Anastrozole vs Aromasin: Which is The Best Choice For You?
Women with Breast cancer often tend to compare Aromasin and Anastrozole for various reasons.
You may have been prescribed one of these medications and now looking for an alternative with lesser side effects and more effectiveness.
Whatever your reasons might be, you have come to the right place. Here, you will get to know the differences between the two crucial drugs.
This article will compare Anastrozole and Aromasin together so you can decide with your doctor what will work best for you.
The overview: Anastrozole vs Aromasin
| Aromasin | Anastrozole | |
|---|---|---|
| Active salt | Exemestane | Anastrozole |
| Brand name | Aromasin | Arimidex |
| Dosage form | Oral | Oral |
| Typical daily dosage | 25 mg | 1 mg |
| Administration time | Usually, two to three years after Tamoxifen | Usually, five years |
| Side effects | Edema, bone thinning, changes in liver functioning, etc. | Depression, joint pain, hot flashes, etc. |
| FDA-approval | Approved | Approved |
| Mechanism of action | Inhibits Aromatase | Inhibits the activity of Aromatase enzyme |
| Event-free survival | Similarly high | Similarly high |
Potential side effects
Anastrozole may cause common side effects like aching or pain in the joints and muscles, hot flashes, depression, difficulty sleeping, etc.
It may also cause shortness of breath and decreased blood flow to your heart, so be cautious if you have or ever had heart problems.
Armoasin may have some severe side effects, such as Osteoporosis (bone thinning), changes in liver functioning, etc.
The less severe side effects that may go away on their own are Edema (swelling of hands and feet), hair thinning, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), etc.
Dosage
As per your condition, the doctor recommends you the dosage factors.
They will suggest the number of doses you take each day and the time allowed between doses.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved 25 mg of Aromasin. You can take it once daily after a meal.
The FDA initially approved Anastrozole in 1995. This regulatory authority has approved daily 1 mg of this medicine.
It is advised to take both of these tablets consistently at the same time every day.
It will help achieve the most effective results and minimize potential side effects.
It is recommended to swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
Avoid crushing, chewing, or breaking the tablet, as this can affect absorption.
Mechanism of action
Hormone receptor-positive Breast cancer relies on Estrogen to grow, as it promotes cancer cell growth.
Estrogen levels can increase in the body when the enzyme Aromatase turns the hormone Androgen into small amounts of Estrogen.
Here Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) are recommended. Aromasin and Anastrozole equivalence can be noticed as they both are AIs.
Aromasin is a Type I inhibitor. It is a steroidal compound.
It works as an Aromatase inactivator, which means it irreversibly binds to the Aromatase enzyme and permanently inactivates it.
The enzyme can be restored only through the synthesis of new Aromatase.
Anastrozole is a Type II inhibitor. It is a non-steroidal compound.
This drug inhibits the activity of Aromatase and reduces the conversion of Androgen to Estrogen.
These medications have similar working related to Aromatase, so they are similarly effective.
Administration time
The administration time of Aromasin and Anastrozole depends on several factors, such as:
- Specific breast cancer diagnosis
- Stage of the disease
- Treatment plan
- Individual patient factors
Anastrozole is typically prescribed for five years to patients receiving treatment for primary Breast Cancer.
You may also take this medication for five years if you are not diagnosed with Breast Cancer, but anyone in your family had it. It will lower your risk of developing the disease.
If you take this medication to treat recurrence cancer, you may take it as long as it is effective and any side effects can be managed.
Aromasin is usually given after administrating Tamoxifen, an anti-Estrogen drug.
The Tamoxifen administration is stopped, and the Aromasin is started to make up a total of five consecutive years of hormonal treatment.
Aromasin may be prescribed for two to three years.
Event-Free Survival (EFS)
The EFS in cancer is the length of time after primary treatment for cancer ends.
Here, the patient remains free of certain complications or events that the treatment was intended to prevent or delay.
The EFS of Anastrozole and Aromasin is almost similar.
A study was conducted on 7576 women. They were given Anastrozole and Aromasin (Exemestane) for five years.
At four years, the EFS rate for Aromasin was 91%, and Anastrozole’s was 91.2%.
Takeaway
Anastrozole and Aromasin are used in the treatment of Breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women.
Both are Aromatase Inhibitors that reduce the production of Estrogen. The efficacy is also similar.
There are side effects of these two, like any other drug. Anastrozole may have side effects, such as joint pain, shortness of breath, hot flashes, etc.
Aromasin may cause side effects like bone thinning, swelling of hands and feet, changes in liver functioning, etc.
The FDA has approved different dosages for Aromasin and Anastrozole, i.e., 25 mg and 1 mg, respectively.
Your doctor may prescribe you any one of them in consideration of your medical history and other factors.
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