fulvestrant

Your healthcare provider will probably administer the fulvestrant injection. If you are injecting fulvestrant at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions on how and where to inject the medication. If you do not understand these directions, do not attempt to inject the medication. Contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.

Fulvestrant blocks the actions of estrogen in the body. Certain types of breast cancer require estrogen to grow.

Fulvestrant is used to treat some types of metastatic breast cancer that require estrogen to grow, in postmenopausal women whose cancer has progressed following treatment with other antiestrogen medication.

Fulvestrant may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Before using fulvestrant, tell your doctor if you

• have liver disease;
• have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
• have thrombocytopenia (a low level of platelets in the blood); or
• are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin).

You may not be able to use fulvestrant, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Fulvestrant is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that fulvestrant is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use fulvestrant without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether fulvestrant passes into breast milk. Do not use fulvestrant without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use fulvestrant exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Fulvestrant is administered by intramuscular (into a muscle) injection.

Your healthcare provider will probably administer the fulvestrant injection. If you are injecting fulvestrant at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions on how and where to inject the medication. If you do not understand these directions, do not attempt to inject the medication. Contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.

Dispose of used needles and syringes in an appropriate puncture resistant container.

Your healthcare provider will store fulvestrant as directed by the manufacturer or give you detailed storage instructions if you are storing the medication at home.

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of fulvestrant.

An overdose of fulvestrant is unlikely to threaten life. Call an emergency room or poison control center if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a fulvestrant overdose are not known.

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activities while taking fulvestrant unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Stop using fulvestrant and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to use fulvestrant and talk to your doctor if you experience

• headache;
• nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• loss of appetite;
• swelling or water retention;
• weakness;
• hot flashes; or
• mild pain or swelling at the injection site.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Before using fulvestrant, tell your doctor if you are taking warfarin (Coumadin) or another blood thinner. You may not be able to use fulvestrant or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with fulvestrant. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Your pharmacist has additional information about fulvestrant written for health professionals that you may read.

Fulvestrant is available with a prescription under the brand name Faslodex in an injectable formulation. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.