Exemestane

Exemestane (brand name Aromasin) is an aromatase inhibitor used to lower estrogen levels in women past menopause with early or advanced hormone-sensitive breast cancer . Early breast cancer is cancer that has not spread outside the breast. Advanced breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Exemestane works by irreversibly binding to and inactivating aromatase , an enzyme needed to convert androgens (such as androstenedione from the adrenal gland and testosterone from the ovaries) into estrogen. In postmenopausal women, this is the main source of estrogen, unlike premenopausal women whose main source of estrogen is the ovaries. This mechanism of action of exemestane cuts off the estrogen supply that breast cancer cells need to grow , lowering estrogen levels, and preventing the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. Exemestane gained FDA approval on October 21, 1999, under the brand name Aromasin. Generic Aromasin is available.

Exemestane (brand name Aromasin) is an aromatase inhibitor used to lower estrogen levels in women past menopause with early or advanced hormone-sensitive breast cancer . Early breast cancer is cancer that has not spread outside the breast. Advanced breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Exemestane works by irreversibly binding to and inactivating aromatase , an enzyme needed to convert androgens (such as androstenedione from the adrenal gland and testosterone from the ovaries) into estrogen. In postmenopausal women, this is the main source of estrogen, unlike premenopausal women whose main source of estrogen is the ovaries. This mechanism of action of exemestane cuts off the estrogen supply that breast cancer cells need to grow , lowering estrogen levels, and preventing the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. Exemestane gained FDA approval on October 21, 1999, under the brand name Aromasin. Generic Aromasin is available.

Do not take exemestane if you: are allergic to exemestane, Aromasin, or any inactive ingredients in exemestane tablets. have not yet gone through menopause, if you are pregnant, or if you are a male. Before you take exemestane, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you: are still having menstrual periods (are not past menopause) have weak or brittle bones (osteoporosis) have liver or kidney problems are pregnant or could still become pregnant are breastfeeding.

The most common side effects of exemestane are: hot flashes/flushes feeling tired nausea joint pain headache trouble sleeping increased sweating increased appetite. The number of women stopping exemestane due to side effects is similar to those stopping tamoxifen due to side effects (6% vs. 5% respectively).

Exemestane may cause the following serious side effects. Bone loss and decreases in bone mineral density . Because exemestane decreases the amount of estrogen in your body, this can reduce your bone mineral density (BMD) over time, putting you at increased risk for bone fractures or weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Low vitamin D levels will also contribute to bone loss. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your vitamin D level and bone density before starting treatment with exemestane and regularly throughout treatment. Women with osteoporosis or with other risk factors for osteoporosis are more at risk. Harm to an unborn baby . Exemestane is only approved for use in postmenopausal women but if there is a risk you could become pregnant then effective contraception must be used. Cardiac events . The incidence of cardiac events such as a heart attack or angina was reported as 1.6% with exemestane compared with 0.6% for tamoxifen. These are not all the possible side effects of exemestane. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Exemestane may cause the following serious side effects. Bone loss and decreases in bone mineral density . Because exemestane decreases the amount of estrogen in your body, this can reduce your bone mineral density (BMD) over time, putting you at increased risk for bone fractures or weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Low vitamin D levels will also contribute to bone loss. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your vitamin D level and bone density before starting treatment with exemestane and regularly throughout treatment. Women with osteoporosis or with other risk factors for osteoporosis are more at risk. Harm to an unborn baby . Exemestane is only approved for use in postmenopausal women but if there is a risk you could become pregnant then effective contraception must be used. Cardiac events . The incidence of cardiac events such as a heart attack or angina was reported as 1.6% with exemestane compared with 0.6% for tamoxifen. These are not all the possible side effects of exemestane. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

25 mg (25 (25)) 24 hourly PO — Scraped Dose — Take exemestane exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not increase or decrease the dose or stop taking exemestane without talking to your healthcare provider first. Exemestane is taken 1 time daily. Take exemestane after a meal.

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements because exemestane may interact with other medications that you take. Especially tell your doctor if you take: estrogen-containing medicines, such as hormone replacement therapy, or birth control because these may affect how well exemestane works. strong CYP 3A4 inducers such as rifampicin or phenytoin, because the dosage of exemestane may need to be increased to 50 mg. This is not a complete list of interactions. See the exemestane prescribing information for a full list of interactions.

No storage information is recorded for this medicine yet.