Aromasin Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Aromasin Tablet (exemestane) is a prescription aromatase inhibitor used in postmenopausal women to treat certain estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers. It works by lowering estrogen levels, which can slow or stop the growth of tumors that depend on estrogen. It is taken once daily after a meal, often for up to 5 years, and should be used exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Aromasin Tablet

Aromasin is a prescription medicine that lowers estrogen levels in women who are past menopause. This can help slow or stop the growth of certain breast tumors that need estrogen to grow.

Aromasin Tablet uses

• Treats early breast cancer in postmenopausal women that is estrogen-receptor positive, usually after 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen treatment, to complete a total of 5 years of hormone therapy
• Treats advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has gotten worse after tamoxifen treatment
• Used to lower the chance of the breast cancer coming back or spreading
• Used when the cancer has not responded to, or has come back after, treatment with another medicine

Benefits of Aromasin Tablet

• Lowers estrogen levels, which can slow the growth of breast tumors that need estrogen
• May reduce the risk of the cancer returning or spreading
• Treats certain hormone receptor-positive breast cancers
• Lowers estrogen production
• Helps reduce the risk of breast-cancer recurrence in appropriate patients
• Can slow growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells
• Provides an oral hormonal treatment option

How Aromasin Tablet works

Aromasin blocks an enzyme called aromatase, which greatly reduces the amount of estrogen reaching cancer cells. Since these cancer cells need estrogen to grow, lowering estrogen supply stops them from growing.

Aromasin Tablet dosage

Take it once a day, after a meal, at about the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions exactly, since they may differ from general guidance. You may need to take this medicine for up to 5 years to get the most benefit. Keep taking it regularly and refill your prescription before you run out. Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin D while on this medicine; only take the amount your doctor prescribes. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it's almost time for your next dose — do not take two doses at once. Do not stop taking it or change the dose without checking with your doctor, even if you feel better. This medicine is not meant for use in children.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (25 mg)

Side effects of Aromasin Tablet

Common

• Hot flashes
• Headache
• Feeling tired
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Increased appetite
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Increased sweating
• Dizziness
• Trigger finger (finger gets stuck in a bent position)

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Chest pain or pressure
• New or unusual bone pain
• Swelling in hands, feet, or legs
• Feeling short of breath, even with mild activity
• Signs of a blood clot: sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision or speech, swelling or redness in an arm or leg
• Symptoms of a gastric ulcer such as blood in stools, black tarry stools, or vomiting blood
• Increase in weight
• Pain and/or numbness of hands, loss of feeling in fingers or thumb
• Tendon pain and swelling
• Depression
• Disturbed or blurry vision
• Bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Signs of liver infection (hepatitis), such as yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Skin rash or itching
• Frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat, or mouth ulcers

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to exemestane, have not yet started menopause, or are pregnant or able to become pregnant.
• This medicine can reduce bone density, which may raise your risk of developing osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about your personal risk of bone loss.
• This medicine may not work as well if taken together with hormone replacement therapy.
• Some medicines, such as those containing estrogen (birth control pills, patches, injections, implants, or hormone replacement therapy), should not be used together with this medicine without your doctor's guidance.
• If you are not past menopause, you must use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine and for at least one month after your last dose.
• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or could become pregnant, since it could harm an unborn baby. This medicine is only for women who can no longer get pregnant.
• Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine and for one month after your last dose, because it may affect the baby.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had kidney problems before starting this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had liver problems before starting this medicine.
• No major direct interaction with alcohol is established, but discuss alcohol use with the oncology team.
• This medicine can cause tiredness or dizziness in some people. If you feel this way, be careful getting up from sitting or lying down, and do not drive or use machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.

Storage

• Store in the original container at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight, where the temperature stays below 30°C.
• Keep your tablets in their blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
• Do not leave AROMASIN or any other medicine in the car or on window sills.
• Do not store AROMASIN or any other medicines in a bathroom or near a sink.
• Keep AROMASIN where children cannot reach it.
• If your doctor tells you to stop taking AROMASIN or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
• If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain or pressure, new or unusual bone pain, swelling in your hands or feet, shortness of breath with mild activity, or signs of a blood clot such as sudden numbness or weakness, trouble with vision or speech, or swelling or redness in an arm or leg.
• Call your doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you notice serious side effects such as signs of a gastric ulcer, significant weight gain, tendon pain and swelling, depression, blurry vision, easy bruising or bleeding, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or signs of liver problems like yellowing skin or eyes.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek urgent medical attention right away, even if you feel fine.

Alternatives

• Anastrozole
• Letrozole
• Tamoxifen