Anastrozole (Page 3 of 9)

Second-Line Therapy

Anastrozole was tolerated in two controlled clinical trials (i.e., Trials 0004 and 0005), with less than 3.3% of the anastrozole-treated patients and 4.0% of the megestrol acetate-treated patients withdrawing due to an adverse reaction.

The principal adverse reaction more common with anastrozole than megestrol acetate was diarrhea. Adverse reactions reported in greater than 5% of the patients in any of the treatment groups in these two controlled clinical trials, regardless of causality, are presented below:

Table 5 — Number (n) and Percentage of Patients with Adverse Reactions in Trials 0004 and 0005 *
Adverse Reaction Anastrozole Anastrozole Megesterol Acetate
1 mg 10 mg 160 mg
(N=262) (N=246) (N=253)
n % n % n %
*
A patient may have had more than one adverse reaction

Asthenia

42

(16)

33

(13)

47

(19)

Nausea

41

(16)

48

(20)

28

(11)

Headache

34

(13)

44

(18)

24

(9)

Hot Flashes

32

(12)

29

(11)

21

(8)

Pain

28

(11)

38

(15)

29

(11)

Back Pain

28

(11)

26

(11)

19

(8)

Dyspnea

24

(9)

27

(11)

53

(21)

Vomiting

24

(9)

26

(11)

16

(6)

Cough Increased

22

(8)

18

(7)

19

(8)

Diarrhea

22

(8)

18

(7)

7

(3)

Constipation

18

(7)

18

(7)

21

(8)

Abdominal Pain

18

(7)

14

(6)

18

(7)

Anorexia

18

(7)

19

(8)

11

(4)

Bone Pain

17

(6)

26

(12)

19

(8)

Pharyngitis

16

(6)

23

(9)

15

(6)

Dizziness

16

(6)

12

(5)

15

(6)

Rash

15

(6)

15

(6)

19

(8)

Dry Mouth

15

(6)

11

(4)

13

(5)

Peripheral Edema

14

(5)

21

(9)

28

(11)

Pelvic Pain

14

(5)

17

(7)

13

(5)

Depression

14

(5)

6

(2)

5

(2)

Chest Pain

13

(5)

18

(7)

13

(5)

Paresthesia

12

(5)

15

(6)

9

(4)

Vaginal Hemorrhage

6

(2)

4

(2)

13

(5)

Weight Gain

4

(2)

9

(4)

30

(12)

Sweating

4

(2)

3

(1)

16

(6)

Increased Appetite

0

(0)

1

(0)

13

(5)

Other less frequent (2% to 5%) adverse reactions reported in patients receiving anastrozole 1 mg in either Trial 0004 or Trial 0005 are listed below. These adverse experiences are listed by body system and are in order of decreasing frequency within each body system regardless of assessed causality.

Body as a Whole: Flu syndrome; fever; neck pain; malaise; accidental injury; infection

Cardiovascular: Hypertension; thrombophlebitis

Hepatic: Gamma GT increased; SGOT increased; SGPT increased

Hematologic: Anemia; leukopenia

Metabolic and Nutritional: Alkaline phosphatase increased; weight loss

Mean serum total cholesterol levels increased by 0.5 mmol/L among patients receiving anastrozole. Increases in LDL cholesterol have been shown to contribute to these changes.

Musculoskeletal: Myalgia; arthralgia; pathological fracture

Nervous: Somnolence; confusion; insomnia; anxiety; nervousness

Respiratory: Sinusitis; bronchitis; rhinitis

Skin and Appendages: Hair thinning (alopecia); pruritus

Urogenital: Urinary tract infection; breast pain

The incidences of the following adverse reaction groups potentially causally related to one or both of the therapies because of their pharmacology, were statistically analyzed: weight gain, edema, thromboembolic disease, gastrointestinal disturbance, hot flushes, and vaginal dryness. These six groups, and the adverse reactions captured in the groups, were prospectively defined. The results are shown in the table below.

Table 6 — Number (n) and Percentage of Patients with Pre-specified Adverse Reactions in Trials 0004 and 0005
Anastrozole Anastrozole Megestrol Acetate
1 mg 10 mg 160 mg
(n=262) (n=246) (n=253)
Adverse Reaction Group n (%) n (%) n (%)

Gastrointestinal Disturbance

77

(29)

81

(33)

54

(21)

Hot Flushes

33

(13)

29

(12)

35

(14)

Edema

19

(7)

28

(11)

35

(14)

Thromboembolic Disease

9

(3)

4

(2)

12

(5)

Vaginal Dryness

5

(2)

3

(1)

2

(1)

Weight Gain

4

(2)

10

(4)

30

(12)

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