Fulvestrant injection

What is fulvestrant injection ?
FULVESTRANT (Faslodex®) blocks the effects of the estrogen hormone in the body and is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Generic fulvestrant injection is not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I take fulvestrant?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• blood disorders
• liver disease
• low platelet counts
• an unusual or allergic reaction to fulvestrant, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?
Fulvestrant is given as a deep injection(s) into the buttock once monthly. It is usually administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a healthcare professional. It also may be given by a trained nurse as part of home healthcare services.

What if I miss a dose?
It is important not to miss a dose. Notify your prescriber or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.

What drug(s) may interact with fulvestrant?

• medicines called “blood thinners” such as warfarin (Coumadin®)

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also, tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking fulvestrant?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• skin rash
• sore throat
• vaginal bleeding

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• back pain
• bone pain
• constipation
• diarrhea
• headache
• hot flashes
• nausea/vomiting
• pain and inflammation at the injection site
• stomach pain
• weakness

What should I watch for while taking fulvestrant?
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress.

When you start taking fulvestrant to treat breast cancer, bone or tumor pain may increase. This means that fulvestrant is working and the pain should soon decrease. If the pain is severe, call your prescriber or health care professional.

Women should not become pregnant while taking fulvestrant due to possible harm to your unborn child or the potential risk for loss of pregnancy. Women who can have children should use barrier birth control (condoms) or other methods of birth control that do not use hormones.

Where can I keep my medicine?
This does not apply. You will not keep this medicine at home.

Drugs & Medications

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

The drug reference included in this section is provided by Cerner Multum, Inc., of Denver, Colorado. Armenian Medical Network receives monthly updates from Multum.