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Fulvestrant

  • Before having any kind of medical treatment, including dental or emergency treatment, tell the doctor, surgeon, dentist, or other medical professional that you are receiving fulvestrant treatment
  • Important: If you experience an allergic reaction including severe skin reactions, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing contact your doctor at once
  • Store at 2 - 8 ?C (in a refrigerator)

About fulvestrant

Type of medicine Anti-oestrogen
Used for Treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women
Also called Faslodex
Available as Injection

Many breast cancers need the hormone oestrogen to grow. Some of these breast cancers are 'oestrogen receptor positive' which means the cancer cells contain oestrogen receptors. Fulvestrant works by preventing oestrogen from binding to these receptors. This blocks the action of oestrogen on cancer cells which may in turn cause some breast cancer tumours to shrink.

Before using fulvestrant

Before using fulvestrant make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

  • If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding
  • If you suffer from liver or kidney problems
  • If you have not gone through the menopause
  • If you have a bleeding disorder, have problems with blood clots or you are on anticoagulant medication (used to prevent blood clots)
  • If you have a family history of osteoporosis (bone thinning)
  • Faslodex is not recommended for children and adolescents

How to use fulvestrant

  • Fulvestrant will be injected slowly into the muscle in your buttock
  • This should be repeated at monthly intervals

Getting the most from your treatment

  • Before having any kind of medical treatment, including dental or emergency treatment, tell the doctor, surgeon, dentist, or other medical professional that you are receiving fulvestrant treatment

Can fulvestrant cause problems?

Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.

The most common side-effect occuring with fulvestrant is hot flushes.

Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine What can I do if I experience this
Headache Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable pain-killer. If headache continues speak with your doctor.
Weakness or tiredness Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert. Avoid alcohol; it will increase any feelings of drowsiness
Nausea Eat little and often. Stick to simple foods such as dry toast.
Vomiting Drink plenty of liquid. Stick to simple foods such as dry toast.
Diarrhoea Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids.
Pain or inflammation at the injection site, loss of appetite Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if these side-effects occur.

Important: If you experience an allergic reaction including severe skin reactions, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing contact your doctor at once.

Other side-effects include rash, urinary tract infections (water infections), back pain, vaginal bleeding, vaginal thrush and vaginal discharge. If you experience these or any other worrying symptoms, which you think may be due to this medicine, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store fulvestrant

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach of children
  • Store at 2 - 8 ?C (in a refrigerator)
  • Store in the original packaging to protect from light

Important information about all medicines


  • Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Make sure that the person prescribing this medicine knows about any other medicines that you are taking or using. This includes medicines you buy and herbal and homeopathic medicines.
  • If you buy any medicines check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
  • Before using this medicine tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking or using any medicine.
  • Never use more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has used too much of this medicine go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if it is empty.
  • If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are using or taking.
  • Always read the printed information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
  • This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
  • Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
  • If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.
© EMIS 2007 DocID:
3883		 DocRef:
dils3901		 Last Updated:
1 Feb 2007		 Date of Next Review:
31 Jan 2009		 Version:
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PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

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