Deepika vegiraju at 10:52, 7 August 2022

2022-08-07T10:52:39Z

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== '''What is Fulvestrant?''' ==

* Fulvestrant ('''Faslodex''') is '''an estrogen receptor antagonist''' used to treat [[Hormone receptor-positive breast carcinoma|hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer]] in [[postmenopausal]] women with disease progression as well as HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced [[breast cancer]] in combination with [[palbociclib]] in women with disease progression after [[endocrine therapy]].

[[File:Fulvestrant.svg|thumb|Fulvestrant]]
[[File:Fulvestrant2DACS.svg|thumb|Fulvestrant2DACS]]

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== '''What are the uses of this medicine?''' ==

* Faslodex is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced [[breast cancer]] or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body ([[metastatic]]).

Faslodex may be used alone, if you have gone through [[menopause]], and your advanced breast cancer is:
* [[Hormone receptor positive|hormone receptor (HR)-positive]] and [[human epidermal growth factor receptor 2]] (HER2)-negative and has not been previously treated with [[endocrine therapy]].
'''or'''
* HR-positive and has progressed after endocrine therapy.
* Faslodex may be used in combination with [[ribociclib]], if you have gone through [[menopause]], and your advanced or metastatic breast cancer is HR-positive and HER2-negative, and has not been previously treated with endocrine therapy or has progressed after endocrine therapy.
* Faslodex may be used in combination with [[palbociclib]] or [[abemaciclib]] if your advanced or [[metastatic]] breast cancer is HR-positive and [[HER2 negative|HER2-negative]], and has progressed after endocrine therapy.

* It is not known if Faslodex is safe and effective in children.
* It is not known if Faslodex is safe and effective in people with severe liver problems.

== '''How does this medicine work?''' ==

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* Fulvestrant (ful ves' trant) is a '''steroidal antiestrogen''' that is '''potent and direct [[antagonist]] or "down regulator" of the estrogen receptor'''.
* Fulvestrant is a '''synthetic derivative of [[estradiol]] and binds to the estrogen receptor''' with 100 times more potency than [[tamoxifen]].
* It not only blocks the effects of estrogen, but also '''alters the structure of the estrogen receptor''' and further decreases the intracellular effects of estrogen.
* Unlike tamoxifen, '''fulvestrant is a pure antiestrogen and has no estrogen receptor agonist activity'''.
* Fulvestrant has been found to be as effective as tamoxifen as a first line agent to treat metastatic breast cancer, and is similar in efficacy to the aromatase inhibitors in women with progressive disease despite tamoxifen therapy.

== '''Who Should Not Use this medicine ?''' ==

This medicine cannot be used in patients:
* have had an allergic reaction to fulvestrant or any of the ingredients in Faslodex.

== '''What drug interactions can this medicine cause?''' ==

* There are no known drug-drug interactions.

== '''Is this medicine FDA approved?''' ==

* Fulvestrant was approved for use in the United States in 2002.

== '''How should this medicine be used?''' ==

'''Recommended dosage:'''
* Faslodex 500 mg should be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks (gluteal area) slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL injections, one in each buttock, on Days 1, 15, 29, and once monthly thereafter.

'''Hepatic Impairment:'''
* A dose of 250 mg is recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment to be administered intramuscularly into the buttock (gluteal area) slowly (1 - 2 minutes) as one 5 mL injection on Days 1, 15, 29, and once monthly thereafter.

'''Administration:'''
* Your healthcare provider will give you Faslodex by injection into the muscle of each buttock.
* Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Faslodex if needed.

== '''What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?''' ==

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:
* As an injection for intramuscular administration, is supplied as 250 mg/5 mL fulvestrant

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː
*'''Faslodex'''

=='''What side effects can this medication cause?'''==

The most common side effects of this medicine include:
* injection site pain
* [[nausea]]
* muscle, joint, and bone pain
* headache
* back pain
* tiredness
* pain in arms, hands, legs, or feet
* hot flashes
* vomiting
* loss of appetite
* weakness
* cough
* shortness of breath
* constipation
* increased liver enzymes
* [[diarrhea]]

Faslodex may cause fertility problems in males and females.

Faslodex may cause serious side effects, including:
* Injection site related nerve damage

==''' What special precautions should I follow?''' ==

* Because Faslodex is administered intramuscularly, it should be used with caution in patients with bleeding [[Diathesis|diatheses]], [[thrombocytopenia]], or [[anticoagulant]] use.
* Faslodex has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C).
* Injection site related events including [[sciatica]], [[neuralgia]], [[neuropathic pain]], and [[peripheral neuropathy]] have been reported with Faslodex injection. Caution should be taken while administering Faslodex at the dorsogluteal injection site due to the proximity of the underlying sciatic nerve.
* Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, Faslodex can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Faslodex and for one year after the last dose.
* Due to structural similarity of fulvestrant and estradiol, Faslodex can interfere with estradiol measurement by [[immunoassay]], resulting in falsely elevated [[estradiol]] levels.

== '''What to do in case of emergency/overdose?''' ==

Symptoms of overdosage may include:
* Human experience of overdose with Faslodex is limited.
* No adverse reactions were seen in healthy male and female volunteers who received intravenous fulvestrant.

'''Management of overdosage:'''
* There is no specific treatment in the event of fulvestrant overdose, and symptoms of overdose are not established.
* In the event of an overdose, healthcare practitioners should follow general supportive measures and should treat symptomatically.

== '''Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?''' ==

* Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, Faslodex can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman
* There are no available data in pregnant women to inform the drug-associated risk.

=='''Can this medicine be used in children?'''==

* Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

== '''What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?''' ==

* '''Active ingredient:''' fulvestrant.
* '''Inactive ingredients:''' alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, and castor oil.

== '''Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?''' ==

'''Distributed by:'''
[[AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals]] LP
Wilmington, DE

'''Manufactured for:'''
AstraZeneca UK Limited
Macclesfield, Cheshire, England

By: Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GMBH & Co. KG
Ravensburg, Germany

== '''What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?''' ==

* Refrigrate, 2°-8°C (36°-46°F).

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[[Category:Antiestrogens]]
[[Category:AstraZeneca brands]]
[[Category:Estranes]]
[[Category:GPER agonists]]
[[Category:Hormonal antineoplastic drugs]]
[[Category:Organofluorides]]
[[Category:Peripherally selective drugs]]
[[Category:Selective estrogen receptor degraders]]
[[Category:World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substances]]

Fulvestrant - Revision history

Deepika vegiraju at 10:52, 7 August 2022