Aromasin tablets have the active ingredient exemestane, a form of the drug referred to as an aromatase inhibitor. It is available without any brand name or a generic name.
Indication:
AROMASIN® is a prescription medicine for:
The early stage of breast cancer: used for adjuvant treatment (added treatment following the primary or main treatment) of postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive (ER-positive) in the early stage of breast cancer. AROMASIN treatment should start 2 to 3 years following tamoxifen, and tamoxifen must be stopped by that time. AROMASIN treatment must continue for 2 to 3 years until 5 years of total adjuvant treatment of AROMASIN and tamoxifen have been finished.
Advanced stage of breast cancer: treatment of advanced stage of breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose condition has progressed following tamoxifen therapy.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet given by the pharmacist before using exemestane and every time you receive a refill. Consult a physician if there are questions
This oral medication is taken once daily with food (or after meals) or as directed by the doctor.
The Aromasin dosage depends on the response to treatment, medical condition, and other drugs being taken. Tell the pharmacist and doctor about all your products, such as herbal, prescription, and nonprescription drugs.
Common Side Effects:
Hot flashes
Hair loss
Joint, muscle, and bone pain
Tiredness
Unusual sweating
Nausea
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Trouble sleeping
If any of the above effects worsen or persist, notify the doctor promptly.
Adverse Effects:
Notify your doctor immediately of the following serious Aromasin side effects:
Bone fractures
Mood or mental changes like anxiety or depression
Vaginal bleeding
Persistent vomiting or nausea
Unusual tiredness
Dark urine
Yellowing of skin or eyes
Aromasin medication can rarely cause serious problems from blood clots like stroke or heart attack. Get medical assistance immediately if any of these is experienced:
Sudden shortness of breath
Left arm, chest, and jaw pain
Confusion
Coughing up of blood
Sudden fainting and dizziness
Warmth, pain, or swelling in the calf and groin
Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and arms
Slurred speech
Swelling of legs and arms
Weakness on either side of your body
Changes in vision
A severe or a sudden headache
A serious allergic reaction is rare. Seek medical assistance immediately if any of these symptoms of serious allergic reaction is noticed:
Rash AROMASIN
Itching or swelling, particularly in the neck, throat, face, or tongue
Severe dizziness
Trouble breathing
There can be other possible side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when other side effects are noticed other than those listed above.
Precautions:
Before taking exemestane, inform the doctor if you are allergic to it or of any other allergies. The product may have inactive ingredients that cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using the medication, inform the doctor about your medical history, particularly of
The drug may bring dizziness and a feeling of being tired. Avoid driving, use of machinery, or any activity which requires alertness. Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
Before surgery, inform your dentist or doctor about the products used (such as herbal, prescription, and nonprescription drugs).
This should be when pregnant. It may be harmful to an unborn child. Never use birth control items with estrogen. Inform your doctor to know more details. When you become pregnant, immediately tell your doctor.
Breastfeeding while taking this drug is never recommended. Ask your doctor before breastfeeding.
Interactions with other drugs may change the way the medications may work or increase the risk for some serious side effects. Please list the products you use, including herbal products and prescription or nonprescription drugs, and discuss them with a doctor or a pharmacist. Do not begin, stop, or modify the dose of any drugs without asking for the doctor's approval.
Never share the medication with others.
Laboratory or medical examinations, including bone density, liver function exams, and cholesterol levels, must be done periodically to monitor progress or for possible side effects. Ask your doctor for additional details.
The medication may increase the risk of bone loss or osteoporosis. Discuss with a doctor the risk, including the available osteoporosis treatments. Lifestyle modifications that lessen any risk of bone loss are:
Weight-bearing exercise
Get enough Vitamin D and calcium
Stop smoking
Limit alcohol intake
As for a missed dose, take one once you remember. If it is close to the next schedule of the dose, skip a missed dosage, then resume the regular dosing time. Never double the dosage.
Aromasin Mechanism of Work:
This drug works by avoiding the activity of the aromatase enzyme. The enzyme is part of the production of the female sex hormone, estrogen, went goes through menopause. It converts sex hormones testosterone and androstenedione into estrogen. The drug also avoids conversion by blocking the activity of the aromatase enzyme.
This results in the reduction of estrogen levels. Through the reduction of the levels of estrogen, exemestane blocks the breast cancer cells from growing. However, exemestane will only be useful in treating breast cancers sensitive to estrogen or estrogen receptor-positive cancers.
Exemestane is also effective in breast cancer treatment for women in a postmenopausal stage, naturally or as the result of any medical treatment. It may also treat early invasive cancers after 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen treatment. Advanced cancers may also be treated where cancer grew even after using other anti-estrogen drugs.