Fareston

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ANNEX I

SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS



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1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Fareston 60 mg tablets

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each tablet contains 60 mg toremifene (as citrate).

Excipient with known effect
One tablet contains 28.5 mg of lactose. For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Tablet.
White, round, flat, bevelled edge tablet with TO 60 on one side.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

First line hormone treatment of hormone-dependent metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal patients.
Fareston is not recommended for patients with estrogen receptor negative tumours.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

The recommended dose is 60 mg daily.

Renal impairment
No dose adjustment is needed in patients with renal insufficiency.

Hepatic impairment
Toremifene should be used cautiously in patients with liver impairment (see section 5.2).

Pediatric population
There is no relevant use of Fareston in the paediatric population.

Method of administration

Toremifene is administered orally. Toremifene can be taken with or without food.

4.3 Contraindications

- Pre-existing endometrial hyperplasia and severe hepatic failure are contra-indications in long-
term use of toremifene.

- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
- Both in preclinical investigations and in humans, changes in cardiac electrophysiology have been

observed following exposure to toremifene, in the form of QT prolongation. For reasons of drug
safety, toremifene is therefore contraindicated in patients with:

- Congenital or documented acquired QT prolongation
- Electrolyte disturbances, particularly in uncorrected hypokalaemia



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- Clinically relevant bradycardia
- Clinically relevant heart failure with reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction
- Previous history of symptomatic arrhythmias.

Toremifene should not be used concurrently with other drugs that prolong the QT interval (see also
section 4.5).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Gynaecological examination should be performed before treatment administration, closely looking at
pre-existing endometrial abnormality. Afterwards gynaecological examination should be repeated at
least once a year. Patients with additional risk of endometrial cancer, e.g. patients suffering from
hypertension or diabetes, having high BMI (> 30) or history of hormone replacement therapy should be
closely monitored (see also section 4.8).

Anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported. Red blood cell, leukocyte or platelet
counts should be monitored when using Fareston.

Cases of liver injury, including elevation of liver enzymes (> 10 times upper limit of normal), hepatitis
and jaundice have been reported with toremifene. Most of them occurred during the first months of
treatment. The pattern of the liver damage was predominantly hepatocellular.

Patients with a history of severe thromboembolic disease should generally not be treated with toremifene
(see also section 4.8).

Fareston has been shown to prolong the QTc interval on the electrocardiogram in some patients in a
dose-related manner. The following information regarding QT-prolongation is of special importance (for
contraindications see section 4.3).

A QT clinical study with a 5-arm parallel design (placebo, moxifloxacin 400 mg, toremifene 20 mg,
80 mg, and 300 mg) has been performed in 250 male patients to characterize the effects of toremifene
on the QTc interval duration. The results of this study show a clear positive effect of toremifene in the
80 mg group with mean prolongations of 21 - 26 ms. Regarding the 20 mg group, this effect is
significant as well, according to ICH guidelines, with upper confidence interval of 10 - 12 ms. These
results strongly suggest an important dose-dependent effect. As women tend to have a longer baseline
QTc interval compared with men, they may be more sensitive to QTc-prolonging medications. Elderly
patients may also be more susceptible to drug-associated effects on the QT interval.

Fareston should be used with caution in patients with ongoing proarrhythmic conditions (especially
elderly patients) such as acute myocardial ischaemia or QT prolongation as this may lead to an
increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias (incl. Torsade de pointes) and cardiac arrest (see also section
4.3).
If signs or symptoms that may be associated with cardiac arrhythmia occur during treatment with
Fareston, treatment should be stopped and an ECG should be performed.

If the QTc interval is > 500 ms, Fareston should not be used.

Patients with non-compensated cardiac insufficiency or severe angina pectoris should be closely
monitored.

Hypercalcemia may occur at the beginning of toremifene treatment in patients with bone metastasis and
thus these patients should be closely monitored.

There are no systematic data available from patients with labile diabetes, from patients with severely
altered performance status or from patients with cardiac failure.



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Fareston tablets contain lactose (28.5 mg/tablet). Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose
intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this
medicine.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

An additive effect on QT interval prolongation between Fareston and the following drugs and other
medicinal products that may prolong the QTc interval cannot be excluded. This might lead to an
increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, including Torsade de pointes. Therefore co-administration of
Fareston with any of the following medicinal products is contraindicated (see also section 4.3):
- antiarrhythmics class IA (e.g. quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide) or
- antiarrhythmics class III (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide),
- neuroleptics (e.g. phenothiazines, pimozide, sertindole, haloperidol, sultopride),
- certain antimicrobials agents (moxifloxacin, erythromycin IV, pentamidine, antimalarials

particularly halofantrine),
- certain antihistaminics (terfenadine, astemizole, mizolastine),
-  others (cisapride, vincamine IV, bepridil, diphemanil).

Drugs which decrease renal calcium excretion, e.g. thiazide diuretics, may increase the risk of
hypercalcaemia.

Enzyme inducers, like phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine, may increase the rate of toremifene
metabolism thus lowering the steady-state concentration in serum. In such cases doubling of the daily
dose may be necessary.

There is a known interaction between anti-estrogens and warfarin-type anticoagulants leading to a
seriously increased bleeding time. Therefore, the concomitant use of toremifene with such drugs should
be avoided.

Theoretically the metabolism of toremifene is inhibited by drugs known to inhibit the CYP3A enzyme
system which is reported to be responsible for its main metabolic pathways. Examples of such drugs are
antifungal imidazoles (ketoconazole); other antifungal agents (itraconazole, voriconazole,
posaconazole); protease inhibitors (ritonavir, nelfinavir), macrolides (clarithromycin, erythromycin,
telithromycine). Concomitant use of those drugs with toremifene should be carefully considered.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy
There are no adequate data from the use of Fareston in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown
reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown.

Fareston should not be used during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding
In rats, decreased body weight gain of the offspring during lactation was observed.

Fareston should not be used during lactation.

Fertility
Toremifene is recommended for postmenopausal patients.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Toremifene has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.



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4.8 Undesirable effects

The most frequent adverse reactions are hot flushes, sweating, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, fatigue,
nausea, rash, itching, dizziness and depression. The reactions are usually mild and mostly due to the
hormonal action of toremifene.

The frequencies of the adverse reactions are classified as follows:
Very common (≥ 1/10)
Common (≥ 1/100 to <1/10)
Uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100)
Rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000)
Very rare (< 1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System organ
class

Very
common

Common Uncommon Rare Very rare Not known

Neoplasms
beningn,
malignant and
unspecified
(including cysts
and polyps)

endometrial
cancer

Blood and
lymphatic
system
disorders

Thrombocytopenia,
anaemia and
leukopenia

Metabolism
and nutrition
disorders

loss of appetite

Psychiatric
disorders

depression insomnia

Nervous system
disorders

dizziness headache

Eye disorders transient
corneal
opacity

Ear and
labyrinth
disorders

vertigo

Vascular
disorders

hot
flushes

thromboembolic
events

Respiratory,
thoracic and
mediastinal
disorders

dyspnoea

Gastrointestinal
disorders

nausea,
vomiting

constipation

Hepatobiliary
disorders

increase of
transaminases

jaundice hepatitis,
hepatic steatosis

Skin and
subcutaneous
tissue disorders

sweating rash,
itching

alopecia

Reproductive
system and

uterine
bleeding

endometrial
hypertrophy

endometrial
polyps

endometrial
hyperplasia,



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breast disorders leukorrhea
General
disorders and
administration
site conditions

fatigue
oedema

weight increase,

Thromboembolic events include deep venous thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism
(see also section 4.4).

Toremifene treatment has been associated with changes in liver enzyme levels (increases of
transaminases) and in very rare occasions with more severe liver function abnormalities (jaundice).

A few cases of hypercalcaemia have been reported in patients with bone metastases at the beginning of
toremifene treatment.

Endometrial hypertrophy may develop during the treatment due to the partial estrogenic effect of
toremifene. There is a risk of increased endometrial changes including hyperplasia, polyps and cancer.
This may be due to the underlying mechanism/estrogenic stimulation (see also section 4.4).
Fareston increases the QT interval in a dose-related manner (see also section 4.4).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It
allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare
professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system listed
in Appendix V.

4.9 Overdose

Vertigo, headache and dizziness were observed in healthy volunteer studies at daily dose of 680 mg. The
dose-related QTc interval prolongation potential of Fareston should also be taken into account in cases
of overdose. There is no specific antidote and the treatment is symptomatic.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anti-estrogens, ATC code: L02BA02

Toremifene is a nonsteroidal triphenylethylene derivative. As other members of this class, e.g. tamoxifen
and clomifene, toremifene binds to estrogen receptors and may produce estrogenic, anti-estrogenic or
both effects, depending upon the duration of treatment, animal species, gender, target organ and variable
selected. In general, however, nonsteroidal triphenylethylene derivatives are predominantly anti-
estrogenic in rats and man and estrogenic in mice.

In post-menopausal breast cancer patients, toremifene treatment is associated with modest reductions in
both total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL).

Toremifene binds specifically to estrogen receptors, competitively with oestradiol, and inhibits estrogen-
induced stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell replication. In some experimental cancers and/or using
high-dose, toremifene displays anti-tumour effects which are not estrogen-dependent.

The anti-tumour effect of toremifene in breast cancer is mainly due to the anti-estrogenic effect,
although other mechanisms (changes in oncogene expression, growth factor secretion, induction of
apoptosis and influence on cell cycle kinetics) may also be involved in the anti-tumour effect.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


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5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption
Toremifene is readily absorbed after oral administration. Peak concentrations in serum are obtained
within 3 (range 2 - 5) hours. Food intake has no effect on the extent of absorption but may delay the
peak concentrations by 1.5 - 2 hours. The changes due to food intake are not clinically significant.

Distribution
The serum concentration curve can be described by a biexponential equation. The half-life of the first
(distribution) phase is 4 (range 2 - 12) hours, and of the second (elimination) phase 5 (range 2 -
10) days. The basal disposition parameters (CL and V) could not be estimated due to the lack of
intravenous study. Toremifene binds extensively (> 99.5%) to serum proteins, mainly to albumin.
Toremifene obeys linear serum kinetics at oral daily doses between 11 and 680 mg. The mean
concentration of toremifene at steady-state is 0.9 (range 0.6 - 1.3) µg/ml at the recommended dose of
60 mg per day.

Biotransformation
Toremifene is extensively metabolised. In human serum the main metabolite is N-demethyltoremifene
with mean half-life of 11 (range 4 - 20) days. Its steady-state concentrations are about twice compared
to those of the parent compound. It has similar anti-estrogenic, albeit weaker anti-tumour activity than
the parent compound.

It is bound to plasma proteins even more extensively than toremifene, the protein bound fraction being
> 99.9%. Three minor metabolites have been detected in human serum: (deaminohydroxy)toremifene,
4-hydroxytoremifene, and N,N-didemethyltoremifene. Although they have theoretically interesting
hormonal effects, their concentrations during toremifene treatment are too low to have any major
biological importance.

Elimination
Toremifene is eliminated mainly as metabolites to the faeces. Enterohepatic circulation can be expected.
About 10% of the administered dose is eliminated via urine as metabolites. Owing to the slow
elimination, steady-state concentrations in serum are reached in 4 to 6 weeks.

Characteristics in patients
Clinical anti-tumour efficacy and serum concentrations have no positive correlation at the recommended
daily dose of 60 mg.

No information is available concerning polymorphic metabolism. Enzyme complex, known to be
responsible for the metabolism of toremifene in humans, is cytochrome P450-dependent hepatic mixed
function oxidase. The main metabolic pathway, N-demethylation, is mediated mainly by CYP3A.

Pharmacokinetics of toremifene were investigated in an open study with four parallel groups of ten
subjects: normal subjects, patients with impaired (mean AST 57 U/L - mean ALT 76 U/L - mean
gamma GT 329 U/L) or activated liver function (mean AST 25 U/L - mean ALT 30 U/L - mean gamma
GT 91 U/L - patients treated with antiepileptics) and patients with impaired renal function (creatinine:
176 µmol/L). In this study the kinetics of toremifene in patients with impaired renal function were not
significantly altered as compared to normal subjects. The elimination of toremifene and its metabolites
was significantly increased in patients with activated liver function and decreased in patients with
impaired liver function.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

The acute toxicity of toremifene is low with LD-50 in rats and mice of more than 2000 mg/kg. In
repeated toxicity studies the cause of death in rats is gastric dilatation. In the acute and chronic toxicity



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studies most of the findings are related to the hormonal effects of toremifene. The other findings are not
toxicologically significant. Toremifene has not shown any genotoxicity and has not been found to be
carcinogenic in rats. In mice, estrogens induce ovarian and testicular tumours as well as hyperostosis
and osteosarcomas. Toremifene has a species-specific estrogen-like effect in mice and causes similar
tumours. These findings are postulated to be of little relevance for the safety in man, where toremifene
acts mainly as an anti-estrogen.

Non clinical in vitro and in vivo studies have evidenced the potential of toremifene and its metabolite to
prolong cardiac repolarisation and this can be attributed to the blockade of hERG channels.

In vivo, high plasma concentrations in monkeys caused a 24% prolongation in QTc, which is in line
with QTc findings in humans.

It is also to be noted that the Cmax observed in the monkeys (1800 ng/ml) is two-fold compared to the
mean Cmax observed in humans at a daily dose of 60 mg.

Action potential studies in isolated rabbit heart have shown that toremifene induce cardiac
electrophysiological changes which start to develop at concentrations approximately 10 fold compared
to the calculated free therapeutic plasma concentration in human.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Maize starch
Lactose monohydrate
Povidone
Sodium starch glycolate
Magnesium stearate
Cellulose, microcrystalline
Silica, colloidal anhydrous.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf life

3 years.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Green PVC foil and aluminium foil blister in a cardboard box.

Package sizes: 30 and 100 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal



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No special requirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBERS

EU/1/96/004/001
EU/1/96/004/002

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 14 February 1996
Date of latest renewal: 2 February 2006

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines
Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/


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ANNEX II

A. MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR BATCH
RELEASE

B. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY
AND USE

C. OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE
MARKETING AUTHORISATION

D. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO
THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL
PRODUCT



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A. MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR BATCH RELEASE

Name and address of the manufacturer(s) responsible for batch release

Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Joensuunkatu 7
FI-24100 Salo
Finland

B. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY AND USE

Medicinal product subject to medical prescription.

C. OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARKETING
AUTHORISATION

· Periodic Safety Update Reports

The requirements for submission of periodic safety update reports for this medicinal product are set out
in the list of Union reference dates (EURD list) provided for under Article 107c(7) of Directive
2001/83/EC and any subsequent updates published on the European medicines web-portal.

D. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

· Risk Management Plan (RMP)

Not applicable.



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ANNEX III

LABELLING AND PACKAGE LEAFLET



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A. LABELLING



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PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER PACKAGING AND THE IMMEDIATE
PACKAGING

OUTER CARTON

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Fareston 60 mg tablets

toremifene

2. STATEMENT OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S)

1 tablet contains: 60 mg toremifene (as citrate)

3. LIST OF EXCIPIENTS

lactose monohydrate

4. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM AND CONTENTS

tablet

30 tablets
100 tablets

5. METHOD AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

Read the package leaflet before use.

6. SPECIAL WARNING THAT THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STORED OUT
OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

7. OTHER SPECIAL WARNING(S), IF NECESSARY

8. EXPIRY DATE

EXP:

9. SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS



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10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
OR WASTE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SUCH MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, IF
APPROPRIATE

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland

12. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/96/004/001 30 tablets
EU/1/96/004/002 100 tablets

13. BATCH NUMBER

Batch:

14. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION FOR SUPPLY

15. INSTRUCTIONS ON USE

16. INFORMATION IN BRAILLE

fareston 60 mg

17. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – 2D BARCODE

2D barcode carrying the unique identifier included.

18. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – HUMAN READABLE DATA

PC: {number}
SN: {number}
NN: {number}, if applicable nationally



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MINIMUM PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON BLISTERS OR STRIPS

BLISTER

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Fareston 60 mg tablets

toremifene

2. NAME OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Orion Corporation

3. EXPIRY DATE

EXP:

4. BATCH NUMBER

Batch:

5. OTHER



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B. PACKAGE LEAFLET



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Package leaflet: Information for the user

Fareston 60 mg tablets
toremifene

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important
information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them,

even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side

effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet
1. What Fareston is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Fareston
3. How to take Fareston
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Fareston
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Fareston is and what it is used for

Fareston contains the active substance toremifene, an anti-estrogen. Fareston is used for the treatment of
a certain type of breast tumour in women who have had their menopause.

2. What you need to know before you take Fareston

Do not take Fareston
- if you are allergic to toremifene or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section

6).
- if you have a thickening of the womb lining
- if you have severe liver problems
- if you were born with or have had any condition which causes certain abnormal changes in the

electrical recording of the heart (electrocardiogram or ECG)
- if you have a salt imbalance in the blood, especially low concentrations of potassium in the blood

(hypokalaemia) which are currently not corrected by treatment
- if you have a very slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- if you have a heart failure
- if you have a history of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
- if you are taking other medicines that may affect your heart (see section 2 Other medicines and

Fareston).
This is because Fareston can affect your heart by delaying the conduction of electrical signals
within your heart (prolongation of QT-interval).

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Fareston:

- if you have unstable diabetes
- if your general well-being is severely deteriorated
- if you have previously had a condition in which blood clots formed in blood vessels, for example

in your lungs (lung embolism) or in the veins of your legs (deep vein thrombosis).



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- if you experience an abnormal heart rhythm whilst taking Fareston. Your doctor may advise you
to stop taking Fareston and perform a medical test to see how your heart is working (ECG). (see
section 2 Do not take Fareston)

- if you have any heart condition, including chest pain (angina)
- if your cancer has spread to the bones (bone metastasis) as calcium blood levels may increase at

the beginning of treatment with Fareston. Your doctor will conduct regular medical check-ups.
- if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, like lactose

(see section 2 Fareston contains lactose).

You should have gynaecological examinations before you start treatment with Fareston and at least once
a year following the start of treatment with Fareston. Your doctor will conduct regular medical check-
ups if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, have taken hormone replacement therapy or if you are
obese (BMI over 30).

Other medicines and Fareston
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. The dose of
some of these may have to be adjusted while you are on Fareston. In particular please tell your doctor if
you are taking any of the following:
- water tablets (diuretics of thiazide type)
- medicines to prevent blood clotting such as warfarin
- medicines used to treat epilepsy such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital
- medicines used to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole,

posaconazole
- medicines used to treat bacterial infections (antibiotics) such as erythromycin, clarithromycin and

telithromycin
- medicines used to treat viral infection such as ritonavir and nelfinavir.

Do not take Fareston together with the following medicines as there is an increased risk that your
heartbeat may be altered (see section 2 Do not take Fareston):
- medicines used to treat abnormal heart rhythm (antiarrhythmics); such as quinidine,

hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide and ibutilide
- medicines used to treat mental and behavioral disorders (neuroleptics); such as phenothiazines,

pimozide, sertindole, haloperidol and sultopride
- medicines used to treat infections (antimicrobials); such as moxifloxacin, erythromycin (infusion)

pentamidine and antimalarials (particularly halofantrine)
- certain medicines to treat allergies; such as terfenadine, astemizole and mizolastine
- others; cisapride, intravenous vincamine, bepridil, diphemanil.

If you are admitted to the hospital or if you are prescribed a new medicine, please tell your doctor that
you are taking Fareston.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not use Fareston during pregnancy or breast feeding.

Driving and using machines
Fareston has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Fareston contains lactose
Fareston contains lactose (28.5 mg per tablet). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an
intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. How to take Fareston



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Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if
you are not sure. The usual dose is one 60 mg tablet taken orally, once daily. Fareston can be taken with
or without food.

If you take more Fareston than you should
Contact your doctor, pharmacist or the nearest hospital immediately. Symptoms of overdose may be
dizziness and headache.

If you forget to take Fareston
If you miss one dose take the next tablet as usual and continue treatment as recommended. Do not take a
double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. If you have missed several doses, please inform your
doctor and follow his instructions.

If you stop taking Fareston
The treatment with Fareston should only be stopped when advised by your doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people )
- hot flushes, sweating.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people )
- fatigue, dizziness, depression
- nausea (feeling sick), vomiting
- rash, itching, oedema (swelling)
- uterine bleeding, white discharge.

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- headache, sleep disorders
- weight increase, constipation, loss of appetite
- thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hypertrophy)
- blood clot for example in the lung (thromboembolic events)
- shortness of breath.

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- a feeling of spinning (vertigo)
- growth on the lining of the womb (endometrial polyps)
- increase in liver enzymes (increase of liver transaminases).

Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- changes in the lining of the uterus (endometrium), cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial

cancer)
- hair loss (alopecia)
- cloudiness of the eye surface (transient corneal opacity)
- yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice).

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
- low number of white blood cells, which are important in fighting infection (leukopenia)
- low number of red blood cells (anaemia)
- low number of platelets (thrombocytopenia)



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- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).

You should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- swelling or tenderness in your calf
- unexplained shortness of breath or sudden chest pain
- vaginal bleeding or changes in vaginal discharge.

Fareston causes certain abnormal changes in the electrical recording of the heart (electrocardiogram or
ECG). See section 2 Warnings and precautions.

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not
listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in
Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this
medicine.

5. How to store Fareston

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the
last day of that month.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Fareston contains
- The active substance is toremifene; each tablet contains 60 mg (as citrate).
- The other ingredients are maize starch, lactose monohydrate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate,

microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate.

What Fareston looks like and contents of the pack
White, round, flat, bevelled edge tablet with TO 60 on one side.
30 and 100 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder
Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland

Manufacturer
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Joensuunkatu 7
FI-24100 Salo
Finland

This leaflet was last revised in

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


22

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site:
http://www.ema.europa.eu.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/

	SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
	A. MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR BATCH RELEASE
	B. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY AND USE
	C. OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARKETINGAUTHORISATION
	D. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SAFE ANDEFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
	A. LABELLING
	B. PACKAGE LEAFLET