• Metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor–positive or unknown tumors.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• OB: Lactation: Pregnancy or lactation
• History of thromboembolic disease
• Congenital or acquired QT prolongation, hypokalemia, or hypomagnesemia
• Concurrent use of QT-interval prolonging medications or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (i.e. ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, atazanavir, indinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and voriconazole).

Use Cautiously in:

• Bone metastases (↑ risk of hypercalcemia)
• Heart failure
• Hepatic impairment
• Pre-existing endometrial hyperplasia (avoid long-term treatment).

CNS: depression, dizziness, headache, lethargy.

EENT: blurred vision, cataracts, corneal keratopathy, dry eyes, glaucoma.

CV: HF, MI, PULMONARY EMBOLISM, TORSADE DE POINTES, angina, arrhythmias, edema, QTc interval prolongation, thrombophlebitis.

GI: HEPATOTOXICITY, nausea, vomiting.

GU: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, vaginal discharge, endometrial hyperplasia/hypertrophy, uterine polyps, vaginal bleeding.

Derm: sweating.

F and E: hypercalcemia.

Hemat: anemia.
Misc: hot flashes, tumor flare.

Drug-Drug:

• QT-prolonging drugs may ↑ the risk of torsade de pointes; avoid concurrent use.
• Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, atazanavir, indinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and voriconazole may ↑ levels; avoid concurrent use.
• Strong CYP3A4 inducers, including dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, and phenobarbital may ↓ levels.
• Concurrent use of agents that ↓ urinary excretion of calcium (thiazide diuretics) may ↑ the risk of hypercalcemia.
• May ↑ the effects of warfarin and phenytoin.

Drug-Natural Products:

• St. John's wort may ↓ levels.

• Tablets: 60 mg;

• PO (Adults): 60 mg once daily.

Fareston

• Exerts antiestrogenic effects by competing for estrogen-binding sites found in breast cancers.

• Regression of breast cancer.

Therapeutic Classification: antineoplastics

Pharmacologic Classification: antiestrogens

Absorption: Well absorbed following oral administration.

Distribution: Widely distributed; 99% bound to plasma proteins.

Protein Binding: 99.5%.

Metabolism/Excretion: Extensively metabolized; undergoes enterohepatic circulation.

Half-life: 5 days.

(blood levels)

†Steady-state blood levels occur after 4–6 wk.

• Instruct patient to take medication exactly as directed. If a dose is missed, it should be omitted.
• Advise patient to report bone pain to health care professional promptly. This pain may be severe. Inform patient that this may be an indication of the drug’s effectiveness and will resolve over time. Analgesics should be ordered to control pain.
• Advise patient that medication may cause hot flashes. Notify health care professional if these become bothersome.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional promptly if pain or swelling of legs, shortness of breath, weakness, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, or blurred vision occurs. Patient should also report menstrual irregularities, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure.
• Advise patient of importance of baseline and annual gynecological exams during therapy.
• This medication may induce ovulation and may have teratogenic properties. Advise patient to use a nonhormonal method of contraception during and for 1 mo after the course of therapy and to avoid breastfeeding during therapy.

TORE-em-i-feen