Anastrozole

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Anastrozole (Arimidex) is a drug indicated in the treatment of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It is used in both adjuvant therapy (i.e. following surgery) and in metastatic breast cancer. It has the effect of decreasing the amount of estrogen that the body makes.

Anastrozole belongs in the class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. It inhibits the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for converting androgens (produced by women in the adrenal glands) to oestrogen.

The ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial represents a long-term follow-up study of 9366 women with localized breast cancer who received either anastrozole or/and tamoxifen. After more than 5 years the group that received anastrozole had significantly better clinical results than the tamoxifen group. The trial suggested that anastrozole is the preferred medical therapy for postmenopausal women with localized breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive.

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Usage for Men

While officially indicated for woman, this drug has proven effective in the off-label use of reducing estrogen (in particular and more importantly, estradiol) in men. Excess estradiol in men can cause Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, gynecomastia, and symptoms of hypogonadism. Some athletes and body builders will also use Arimidex as a part of their steroid cycle to reduce and prevent syptoms of excess estrogen; in particular, gynecomastia and water retention.

Study data currently suggests that dosages of .5mg-1mg/day reduce serum estradiol by about 50% in men, which differs from the typical reduction in postmenopausal women. However, the reduction may be different for men with grossly elevated estradiol (clinical data is currently lacking).

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References

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External links

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