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Medications for Breast Cancer

Other names: DCIS; Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Combinations of different types of treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted treatments including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and preventive treatments.

Chemotherapy agents are usually given in combination because different drugs kill breast cancer cells in different ways, although some may be given alone. Examples include:

Hormone (endocrine) therapy works in breast cancer by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones or by interfering with the effects of hormones on breast cancer cells. Examples include:

Targeted treatments work by identifying and attacking specific cancer cells or targets on breast cancer cells. Some require biomarker testing beforehand to see if your cancer carries certain mutations. Types of targeted treatments for breast cancer include:

Immunotherapy supports your immune system in fighting the cancer, but biomarker tests may be required before you start treatment. Examples include:

Preventive treatments help reduce the risk of breast cancer in women at high risk by interfering with the effects of the female hormone estrogen, and include:

Drugs used to treat Breast Cancer

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
anastrozole 5.1 209 reviews for anastrozole to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
anastrozole systemic
Brand name:
Arimidex
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
tamoxifen 5.0 71 reviews for tamoxifen to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
tamoxifen systemic
Brand name:
Soltamox
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, selective estrogen receptor modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
letrozole 5.2 123 reviews for letrozole to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
letrozole systemic
Brand name:
Femara
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Arimidex 5.7 72 reviews for Arimidex to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
anastrozole systemic
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Verzenio 8.0 19 reviews for Verzenio to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
abemaciclib systemic
Drug class:
CDK 4/6 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Ibrance 4.0 4 reviews for Ibrance to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
palbociclib systemic
Drug class:
CDK 4/6 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
exemestane 5.1 114 reviews for exemestane to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
exemestane systemic
Brand name:
Aromasin
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
abemaciclib 8.0 21 reviews for abemaciclib to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
abemaciclib systemic
Brand name:
Verzenio
Drug class:
CDK 4/6 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
palbociclib 4.0 4 reviews for palbociclib to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
palbociclib systemic
Brand name:
Ibrance
Drug class:
CDK 4/6 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Femara 6.2 38 reviews for Femara to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
letrozole systemic
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Keytruda 5.4 7 reviews for Keytruda to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
pembrolizumab systemic
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Kisqali Rate Add review
Rx N
Generic name:
ribociclib systemic
Drug class:
CDK 4/6 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
pembrolizumab 5.4 7 reviews for pembrolizumab to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
pembrolizumab systemic
Brand name:
Keytruda
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Piqray 5.0 2 reviews for Piqray to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
alpelisib systemic
Drug class:
PI3K inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
alpelisib 5.0 2 reviews for alpelisib to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
alpelisib systemic
Brand name:
Piqray
Drug class:
PI3K inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Enhertu 10 1 review for Enhertu to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan systemic
Drug class:
HER2 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Trodelvy 8.0 2 reviews for Trodelvy to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
sacituzumab govitecan systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan 10 1 review for fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan systemic
Brand name:
Enhertu
Drug class:
HER2 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
sacituzumab govitecan 8.0 2 reviews for sacituzumab govitecan to treat Breast Cancer
Rx N
Generic name:
sacituzumab govitecan systemic
Brand name:
Trodelvy
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Aromasin 4.9 24 reviews for Aromasin to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
exemestane systemic
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, aromatase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Herceptin 8.2 5 reviews for Herceptin to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
trastuzumab systemic
Drug class:
HER2 inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Abraxane 9.7 3 reviews for Abraxane to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
paclitaxel protein-bound systemic
Drug class:
mitotic inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
methotrexate Rate Add review
Rx X N X
Generic name:
methotrexate systemic
Brand name:
Trexall
Drug class:
antimetabolites, antirheumatics, antipsoriatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Taxotere 3.4 5 reviews for Taxotere to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
docetaxel systemic
Drug class:
mitotic inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Afinitor 4.3 11 reviews for Afinitor to treat Breast Cancer
Rx D N
Generic name:
everolimus systemic
Drug class:
mTOR inhibitors, selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.