exemestane

What is the most important information I should know about exemestane?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is exemestane?

Exemestane is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Exemestane is sometimes given after you have taken tamoxifen for 2 or 3 years, or if tamoxifen did not work or has stopped working.

Exemestane may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking exemestane?

• you are pregnant or able to become pregnant; or
• you have not yet completed menopause, and are still having menstrual periods.

Some drugs should not be used together with exemestane. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use medicines that contain estrogen, such as:

• birth control pills, patches, injections, or implants; or
• hormone replacement therapy.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver or kidney disease; or
• if you are still having menstrual periods.

Exemestane can decrease bone mineral density, which may increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk of bone loss.

If you are not past menopause, use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking exemestane and for at least 1 month after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

This medicine may affect fertility (your ability to have children). However, if you are not past menopause you should still use birth control to prevent pregnancy because exemestane can harm an unborn baby.

How should I take exemestane?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Exemestane is usually taken once per day, after a meal. Try to take the medicine at the same time each day.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin D while you are taking exemestane. Take only the amount of vitamin D that your doctor has prescribed.

Use exemestane regularly to get the most benefit. You may need to keep taking take this medication for up to 5 years.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking exemestane?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of exemestane?

• chest pain or pressure;
• new or unusual bone pain;
• swelling in your hands or feet;
• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
• signs of a blood clot --sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision or speech, swelling or redness in an arm or leg.

Common side effects may include:

• hot flashes;
• headache, feeling tired;
• joint pain;
• nausea;
• increased appetite;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• increased sweating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect exemestane?

When you start or stop taking exemestane, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take on a regular basis.

Many drugs can affect exemestane, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about exemestane.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 7.01. Revision date: 11/16/2020.