Generic Anaztrozole

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Hope that you can put my mind at ease. I have been taking Arimidex for 12 months and get my prescription at the doctors surgery as it is a prescribing surgery. I went to pick up my repeat prescription yesterday and when I got home I found that they had given me the generic Anaztrozole tablets instead of the usual Arimidex. It sent me into a spin and I became quite anxious that I wasn’t given Arimidex. It was too late to ring the surgery and my partner called in today to speak to the pharmacist to be told that the generic drug is exactly the same as the Arimidex and I have been lucky to get Arimidex for the last 12 months and it had nothing to do the cost and implied that i was making a fuss. Am I making a fuss or should I stick to my guns and ask for the Arimidex? This has made me very anxious as I have been told that Arimidex is the gold standard treatment for postmenopausal very er+ women. Thanks for any comments. Cadi

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Hi cadi

I was prescribed Tamox first off and was given the generic form. That didn’t suit me at all, so the BCN told me to ask my GP to change it to Nolvadex D which is still Tamox but delivered into your system gradually instead of all at once.

She told me that because I was still requesting the same medication the doctor couldn’t refuse to prescribe Novadex D for me. The doctor didn’t refuse because it was still tamoxifen and I was fine on Nolvadex D until it was discontinued, but that’s another story.

So in theory if you request Arimidex your GP can’t refuse.

I think that Arimidex is just a brand name for Anaztrozole, the generic form will be exactly the same medication without the fancy name. It will be the Anaztrozole which is the gold standard treatment.

I can understand how you feel, it’s very difficult when you have your medication changed. When mine was changed last year I felt very anxious about it. Fortunately I’ve been fine and am happy with the new tablet now.

I hope you get it sorted out.

Love

Jan xxx

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breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/arimidex_august_08.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastrozole

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Thanks very much for your replies. I probably did over react. Don’t know what has happened to the calm, sensible and rational woman.!!

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Hi Cadi,
It’s funny but exactly the same thing happened to me yesterday. Also, the chemist had given me Risedronate Sodium instead of my usual Actonel. They may be the same but they are made up differently, which can sometimes result in side effects for some people. Stick to your guns, I phoned the doctor and got a prescription staight away and he also changed my repeat prescription to say Actonel and Arimidex as the chemist had told me the brand name has to be on the prescription for her to give it to me. The fact that I had been on Arimidex for 2 1/2 years without it being specified didn’t mean a thing!!
Love Laraine xx

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Laraine, the reason you originally got Arimidex even though you were prescribed anastrozole is that until recently the manufacturers of Arimidex, who developed the drug, had a patent to be the sole manufacturers.

Now that the patent is no longer in force any company can manufacture it and of course the NHS will save money by supplying a cheaper brand. There should not be a problem because legally all the generic products have to be tested and strictly quality controlled before they can be marketed.