What Happens When You Stop Taking Exemestane? Answers to 8 Exemestane FAQs
Exemestane treats hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) breast cancer. Learn more about exemestane, including how it works and its common side effects.
exemestane
Used for Breast Cancer
Used for Breast Cancer
Exemestane, also known by its brand name Aromasin, is an oral medication that’s used for treating certain types of breast cancer in people who’ve gone through menopause. It’s a form of hormonal therapy called an aromatase inhibitor that lowers the amount of estrogen in the body. Exemestane (Aromasin) is a tablet that's taken once a day. But it can cause side effects like hot flashes and tiredness.
What is Exemestane (Aromasin)?
What is Exemestane (Aromasin) used for?
- Early breast cancer in postmenopausal women who've had 2 to 3 years of treatment with tamoxifen
- Advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose cancer has worsened following treatment with tamoxifen
How Exemestane (Aromasin) works
Exemestane (Aromasin) is an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is a protein in your body that helps turn other hormones into estrogen.
By blocking aromatase, exemestane (Aromasin) lowers the amount of estrogen in your body. This is helpful for treating breast cancer because estrogen can fuel the growth of certain types of breast cancer cells. Without estrogen, these cancer cells won’t have the “fuel” they need to grow or spread.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Aromasin |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Aromatase inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Exemestane (Aromasin) essentials
Side effects of Exemestane (Aromasin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Hot flashes (21%)
- Fatigue (16%)
- Joint pain (15%)
- Headache (13%)
- Trouble sleeping (12%)
- Sweating more often or being sweatier (12%)
- Dizziness (10%)
- High blood pressure (10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Pain
- Hair thinning or hair loss
- Depression
- Changes in vision
Note: Side effects listed were reported by postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. Side effects might differ for people with advanced breast cancer.
More on Exemestane (Aromasin) side effects
The following Exemestane (Aromasin) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Cough or hoarseness
difficult or labored breathing
fever or chills
lower back or side pain
mental depression
swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
tightness in the chest
Less common
difficult, burning, or painful urination
frequent urge to urinate
headache
unexplained broken bones
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
clay-colored stools
confusion
dark urine
decreased urine output
difficulty with speaking
dilated neck veins
dizziness
double vision
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
irregular breathing
irregular heartbeat
itching or rash
loss of appetite
slow speech
unpleasant breath odor
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
general feeling of discomfort or illness
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
increased sweating
trouble sleeping
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$380.67
GoodRx discount
$30.03
Pros and cons of Exemestane (Aromasin)
Pros
- A pill that’s swallowed once a day
- A type of hormone therapy that prevents certain types of breast cancers from growing and spreading
- Recommended treatment option for breast cancer in people in different stages of menopause
Cons
- Can cause menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and sweating
- Can weaken your bones over time
- Requires regular blood tests and follow-ups so your oncologist can check for side effects
Pharmacist tips for Exemestane (Aromasin)
- Take exemestane (Aromasin) once a day after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day. This helps make taking the medication a part of your daily routine.
- You might have hot flashes while you take exemestane (Aromasin). Try wearing loose-fitting clothes or using fans to keep cool. Speak with your care team about other options or resources to help you cope with this side effect.
- Exemestane (Aromasin) can weaken your bones as you continue treatment. To check your bone health, you might need bone scans done every so often. You also might need to get blood tests to check your vitamin D levels, a vitamin that’s important for your bones. Speak with your oncologist about whether you need to start a vitamin D supplement to help improve your bone health during treatment.
- Avoid taking medications that contain estrogen while you’re taking exemestane (Aromasin). Estrogen-containing medications can make exemestane (Aromasin) work less well to treat your cancer.
- Tell your cancer care team and pharmacist about all the medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter products. Before you start any new medications, make sure they know you're taking exemestane (Aromasin). Some medications can lessen the amount of exemestane (Aromasin) in the body. This can affect how well the medication works to treat your breast cancer.
- If you can become pregnant, use birth control, such as birth control pills or other effective methods, while you’re taking exemestane (Aromasin) and for at least 1 month after your last dose. It’s important to avoid getting pregnant during treatment because it’s possible for the medication to cause harm to an unborn baby.
- Ask your oncologist or pharmacist about the best way to handle and throw away exemestane (Aromasin) safely. Anticancer medications can be very harmful to people who handle or come into contact with them.
More on Exemestane (Aromasin) tips
Risks and warnings for Exemestane (Aromasin)
Exemestane (Aromasin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low vitamin D levels
Low vitamin D levels are common in women with early breast cancer. Your oncologist might check your vitamin D levels through lab work before you start taking exemestane (Aromasin) and periodically throughout your treatment. Based on your results, your oncologist might recommend that you take a vitamin D supplement, like cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
Weakened bones
- Risk factors: History of osteoporosis | High risk of osteoporosis
Over time, exemestane (Aromasin) can weaken your bones. This can put you at risk for osteoporosis, and it might be easier for you to break a bone.
During treatment with exemestane (Aromasin), you'll need bone scans done to check the strength of your bones. If these scans show that your bones are getting weaker, your oncologist might recommend another medication to help make your bones stronger. These medications can include calcium, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), or other medications. Be careful doing anything too active because weakened bones are more likely to break.
Changes in lab results related to kidney or liver health
Exemestane (Aromasin) can sometimes affect your blood tests results related to your kidney and liver health. These changes might be signs of damage. Because you might not notice these lab changes, your oncologist can check for them through blood work while you take exemestane (Aromasin). Call your cancer care team if you have any symptoms of kidney or liver problems, such as urinating less than usual, fluid buildup in your arms and legs, yellowing of your skin and eyes, and pain or swelling in your stomach area.
Low blood cell counts
Exemestane (Aromasin) can cause your white blood cell count to drop. When you have a low white blood cell count, your immune system is weaker and you’re at risk of developing infections. Your body also might have a harder time fighting off the infection. Your oncologist will check your blood cell counts often while you’re taking exemestane (Aromasin). Let your cancer care team know if you develop a fever or start to feel sick.
Harm to unborn baby
Based on animal studies, exemestane (Aromasin) can harm an unborn baby if it’s taken during pregnancy. It can also possibly raise the risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss).
If you’re able to become pregnant, you’ll need to take a pregnancy test within 7 days before starting [EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME]] to make sure the medication is safe to take. You should also use birth control to prevent becoming pregnant while you’re taking exemestane (Aromasin) and for 1 month after your last dose. Let your oncologist know right away if you become pregnant while you’re taking this medication.
Exemestane (Aromasin) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 25mg of Exemestane (Aromasin) is $30.03 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 92.11% off the average retail price of $380.67. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25mg | 30 tablets | $30.03 | $1.00 |
Typical dosage for Exemestane (Aromasin)
The typical dose is 25 mg taken by mouth once daily after a meal. This dose might differ if you’re taking certain medications that might interact with exemestane (Aromasin).
Interactions between Exemestane (Aromasin) and other drugs
Exemestane (Aromasin) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Exemestane (Aromasin). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Carbamazepine
- Enzalutamide
- Fosphenytoin
- Mitotane
- Phenytoin
- Primidone
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- St John's Wort
How much does Exemestane (Aromasin) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
What are alternatives to Exemestane (Aromasin)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Exemestane (Aromasin). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Exemestane (Aromasin) images
