AROMASIN Reviews (EXEMESTANE)Average Rating: 1.9 (145 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare AROMASIN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age from youngest to oldest (reviews with no age reported listed first). Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on AROMASIN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR AROMASIN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | breast cancer | depression, bone pain | F | 10 months 1X day | 10/12/2012 | 2 | Breast Cancer | bone pain, joint pain, knees so stiff i feel like i am 80, shooting or throbbing pain in arms, hands, feet and legs, cannot sleep, craving sweets and coffee even though i NEVER did before, anxious (that could be just the nature of cancer though, maybe not isolated to the medication) headaches, shoulder and neck pain (possible MRI next week hoping it is just side effects of this medication) | F | 27 | 70 days 1X day | 5/31/2015 | 3 | hi estrogen on testosterone therapy | Fatigue and pain was a problem within 7 days of beginning 25mg daily. Brain fog, loss of motivation, stiffness, and just generally not feeling like doing anything, even easy daily tasks. | Taking this to lower my estrogen levels after 6 months on testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone is converted into estrogen in the male body and with testosterone replacement it sometimes gets converted at a higher rate leading to very high estrogen levels which can cause many issues from water retention, male breast development, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. 25mg per day dropped my estrogen to nearly zero. The body uses estrogen for many things, and getting it super low can cause many problems. Severe joint and bone pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction are some of them. Fortunately, my doctor was very knowledgeable and had me switch to 12.5mg per day. After a month, I was still struggling, but not as bad. Estrogen levels tested as still being too low although not as low as before. So next I was told to use 12.5mg every other day. That proved to be the right dosage as it allowed my estrogen levels to balance out in the normal range for a male. Unfortunately for breast cancer patients, the goal is typically to get estrogen levels extremely low. I am not sure if it is the mechanism that the estrogen is lowered by with the drug, or if it is an issue of too little estrogen in the body for other functions to remain normal. But for my situation, once I got my estrogen levels in the normal range, the side effects were barely noticeable, compared to before when they made me feel incapacitated. | M | 39 | 60 days 12.5mg 1X O | 12/14/2014 | 1 | ER + breast cancer-total hysterect. | Rapid 30lb weight gain.foot and hand aches,no energy, carpal tunnel type pain in wrists, sad feeling and tired.VERY stiff in joints, especially after sitting or sleeping. Irritable!! Did I mention very dry in the Netherlands. I also took tamoxifen for >3 yrs and I prefer that drug to Aromasin. Hope it's helping but I feel lousy : ( | F | 40 | 6 months 25mg | 5/24/2012 | 2 | DCIS, non-invasive breast cancer | Extreme fatigue, no motivation, foggy brain. I've never felt so exhausted in my entire life. I can't get off the couch and all I want to do is sleep. | I feel like I'm a walking zombie. I've never been so tired in my whole life. I am extremely active, exercise daily, and have no energy now to do anything. I can't concentrate and I can't put simple sentences together. I'm not sure if the benefit of this drug outweighs the side effects. I don't know what to do. I don't want the cancer to come back but I feel like my quality of life has gone to nothing. | F | 43 | 6 days 25 mg | 6/20/2015 | 1 | HER2 +, Estrogen + Stage 1A breast | I thought I was losing my.mind, couldn't understand why I started having extreme joint pain in my hands, then in my hips & ankles. I am extremely frustrated that their was no forewarning by my oncologist. | I have been taking this pill for only 3.5 weeks. I played soccer & worked out during chemo, yet I almost feel worse now than during chemo. | F | 44 | 4 weeks | 3/24/2016 | 1 | stage 3a breast cancer- estrogen po | severe bone, joint, muscle pain, loss of short term memory. This has disrupted my life completely, although I keep a good attitude. I needed to see that I am not alone. I am considering going off the med to see where I am at with pain, so I can gauge what meds I need and dont need. I want my life back ! | It was prescribed to me after all other choices of aramatase inhibitors failed. It does the job, but after having a total hysterectomy in 2010, I wonder if I even need it, I certainly dont need the side effects ! | F | 44 | 1 years 25mg 1X day | 10/25/2012 | 3 | stage 3 breast cancer | joint pain in thumb, return of plantar fascitis, reduced hot flashes from tamoxifen, memory fuzzy, ? skin rashes?, shortness of breath, but it's hard to pinpoint aromasin as THE cause. | skin rash appered shortly after started taking it, thought it was something else, but have no other explanation for rash, which is spreading. ditto for thumb pain- in joint/tendon. otherwise, it seems easeir than the tamoxifen. | F | 45 | 1 years | 2/16/2006 | 1 | To prevent reccurance | After three weeks of taking this drug my doctor switch me to arimidex (not much better) due to joint pain, headaches, nausea and vomiting. | F | 45 | 3 weeks | 2/18/2007 | 3 | b/c | pain in hands, pinky and ring finger on both hands stiff, severe wrist pain, pain in feet in morning, sweats, tingling sensation before a sweat, fatigue, pain in toes, nighttime pain in legs Especially calves, extreme insomnia, problems with short term memory | DO THESE SIDE EFFECTS LAST AFTER TREATMENT WITH THIS DRUG has ended? | F | 46 | 10 months | 9/7/2006 | 2 | Stage 1& Stage 2, Dbl Mast,Chemo tx | Mainly, severe mood swings - depression and anger/rage, severe pain on my knees causing difficulty to walk after getting up then pain goes away, insomia, weight gain. | My mom was placed on same medication for 5years and saw the same SE on her. On a side note, breast ca doesn't run on our family. We are both BRCA neg. Knowing the SE, I was mindful of what I am feeling and I try to control the SE as much as I can. I keep myself busy most of the days so I don't feel depressed. As for the anger/rage, I identified my trigger sources and I try to avoid them as much as I can (not 100% successful). I watch what I eat but I'm also not 100% successful on this category. I have gained weight (and I thought it was due to chemo tx). My onc have given me clonazepam to help me sleep and relax at night. I also take tylenol (with codeine) to help with the pain. My onc also told me he thinks I should be on this drug for 10years (vs 5yrs for my mom) bec new study came out showing better outcome for my stage of cancer to stay on it for 10years. I try not to think about this. | F | 46 | 5 months 25 1X day | 5/20/2016 | 1 | estrogen fed breast cancer | I have not taken this drug. I chose to have a total vaginal hysterectomy with removal of my ovaries. | There are 3 places that estrogen comes from. Ovaries, Adrenal Glands and Fat Cells. I have removed my ovaries and I eat very well and exercise. I would rather live a quality life than one filled with pain. I'm mentally stable and love life. I've read so many cases of women who are taking these estrogen blockers and still have a recurrance. I took femara and by the 4th day I couldn't straighten out my left middle finger, had back pain and headaches. It's a choice you have to make. I wish everyone the best and remember one thing. You're in charge of your own life. There are success stories of people who contine to keep cancer at bay by the way they choose to live. Exercise and diet go hand in hand, one without the other will not work. I went straight into menopause after surgery but I'm taking suppliments that are estrogen free to handle the hot flashes. If you need any positive reinforcement please email me. I'll be happy to help. I'm not a doctor, just a woman who has had breast cancer and chooses quality of life. | F | 46 | 0 days | 9/8/2009 | 1 | ILC breast cancer stage 1b | Started with arm pain ..numbing, swelling then progressed to hand. Abdominal pain followed by elevated liver enzymes. Joint paint, depression, extreme fatigue, vision change, now excruciating lower right quadrant pain had to go to ER. | After experiencing so many terrible debilitating pain in various areas..did extensive research and this drug can actually cause perforated appendix. Also known to cause carpal tunnel, stomach pain, heart injury. Why is this still on the market? Apparently you must notify the FDA of your side effects and if enough serious ones are reported they reevaluate it to determine its effectiveness and safety. So report your side effects. I was on femera and after 4 months I started experiencing heart palpating so severe. Onco said it was re but to go off for .3 weeks I did and it went away. Then she switched me to aramosin, I have told her I am going off this and she said to give it a few more months. After my ER visit I am not going back on this killer drug | F | 47 | 7 months 25mg 1X day | 1/19/2015 | 1 | Breast Cancer | First few weeks were ok, then started having mild hot flashes, really BAD insomnia, and joint pain. Swelling so bad at night I cannot bend my fingers. Pain in ankles, feet and back spasms. More frequent headaches, fatigue, and depression.Stopped menstruating 3 years ago after first round of chemo, but this month had period with cramping. | Stopped taking drug, and will be consulting with Oncologist and Gynocologist, as they are concerned about menstrual cramps. I do not want to continue on this drug. Tamoxifen was bad, too. These AI drugs are harder on quality of life than chemo was. | F | 47 | 6 months 25 mg 1X day | 6/13/2015 | 1 | Breast cancer | After having it for 8 days I had to be hospitalized. High fever, ulcers in the mouth and severe headache. | After lumpectomy I had four cycles of chemo and radiation.Then I had Tamoxifen for five years. After that my doctor asked me to start aromasin. | F | 47 | 8 days 25 | 12/8/2014 | 3 | High risk for breast cancer | Reading the reviews making me think to stop aromasin, with all the side effects. | F | 48 | 1 days | 9/23/2016 | 1 | ILC stage 2a | Carpal tunnel, severe upper right quadrant pain, elevated liver enzymes, elevated Ferritin levels, severe joint paint, hair loss, facial hair, sweats, insomnia, difficult walking up a step of stairs without extreme heart rate, elevated cholesterol, bone density loss | Had to go off of it. After a number of tests for my up right quadrant pain, the oncologist confirmed that this drug has been reported to cause liver toxicity rather quickly. Also caused my carpal tunnel. Went off of it and in 3 weeks I felt like a NEW person. Fatigue was gone, pain was gone, I could finally sleep and I felt ALIVE again. They have now switched me to arimidix. Was was Femara for 4 months and it almost gave me a heart attack. So we will see how Arimidix works. I think these AI drugs will soon tell the tale of how horrible they are. Wouldn't be surprised if in a few yrs you see commercials about them in law suits. | F | 48 | 11 months 1X day | 5/31/2015 | 3 | post op-breast cancer | pain in hands/fingers locking, shoulder pain, very tired | was on three months, lots of joint pain, was on Fosamax at same time which has same side effects, went off both, felt better, went back on Aromasin, hands stiff and painful again | F | 49 | 4 days | 3/16/2006 | 3 | post op-breast cancer | pain in hands/fingers locking, shoulder pain, very tired | was on three months, lots of joint pain, was on Fosamax at same time which has same side effects, went off both, felt better, went back on Aromasin, joints stiff and painful again | F | 49 | 4 months | 3/16/2006 | 2 | BC Stage IIC invasive | Took Tamoxifen for 2 yrs with side effects that included extreme hot flushes, nausea (like morning sickness), horrible insomnia & headaches. Switched to Aromasin for next 2 yrs and it was tolerable for the first 6 months with same side effects as Tamoxifen. Then the bone & joint pain in the outer extremities started. Couldn't get out of a bed or a seated position or do stairs without feeling like a cripple. Mornings were worse & I too had the 'claw' effect with terrible weakness in my hands. Ankles felt fragile, as though the bones would break with the slightest pressure. Once healthy libido disappeared, urogenital system dried up & cholesterol levels tripled, although no change in exercise & diet. Doctor switched me to Femara 2 months ago. After the 1st week, I actually slept for two whole nights & felt awesome! Then the side effects of the Femara kicked in & it's starting to feel the same as with the Aromasin. | I'm so thankful to have found this website! Over the last few years, I've so often thought that I was the only one experiencing these awful side effects. Until diagnosis, I was very fit & worked out 5x/week - weights and cardio. I continued to work & work-out even through chemo cycles. Now I feel like a 90 yr old asexual being. Chemo-induced menopause presented its own challenges but these Aromatase-Inhibitor side effects continue to affect the quality of my life. Doctors are quick to offer Rx for side effects but each Rx has its own risks & side effects. It's a domino effect & I just want to feel 'normal' again & get on with my life. It would be so different if we were dealing with a broken arm. An X-ray would show the break, time would heal the fracture & then it would be nothing but a memory. Nobody knows if these AI drugs even work on something we don't even know is or isn't there. Quality vs Quantity of life should be addressed by somebody! | F | 50 | 2 years | 1/3/2008 |
AROMASIN (EXEMESTANE): This medication is used to treat certain types of breast cancer (such as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer) in women after menopause. Exemestane is also used to help prevent the cancer from returning. Some breast cancers are made to grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Exemestane decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers. Exemestane is usually not used in women of childbearing age. FDA Approval Date: 1999-10-21 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)