, you’ll also need to take treatment that stops your ovaries from making estrogen. This is typically done with a type of drug called a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog. Treatment may also be done using radiation on your ovaries or by having surgery to remove your ovaries.

If you’d like to know more about using Arimidex for breast cancer before you’ve reached menopause, talk with your doctor.

Arimidex for ovarian cancer (off-label use)
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved to treat ovarian cancer. However, the American Cancer SocietyTrusted Source notes that hormone therapy is sometimes used to treat a certain type of ovarian cancer called a stromal tumor. (Arimidex is considered a hormone therapy.) But keep in mind that this is an off-label use of the drug.

Stromal tumors start in tissue inside your ovaries that produces estrogen and progesterone. The hormone therapies that are sometimes used to treat this kind of cancer include aromatase inhibitors, such as Arimidex.

If you have questions about treatment options for ovarian cancer, talk with your doctor.

Arimidex for uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer (off-label use)
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved to treat uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer. (Endometrial cancer affects the lining inside your uterus.)

However, the American Cancer Society notes that the drug may be helpful for women with either endometrial cancerTrusted Source or endometrial stromal sarcomaTrusted Source. (Endometrial stromal sarcoma affects the uterine lining, as well as the muscular wall of your uterus.) But keep in mind that these are off-label uses of Arimidex.

Most endometrial cancers are encouraged to grow by estrogen. First-line treatment of endometrial cancer is usually surgery that’s done to remove the uterus. The ovaries are often removed as well so that estrogen production is reduced.

But if these treatments don’t work to treat the endometrial cancer, a hormone therapy may be used to further reduce estrogen in your body. Hormone therapies, such as Arimidex, are typically usedTrusted Source to treat endometrial cancers that are advanced or that have come back after a past treatment. Arimidex may also be helpful for women who can’t have surgery for their endometrial cancer.

If you have questions about treatment options for uterine cancer, talk with your doctor.

Arimidex for uterine fibroids (off-label use)
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved to treat uterine fibroids. With this condition, you have noncancerous growths in your uterus.

However, Arimidex has been usedTrusted Source off-label to reduce the size of fibroids and to help relieve pain that’s caused by them. The drug has also been given to reduce bleeding that’s caused by fibroids when other treatments haven’t worked.

If you have questions about using Arimidex for uterine fibroids, talk with your doctor. They can recommend safe and effective treatment options.

Arimidex for breast cancer prevention (off-label use)
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved to prevent breast cancer. However, sometimes it’s used off-label to prevent breast cancer in certain women who are at high risk for the condition.

In fact, Arimidex is recommended in current guidelines for preventing breast cancer in certain women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer.

If you have questions about using Arimidex to prevent breast cancer, talk with your doctor.

Arimidex for bodybuilding (not a legal use)
Arimidex is sometimes used by bodybuilders and other athletes to offset certain side effects of anabolic steroids. However, the FDA has not approved this use, and buying Arimidex for this purpose is illegal. In addition, the World Anti-Doping Agency lists Arimidex as a substance that’s prohibited for use in competitive sports.

Arimidex and children
Arimidex isn’t FDA-approved for use in children.

The drug has been studied in boys ages 11 to 18 years with gynecomastia (breast growth in males). It’s also been studied in girls ages 2 to 9 years with early puberty that’s caused by McCune-Albright Syndrome. However, Arimidex wasn’t found to be effective for either of these conditions.

Arimidex use with other drugs
Depending on the type of breast cancer you’re using Arimidex to treat, you might take other drugs with Arimidex.

For example, Arimidex is sometimes taken with targeted therapies to treat advanced breast cancer. (With advanced breast cancer, the cancer has either spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes, called locally advanced breast cancer, or spread to other parts of your body, called metastatic breast cancer.)

Targeted therapies work on specific features of cancer cells. These therapies include drugs such as palbociclib (Ibrance) and ribociclib (Kisqali).

In addition, if you’re at risk for weakened bones with Arimidex treatment, you might take a medication called a bisphosphonate to help protect your bones. Examples of bisphosphonates include alendronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel). For more information about the risk of weakened bones with Arimidex treatment, see the section “Arimidex side effects” above.

If you’d like to know more about taking other drugs with Arimidex, talk with your doctor. They can recommend a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Alternatives to Arimidex
Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Arimidex, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat breast cancer include:

hormone therapies, other than Arimidex, such as:
tamoxifen (Soltamox)*
letrozole (Femara)*
exemestane (Aromasin)*
fulvestrant (Faslodex)
toremifene (Fareston)
targeted therapies, such as:
everolimus (Afinitor)
abemaciclib (Verzenio)
palbociclib (Ibrance)
ribociclib (Kisqali)
chemotherapy drugs, such as:
doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
epirubicin (Ellence)
paclitaxel (Abraxane)
docetaxel (Taxotere)
capecitabine (Xeloda)
cyclophosphamide
* These drugs are also used for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Adjuvant treatment is given to lower the risk of breast cancer coming back after it’s been treated with surgery.

Arimidex vs. tamoxifen
You may wonder how Arimidex compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Arimidex and tamoxifen are alike and different.

Ingredients
Arimidex contains the active drug anastrozole. Tamoxifen is an active drug that’s available in both generic and brand-name forms. (A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.)

Arimidex and tamoxifen are both hormone therapies that are used to treat breast cancer. These drugs work by stopping the hormone estrogen from encouraging cancer cells to grow and spread.

Arimidex is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. It works by stopping estrogen from being made in your body by the aromatase enzyme. On the other hand, tamoxifen is a type of hormone therapy called a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). It works by stopping estrogen from attaching to cancer cells in your body.