 is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.Faslodex belongs to a group of drugs called estrogen receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of estrogen on cancer cells. This medication comes in injectable form, that is administered by a doctor or nurse. Common side effects of Faslodex include injection site pain, nausea, and headache. "Pin It")
Faslodex Overview
Faslodex (generic: fulvestrant) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Uses of Faslodex
Faslodex is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Side Effects of Faslodex
Common side effects of Faslodex include:
- injection site pain
- nausea
- muscle, joint, and bone pain
- headache
- tiredness
- hot flashes
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- weakness
- cough
- constipation
- shortness of breath
- increased liver enzymes
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Faslodex Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take Coumadin (Warfarin) or Jantoven. Your doctor may change the doses of your medicines or monitor for side effects. There are no known drug interactions with Faslodex.
Faslodex Precautions
You should not receive Faslodex if you have had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in Faslodex.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Faslodex may include:
- Itching
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
- Trouble breathing
Blood disorders: Because Faslodex is administered intramuscularly, it should be used with caution in patients with bleeding diatheses (unusual bleeding tendency or disposition), thromobcytopenia, or anticoagulant use (blood thinners like Coumadin).
Hepatic Impairment: A dose reduction is recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (liver problems). Faslodex has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Pregnancy: Women should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving Faslodex. This medicine may harm the unborn baby.
Faslodex Food Interactions
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Faslodex there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Faslodex.
Inform MD
Before you receive Faslodex, tell your doctor:
- if you are allergic to Faslodex or any other medications.
- about the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. Be sure to mention anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- if you have or have ever had any bleeding problems (low level of platelets in your blood or bleed easily).
- if you have liver disease.
- about any other medical conditions you have.
- if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Faslodex and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Faslodex may harm your unborn baby.
Faslodex and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Faslodex is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.
Faslodex Usage
Your healthcare provider will give you the appropriate amount of Faslodex by injection into the muscle of your buttock. It is usually administered in a medical facility (doctor's office or hospital). Keep all appointments with your doctor. If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Faslodex, reschedule as soon as possible.
Faslodex Dosage
Your doctor will determine the best dose and schedule for you.
Faslodex 500 mg should be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL
injections, one in each buttock, on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter.
A dose of 250 mg is recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment to be administered intramuscularly into the buttock slowly (1- 2 minutes) as one 5 mL injection on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter.
Faslodex Overdose
There is no clinical experience with overdosage in humans. In studies, no adverse reactions were seen in healthy male and female volunteers who received very large intravenous (IV) doses, rather than the usual intramuscular (IM) doses.
Faslodex is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, if you believe you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose contact your local poison control center or call 911.
Forms of Faslodex
Faslodex is supplied as two 5-mL clear neutral glass (Type 1) barrels, each containing 250 mg/5 mL of Faslodex solution for intramuscular injection and fitted with a tamper evident closure. The syringes are presented in a tray with polystyrene plunger rod and safety needles (SafetyGlide™) for connection to the barrel.
Active ingredient: fulvestrant
Inactive ingredients: alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, and castor oil.
