Medical Oncologist
Medicines
Missed a dose of anastrozole? What to do
Forgetting an anastrozole tablet now and then happens to many people and is very unlikely to affect how well it works. This page explains when to take a missed tablet, when to skip it, why you should never take two at once, what to do after several missed days, and simple ways to keep your daily routine on track.
NG
Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
On this page
- What should you do if you miss a dose of anastrozole?
- Four common missed-dose situations and what to do
- Missed anastrozole at a glance
- The vocabulary, in plain language
- How much do missed tablets really matter?
- Ways to remember your daily tablet
- Missing tablets on purpose because of side effects
- What people assume about missed doses of anastrozole
- Common questions about missed doses of anastrozole
The short answer
What should you do if you miss a dose of anastrozole?
If you forget your anastrozole tablet, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If you only realise when it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and take the next tablet at your usual time. Never take two tablets together to make up for a forgotten one, because a double dose does not add protection and may make side effects more likely. The good news is that missing a single tablet now and then is very unlikely to affect how well anastrozole protects you. The medicine stays in the body for a couple of days, so oestrogen levels do not jump back up after one missed day. What matters is the pattern over months and years. Research on hormone tablets shows that women who regularly miss doses, or who stop early, have a higher chance of the cancer returning than those who take their tablets steadily. So an occasional slip is nothing to panic about, but frequent gaps are worth addressing. If you have missed several days in a row, restart at your usual dose, do not double up, and let your oncology team know at your next contact. If you often forget, think about what gets in the way: a changing routine, side effects that put you off, running out of tablets, or simply forgetting. Each of these has practical fixes, and your team would rather hear about the problem than have you quietly miss treatment.
Same day: take it
Take the forgotten tablet when you remember, unless your next dose is close.
Next day: do not double
Skip the missed tablet and carry on with your normal single daily dose.
Frequent misses matter
Occasional misses are not a concern; a regular pattern of missed tablets is.
This page gives general information only. Follow the advice on your medicine leaflet and from your own doctor or pharmacist.Different situations
Four common missed-dose situations and what to do
The right step depends on how long ago the dose was due and how many you have missed.
You remember later the same day
Take the tablet now. The next day, go back to your usual time.
You remember the next morning
If your usual time is close, just take today's tablet as normal and leave out yesterday's.
One tablet a day is the most you should take.You took an extra tablet by mistake
A single extra tablet is unlikely to cause harm. Carry on as normal the next day, and call a doctor or pharmacist if you feel unwell or took several.
You have missed several days
Restart your normal single dose as soon as you can and tell your team.
Mention it sooner if
- You stopped because of side effects
- You could not get a new supply
- You have missed more than a week or two
Quick guide
Missed anastrozole at a glance
What happened
What to do
Forgot this morning, noticed by evening
Take it now, then carry on as usual tomorrow
Not sure whether you took today's tablet
Do not take another; carry on tomorrow and use a pill box
Vomited soon after taking it
Do not repeat the dose; take the next one at the usual time
Ran out of tablets
Get a new supply quickly and restart the normal dose
Keep forgetting week after week
Set reminders and talk to your team about what is getting in the way
Words you will hear
The vocabulary, in plain language
- Adherence
- How closely you take a medicine as prescribed, day after day.
- Persistence
- Continuing a medicine for the whole planned length of treatment.
- Half-life
- How long it takes the body to clear half of a medicine. Anastrozole's is a couple of days.
- Steady level
- The stable amount of medicine in your blood reached after about a week of daily doses.
- Double dose
- Taking two tablets at once to catch up, which you should not do.
- Pill organiser
- A box with a section for each day that shows at a glance whether you took your tablet.
Talk to our team
Have a question about your situation?
Call the helpline or leave your details, and someone will help you arrange a consultation at the CION centre nearest you. One helpline serves every CION centre.
Call 1800 202 8726
Helpline open 24/7
Being straight with you
How much do missed tablets really matter?
It is easy to feel guilty about a forgotten tablet. Here is a balanced view.
One missed day is not a crisis
Because anastrozole clears slowly, oestrogen stays low through a single missed day. There is no need to call your doctor urgently for an occasional slip.
Long-term gaps do reduce protection
Studies of hormone tablets link poor adherence and stopping early with a higher chance of the cancer returning. The exact effect for any one person cannot be measured.
Many people struggle
A large share of women miss doses or stop hormone tablets before the planned end. You are not alone, and help is available.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot judge whether your own missed doses have changed your risk. Your oncologist can talk this through with you.
Practical tips
Ways to remember your daily tablet
Anastrozole can be taken with or without food, at any time of day. That flexibility makes it easier to tie the tablet to something you already do without fail.
Link it to a habit
Keep your tablets beside your toothbrush, your tea things or your morning prayers, so the dose becomes part of that routine.
Use a pill organiser
A weekly box ends the doubt about whether you took today's tablet, which is one of the most common worries.
Set a phone alarm
A daily alarm or reminder app helps, especially during festivals, travel or busy weeks. A family member can also help with a gentle reminder.
Plan refills early
Note when your supply will run low and reorder a week or two ahead, so running out never causes a gap.
When it is not forgetting
Missing tablets on purpose because of side effects
Some women skip doses because joint pain, hot flushes or low mood make the tablet feel hard to face. If that sounds familiar, you deserve support rather than blame.
Side effects can often be eased
Regular exercise, pain relief advice, vaginal moisturisers and other measures help many women. Your team can suggest what fits your symptoms.
Switching is sometimes possible
If anastrozole does not suit you, another tablet such as letrozole, exemestane or tamoxifen may be easier to live with, and still protect you.
Commonly believed
What people assume about missed doses of anastrozole
If I miss a day, I should take two tomorrow.
Never double up. Just carry on with one tablet a day.
One missed tablet undoes all the benefit.
An occasional missed dose is very unlikely to change how well it protects you.
I must take it at exactly the same minute each day.
A roughly similar time helps you remember, but a few hours either way does not matter.
Skipping on bad days is harmless.
A regular pattern of skipped doses can reduce protection over the years.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about missed doses of anastrozole
Should I call my doctor after one missed dose?
There is usually no need. Take it the same day if you remember, or skip it and continue normally. Mention it at your next appointment only if missed doses are happening often, or if you missed tablets because of side effects or supply problems.
What if I cannot remember whether I took it?
Do not take another tablet. Wait until your next usual time and continue as normal. A weekly pill organiser or a simple tick on a calendar can help you avoid this doubt in future, and is worth trying if it happens more than once.
I vomited after my tablet. Do I take another?
No. Take your next tablet at the usual time the following day. If vomiting continues for more than a day, or you cannot keep tablets down, contact your doctor, as the cause of the sickness may need attention too.
I missed a whole week. Is that dangerous?
A week's gap is not an emergency, but restart as soon as possible at the normal single dose and tell your oncology team. They may ask why it happened, so they can help prevent it happening again, for example by sorting out side effects or supply.
Can I take anastrozole at night instead of the morning?
Yes. The time of day does not affect how it works. Choose whichever time you are most likely to remember. If you change the time, simply take your next tablet at the new time and do not take an extra one in between.
What should I do during a religious fast?
Anastrozole does not need food, so it can usually be taken before dawn or after the fast ends each day. If your fast involves not swallowing anything for longer periods, ask your doctor or pharmacist how best to keep your tablets going.
I ran out while travelling. What now?
Get a new supply as soon as you can from a local pharmacy with your prescription, then restart the normal dose. Carrying a copy of your prescription and extra tablets in hand luggage helps avoid this happening on future trips.
Will missed doses show up in my tests?
No routine test shows whether you have missed tablets, and blood tests are not used to check this. That is why honest conversations with your team matter. Telling them helps them support you rather than judge you.
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Speak to a breast cancer specialist
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Sources
- MedlinePlus — Anastrozole
- NHS — Anastrozole
- Breast Cancer Now — Anastrozole (Arimidex)
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.