Side Effects

Side Effects of Anastrozole

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If any of the following happen, do not take more Anastrozole. Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital: Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): · Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, light coloured bowel motions or dark coloured urine. Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): · Skin rash caused by hypersensitivity (this can be from a severe allergic reaction) · Inflammation of the small blood vessels causing red or purple colouring of the skin. Very rarely symptoms of joint, stomach, and kidney pain may occur; this is known as ‘Henoch-Schönlein purpura’ Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): · An extremely severe skin reaction with ulcers or blisters on the skin. This is known as ‘Stevens-Johnson syndrome’ · Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions with swelling of the throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This is known as ‘angioedema’. Other side effects include: Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people · Headache · Hot flushes · Feeling sick (nausea) · Skin rash · Pain or stiffness in your joints · Inflammation of the joints (arthritis) · Feeling weak · Bone loss (osteoporosis) · Depression Common: may affect up to 1 to 10 people · Loss of appetite · Raised or high levels of a fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood. This would be seen in a blood test · Feeling sleepy · Carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, pain, coldness, weakness in parts of the hand) · Diarrhoea · Being sick (vomiting) · Changes in blood test that show how well your liver is working · Thinning of your hair (hair loss) · Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions including face, lips or tongue. · Bone pain · Vaginal dryness · Bleeding from the vagina (usually in the first few weeks of treatment – if the bleeding continues, talk to your doctor) · Muscle pain Uncommon: may affect up to 1 to 100 people · Changes in special blood tests that show how your liver is working (gamma-GT and bilirubin) · Hives or nettle rash · Raised or high levels of calcium in your blood. If you experience nausea, vomiting and thirst, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist as you may need to have blood tests. · Trigger finger (a condition in which your finger or thumb catches in a bent position). Rare: may affect up to 1 to 1,000 people · Rare inflammation of your skin that may include red patches or blisters, known as erythema multiforme. Effects on your bones Anastrozole lowers the amount of the hormone called estrogen that is in your body. This may lower the mineral content of your bones. Your bones may be less strong and may be more likely to fracture. Your doctor will manage these risks according to treatment guidelines for managing bone health in women who have gone through the menopause. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and treatment options. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting