These tablets contain Anastrozole, which works as an inhibitor of aromatase, an enzyme that is a primary factor in the biosynthesis of the female hormone estrogen. The primary sources of estrogen production in premenopausal women are the ovaries which are involved in developing secondary sexual characteristics like the development of breast and the menstrual cycle.
When estrogen production by the ovaries is ceased in postmenopausal women, the creation of estrogen in peripheral tissues also gets lower. Fat cells throughout the body and even some breast cancer cells are the most active form of circulating estrogen. By conversion of Androstenedione, which is produced by the adrenal glands, to estrone, as result of the action of aromatase and then converting to oestradiol.
Most of the breast cancers have estrogen receptors, and estrogen stimulates their growth. Therefore, low levels of estrogen may be insufficient to maintain the growth of breast cancer cells for the women having breast cancer. Anastrozole in this pill 1mg blocks the action of aromatase resulting in the formation of estrogen and helping to prevent the growth of estrogen-dependent breast tumors.
Reducing circulating oestradiol levels has been shown to produce a beneficial effect in women with breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, Anastrozole at a daily dose of 1 mg produced oestradiol suppression of greater than 80% which effectively resulted in the growth of the cancer cells.
Although Anastrozole does not possess any progestogenic, androgenic or oestrogenic activity, it can bar in the circulating levels of progesterone, androgens, and estrogens.
Daily doses of this up to 10 mg do not have any effect on cortisol or aldosterone secretion, measured before or after standard adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge testing. Therefore, the supplements for Corticoid are not needed.
