Fulvestrant

Generic name: Fulvestrant
Brand names: Faslodex
Dosage form: intramuscular injection

Usage of Fulvestrant

Fulvestrant is a hormone therapy you may be prescribed if you have certain types of breast cancer. Fulvestrant is an estrogen receptor antagonist that binds to estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells. The hormone estrogen encourages breast cancer cells to grow, and fulvestrant works by binding and blocking the estrogen receptor, which slows the growth of cancer.

Fulvestrant was first approved by the FDA in 2002 after Phase 3 trials showed that the patients on fulvestrant took longer for their cancer to get worse, when compared to patients on Arimidex (anastrozole). It is approved to be used for certain types of breast cancer in women, so your doctor will only prescribe it for you if it has been shown to be effective for your type of cancer.

It is given as an injection into your buttock muscle once a month, but your dose may change depending on how well it is working for you and if you are having side effects. You may also be given other medicines with fulvestrant to treat your breast cancer.

Fulvestrant side effects

Fulvestrant may cause serious side effects, including:

Injection site related nerve damage. Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms in your legs following the injection:

numbness

tingling

weakness

The most common side effects of fulvestrant include:

injection site pain

nausea

muscle, joint, and bone pain

headache

back pain

tiredness

pain in arms, hands, legs, or feet

hot flashes

vomiting

loss of appetite

weakness

cough

shortness of breath

constipation

increased liver enzymes

diarrhea

Fulvestrant may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if you plan to become pregnant. See below for more information on fulvestrant and pregnancy.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects with this medicine. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Fulvestrant

Pregnancy

You should not take fulvestrant if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, as it can harm your unborn baby.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test within 7 days before you start this medicine.

You should use effective birth control during treatment with fulvestrant and for one year after the last dose of fulvestrant.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with this medicine.

If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

It is not known if this medicine passes into your breast milk.

Do not breastfeed during your treatment with fulvestrant and for one year after the final dose of fulvestrant.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

How to use Fulvestrant

Fulvestrant is an intramuscular injection that is supplied as 5-mL single-dose prefilled syringes containing 250 mg/5 mL fulvestrant.

The recommended dose of fulvestrant is 500 mg to be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks (gluteal area) slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL injections, one in each buttock, on Days 1, 15, 29, and once monthly thereafter.

What other drugs will affect Fulvestrant

Some medications interact with fulvestrant, so it is important to tell your doctor about any medicines that you are currently taking, or if you start or stop any medicine while you are having cancer treatment. Also tell your doctor about any over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, minerals or herbal products that you take.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a blood thinner medicine.

To find out more about interactions with fulvestrant click the link below:

Disclaimer

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