Faslodex

Generic Name: fulvestrant (ful VES trant)
Brand Names: Faslodex

What is Faslodex?

Faslodex (fulvestrant) is an anti-estrogen medication. It works by blocking the actions of estrogen in the body. Certain types of breast cancer use estrogen to grow and multiply in the body.

Faslodex is used to treat advanced hormone-related breast cancer in women. It is used for this condition only if your tumor tests negative for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 protein can speed the growth of cancer cells.

Faslodex may also be used when the cancer has progressed or has spread to other parts of the body after treatment with anti-estrogen medication.

For women who have not gone through menopause, Faslodex is given together with another medicine called palbociclib (Ibrance) to treat advanced HER2-negative breast cancer that has progressed or spread.

Important information

You should not receive Faslodex if you are pregnant.

Avoid getting pregnant or breast-feeding a baby for at least 1 year after you stop using this medicine.

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Before you receive Faslodex, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder, or thrombocytopenia (a low level of platelets in the blood). Also tell your doctor if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your injection.

Before taking this medicine

You should not receive Faslodex if you are allergic to fulvestrant, or if you are pregnant.

To make sure Faslodex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or

thrombocytopenia (a low level of platelets in the blood).

Using Faslodex during pregnancy could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 1 year after your treatment ends. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during this time.

It is not known whether fulvestrant passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using fulvestrant.

How is Faslodex given?

Faslodex is given as two injections into a muscle of your buttock. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. Each injection must be given slowly, and can take up to 2 minutes to complete.

Faslodex is usually given once every 2 weeks at first, and then once a month. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

When treatment also includes taking Ibrance capsules, you will most likely take your Ibrance dose once daily, with food, for 21 days in a row, followed by 7 days off the medicine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

If you are a woman using Faslodex together with Ibrance, tell your doctor if you are going through menopause (you have symptoms such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness). You may need to be treated with an additional hormone medication.

This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Faslodex dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Breast Cancer:

Initial dose: 500 mg IM on days 1, 15, and 29, then once a month thereafter.

See also: Dosage Information (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Faslodex injection.