What Is Fareston-Toremifene Citrate?

Toremifene Citrate, an “oral selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that helps to fight the actions of estrogen in the body,” is formally called Fareston-Toremifene Citrate. Actually, Toremifene Citrate is licensed in the United States under the brand name Fareston. It is also being studied for prevention of prostate cancer under the brand name Acapodene.
Fareston-Toremifene Citrate’s chemical formula is C26H28ClNO. It is an oral medication and each tablet contains 88.5mg of toremifene citrate. The dose of Farestone is 60mg, once a day. Fareston-Toremifene Citrate is manufactured by Orion Corporation, Espoo, Finland and is distributed by Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation Eatontown, USA.

Fareston-Toremifene Citrate is derived from triphenlethylene. Fareston is often touted as the “first-line therapy for advanced breast cancer,” which means that it is effective in treating advanced breast cancer in women regardless of tumor type or menopausal status. It is approved by the U.S. FDA use in advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. It is used for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It can also be added in an already running cycle, if there are any cholesterol issues.
Fareston-Toremifene Citrate displays both estrogenic and antagonist properties. It causes the growth of estrogen which results in gynomastia – it is the growth of breast tissue in males and that’s why bodybuilders are recommended to use Nolvadex to avoid gynecomastia (growth of breast tissue in males). It acts as an estrogen antagonist in the pituitary and hypothalamus which helps to increase the production of testosterone.
Fareston-Toremifene Citrate shows some properties of Nolvadex, but it is different from it in many ways. The risk of certain side effects is quite low with Fareston-Toremifene Citrate. Certain other side effects which Nolvadex has like – risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism and cataract gets lower with Fareston-Toremifene Citrate. As this product shows comparatively less ocular toxicity, people who have issues with “floaters” seem more interested in this product.
The adverse reactions which were noted in the beginning of treatment were – nausea and vomiting, fatigue, thromobophlebits, depression, lethargy, anorexia, arthritis, pulmonary embolism and mycrocardial infraction. Leukpenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported rarely. Some other reactions like dizziness, ataxia, blurry vision, sweating and incoordination have been consistently reported. Patients are advised to consult their doctor before using this drug.
Currently, two different studies on Fareston-Toremifene Citrate are being conducted by GTx Inc. The first study is going on for the treatment of serious side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (especially vertebral/spine fractures and hot flashes, lipid profile, and gynecomastia) for advanced prostate cancer. The second study is going on for the prevention of prostate cancer in high risk men with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN. The findings of the two studies are expected to be revealed by first quarter of 2008.