Aromasin
The below information on Aromasin has been taken from official FDA sources, but we cannot guarantee it's accuracy. Please use this site for educational purposes only. This site does not replace a proper discussion with your doctor.
| Brand Name: | Aromasin |
| Generic: | Exemestane |
| Availability: | Prescription |
| This drug was approved by the FDA in one form or another on: 1999-10-21 , | |
| This drug is made in one form or another by the following companies: Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. | |
| This drug is available in the following forms: Tablets | |
| View the actual FDA approved label for this drug at the following links: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2005/020753s006lbl.pdf |
About Aromasin
Aromasin is used to treat advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has gotten worse after treatment with tamoxifen. Postmenopausal women are women who have gone through the “change of life” and are no longer having menstrual cycles.
Aromasin is used to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence (coming back) in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive early stage breast cancer who have received two to three years of tamoxifen and are switched to Aromasin to complete a total of five consecutive years of therapy.
The safety and effectiveness of Aromasin in women who can still have children (premenopausal) has not been determined.
Precautions for Aromasin
Do not take Aromasin if you are pregnant. Aromasin may cause birth defects or even death to an unborn baby. Aromasin has only been studied in postmenopausal women.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver or kidney problems.
Side Effects of Aromasin
Side effects of Aromasin are generally mild to moderate. Side effects can include:
- Feeling tired
- Nausea
- Hot flashes
- Pain
- Depression
- Inability to sleep
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Swelling of arms and legs
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing
- Flu-like symptoms
- High blood pressure
- Constipation
Recent Forum Posts on Aromasin
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hooray!
After being on tamoxofin for 2-1/2 years my dr. put me on aromacin. I took it for 2 years and 1/2 and had my last visit withmy oncologist yesterday. I just wanted to say that I have never had any side affects to speak of....although the Dr. said now that I'm going off I will probably experience more energy. I thank God that these drugs were available and enabled me to be cancer free and hopefully I will remain so for a long time. Lots of times, side affects are a matter, I think, of dwelling on things....just keep going, and ignore any sides you might think you have, and they willl go away.
Posted By anne fischer at Thu 10 Dec 2009, 10:10 PM in Aromasin || 2 Replies
aromasin depression and anxiety
my name is carol and i am a breast cancer survivor.stage 1 clean noes chemo radiatio two years tomoxafin five years aromasin.i have only two pills left to complete my medication.i am hoping there is light at the end of this tunnel i suffer from anxiety,depression,and insomnia. iquestion if it is a result of the drug or my life just sucks since breast cancer.iworry abuot everything to an abnormal degree.i have tried two different antidepressants but then i was just numb not normal.i hope i will regain some of my sanity and coping skills when i am finished with this seven years of medication.thanks for listening.
Posted By aproffetta@yahoo.com at Sun 15 Mar 2009, 10:31 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
aromasin
I was on tomoxifen for two years and in september last year my consultant changed me over to aromasin . I have been suffering from pins and needles in my fingers and numbness also in my hands went to see the doctor and was mentioned may be a trapped nerve so went for physio helped a little .As I have said the consultant put me on aromasin in september within a week the pins and needles got a lot worst and went back to the doctor who sent me to hospital for nerve tests on my hands and wrists the diagnoises was carpal tunnel syndrome which is a swelling in the wrists which causes the nerve to trap. I must have had this problem before the aromasin but going on the aromasin has accelerated the problem. I will have to under go two operations on my wrists as this is the only cure I am at present consulting with my breast cancer nurse as to, stay on aromasin or go back to tomoxifen as i do not want it to reoccure after the operation. Also suffer from stiffness in the joints,difficulty in getting up in the morning and weight gain.
Posted By lynne at Fri 30 Jan 2009, 7:23 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
Pain in joints...
Hello, I have stage 2/3 breast cancer, had chemo and radiation, then had herceptin, then tamoxifen. I am now on aromasin and experience the joint pain. My day begins with getting up on my feet and hardly being able to walk. After I am up and moving for about a half hour, I start to loosen up and feel pretty good. I go to work and feel fine..my feet hurt somewhat. When I leave from work to drive home 30 minutes, my legs start to stiffen up. I get out of the car and can hardly move. I am 49 and feel like 80 when I get like that. In the evening, sometimes my husband and I go downstairs and enjoy the evening by the fireplace watching TV. When it's time to come up the stairs, I have to literally pull myself up the railing. It has been several months since I have been on this drug and I will withstand it knowing the benefits of it. Also, for those of you with acid reflux......... I did have that as well, but when I stopped taking so much of the ibuprofen, the reflux seemed to go away. I haven't had it in months. Best Wishes to All of You....
Posted By par3piper at Wed 21 Jan 2009, 1:14 PM in Aromasin || 2 Replies
aromasin
Starting this drug next week after unsuccessful tries with Tamoxafin, Arimadex and Femara. It doesn't sound promising but I am willing to give it a try. My experience with the other drugs is severe joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea and tightness in chest. When sadness enveloped me I knew it was the drugs. I am not second guessing myself anymore.
Posted By 022744 at Tue 25 Nov 2008, 5:24 PM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
Drug Side Effects
Hello fellow survivors. I have Stage One Breast Cancer. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I switched from Arimidex to Aromasin after four months because of terrible, constant hip, back and knee pain and general joint pain;fatigue;hot flashes. I have been on Aromasin for three months, and the side effects have been the same and worse: pain radiating down my back into my knees (happened once about three weeks ago - lasted for two days), and loss of interest in normal activities. I stuck with each of the drugs, hoping to be able to adjust to them. I stopped taking Aromasin 2 1/2 weeks ago, with doc's okay. Since stopping I have experienced what seems to be withdrawal symptoms of increased fatigue, sleeping all day some days, aches in joints, headaches, inability to think staight (foggy), cold chills, and general misery. I have had stiffness throughout the drug treatment and after ceasing the meds. For the past two weeks, I have started getting deep tissue massage for pain management once a week, as well as acupuncture every other week, both of which treatments really help. I have been doing Gentle Yoga when possible for the past two months, which seems to make me stronger. In June I am to start on Tomoxifin with the hope that it will better agree with me. I am 70 years old and have always felt young until these meds. I will give this drug 3 months. If symptoms don't improve, I am not willing to live like this for five years, and I will go RX free and pray. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced withdrawal symptoms such as mine. I am wondering if perhaps the drugs have precipitated another disease such as Fibromyalgia. Heaven forbid. Best wishes and blessings to all of you. Peaches Page
Posted By peachpage at Wed 21 May 2008, 9:38 AM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
side effects
I started taking Aromasin in Nov 2003. I have had some hot flashes and sweats. I would like to know if pain in joints could be a possiable side effect. I have noticed pain in my knee and finger joints since I begain taking this medication. I had not had any trouble before starting the medication.
Posted By Bonnie at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
Breast Cancer
I have been taking Aromasin for about 3 months now, and I have a lot of coughing, and Insomnia. I have had hot flashes at first 2 or 3 times a day, but for the last 2 weeks, I only get hot flashes every couple of days.
I have a lot stiffness and pain in my fingers, and one knee. My neck gives me problems with cramping. I sometimes take Aromasin with food or without, and I don't really don't notice a lot of difference. On my prescription it says to take Aromasin with food. Let me know if any knew news comes up about this medication?
Thank You.
Lynda Navarro
Posted By Lynda Navarro at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
all of the above
I have been taking aromasin for 1 year now after tamox. I have also tried arimidex, and femara....all with the same side effects only the bone/joint pain felt worse for me on arimidex and femara. I have all of the side effects that you speak of here as well as hair loss. It is a challenge each day to swallow that little pill. When you feel this way it is hard to remember to find the quality in life verses quanity. I have many times considered stopping everything and take my chances but then my mind goes back to the first day of diagnosis and reading my pathology report and I kindly remind myself to be gentle with myself and remain on this medication that seems to show great promise in keeping the cancer cells at bay~my own chances brought me to this place. I was diagnosed at 37 with this challenge and I will keep pushing ahead even though I too feel 82 at the age of 42. My hope and goal is to reach the age of 82 and be able to watch my children grow and have children of their own. If we can endure the chemo effects....the aches and pains from this medication cannot be all bad???? Good luck ladies. My heart goes out to all who understand what it takes to make it through this battle.
Posted By Sheri at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:13 AM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
aromasin & moods
I am experiencing severe mood swings after switching to aromasin from tamoxifen. Hair is thinning, joints are aching, arm/leg swelling. But most disturbing side effect is extreme anxiety not noticed with tamoxifen. Interested in thoughts from other women who may have experienced this and other noticeable side effects. I am considering going off this rx and just taking my chances against this disease.
Posted By Helen at Sun 9 Sep 2007, 6:57 PM in Aromasin || 4 Replies
Severe joint pain
I was d'xed last August at age 61, Invasive Lobular with a single mets to spine. (Eliminated with raditation). I started on Armimedex, (minor intestinal side effects) switched to Femara after 3 months, which I took for another 3 or 4 month with no problem at all- NO side effects. But when the cancer progressed to 5 new spinal lesions, doc. switched me to Faslodex. After about a month I began having episodes (about once a week or 10 days) of VERY severe, crushing, throbbing body-wide pain. It was like having a body wide migraine. It would pass after a day or so.
I took my last Faslodex shot on April 1st, and doc switched me to Aromesin which I started 2 weeks ago. Thursday afternoon I began with another one of those pain episodes, which I can only get some slight relief from by taking 4 Ibuprofen. It is Sunday morning and I am still in severe pain. It's 4 days now and this episode is not going away like the other ones did.
I've been on all 4 of the Aromatase inhibitors now. I cannot live with this amount of pain (oh yeah- VERY profound fatigue/weakness goes along with it)as I have absolutely NO quality of life.
Question- does anyone ever take a break from these meds? For how long? And does it alleviate the synptoms for a few months? The first 6 months I was on these meds I didn't have any trouble at all. After that, all hell broke loose. I know the half life of Faslodex is 40 days- it's now been just about that (actually, 41 days) since my last shot. I'm wondering if taking the Aromesin is compounding the side effects, with some Faslodex still in my system? Doc. is out of town until I see him on May 23rd, so not sure what to do in the meantime.
Happy Mothers' Day to you all; hope everyone feels good!
Posted By Maddy at Mon 12 May 2008, 1:42 PM in Aromasin || 2 Replies
side effects of Aromisin
Hi, I have been on Aromisin for about 7 months after taking Tamoxafin for a year. I also am experiencing heart burn, headaches, a huge weight gain, water retention, I tire easily, and my hands are numb and feel like they are asleep half the day. My feet also hurt. I am told all these symptoms are part of this course of treatment. Is anyone having trouble with loss of feling in their hands? Much good health to all of us Breast Cancer Survivors! Lenore
Posted By Lenore Roth at Wed 21 Nov 2007, 11:02 AM in Aromasin || 2 Replies
extreme fatigue
I switched to Aromasin after thirteen months on Arimidex due to aches in my bones/joints, weakness and general fatigue. I switched back to Arimidex after one month on Aromasin because I became literally debilitated by extreme fatigue. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience with these two medications. They are wonderful drugs if we can just manage the side effects...I have three and one-half years to go. What happens after the five year protocol? Do we feel normal again? I would be very interested in your feedback. Thanks.
Posted By Libby at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
Hairloss
Is anyone having hairloss that you would attribute to Aromasin?
Posted By Lisa at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
skin problems
I have been on Aromasin about 9 months and am having a progressively worse skin problem. My hands and my feet crack, bleed and burn. Anyone else have a similar problem? Can't attribute it to any other changes in my life. Was on Anestrolze (?)first, but that made my lips crack and bleed.
Posted By Kathleen Dochtermann at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 10:48 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
Numbness in fingers
I have been on Aromasin since October 2007 -- I tried Femara and Arimidex - extreme, daily headaches. My fingers have been swollen and painful since November 2007, especially the thumb joints.
Since sometime in March I began symptoms of Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Numbness and weakness in fingers and wrists.
I hate this drug........
Posted By K at Mon 12 May 2008, 1:56 PM in Aromasin || 0 Replies
Aromasin and hair loss
After DCIS and radiation, I was on Arimidex for a year. Stopped that when the neuropathy in my feet started. Switched to Aromasin, which has been pretty tolerable. Have been on that for about 2 1/2 years. About every 12 months, I need to take a break from it because of some side effect that I am having. This seems to help me tolerate resuming. Lately, however, I have been losing my eyebrow hair. Had a bald spot on my right brow for a while, then it grew back. Same thing happened again. Now, I have very thin hair on both, and the latest wrinkle is that it is accompanied by itching. At first, itching was just on eyebrows. Now it is all over my face. Has any one else experienced this?
Posted By Val at Fri 9 May 2008, 8:48 AM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
No Subject
I took Aromasin for 4 months. As soon as I started taking it, I could
feel the depression and anxiety mounting inside me. I had been on
Tamoxifen for 4 yrs and then Femara for 2 years prior to the Aromasin
and had no side effects (except for occasional hot flashes) from
either one of these drugs.
I'm now on Faslodex (I started it after stopping the Aromasin). It, too
makes me feel depressed and anxious. I have decided that as long as it
is working, I will just realize that the depression is from my
medication, which I have to take, so I can deal with it better.
Posted By Unregistered at Mon 21 Jan 2008, 9:54 PM in Aromasin || 1 Reply
quality of life!
I am off of Arimidex for one month, after taking it for 14 months. In January my Onc. wants to start me on femera or aromisin. After reading all side effects from this and many websites, I have decided that quality of life is more important for me at age 58, so I am opting to take my chances with good yearly checkups, AND NO MEDICATION!
Posted By Diane at Sun 13 Jan 2008, 7:00 PM in Aromasin || 4 Replies
No Subject
I was changed to Aromasin in January. By June my hands became so sore I could not make a fist. Within two months I could barely walk and was so exhausted that every activity was an effort as my entire body was in pain. I went to physical therapy for two months but was released since the pt was so frustrated that nothing he did could help me. My doctor sent me to a rheumatologist who determined the pain in my hands and feet was directly related to the aromasin, but she has also diagnosed me with severe fibromyalgia. I, too, have continual heartburn. My body (read diarrehea) is trying to get used to the second antidepressent which was diagnosed for the fibromyalgia,and I also suffer from depression. I'll put up with the diarrehea for a little while if the pains and fatigue will go away. I'm going to try imodium after I talk with the pharmacist.
Posted By Unregistered at Wed 12 Sep 2007, 9:36 AM in Aromasin || 0 Replies