What is Aromasin Exemestane and What You Should Know About It?
What is Aromasin Exemestane and What You Should Know About It?
What is Aromasin?
Exemestane with the US brand name Aromasin is an effective treatment for early breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is basically a hormonal therapy and used as an adjuvant treatment along with tamoxifen. Postmenopausal women who have estrogenreceptor early breast cancer and have taken 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen are advised to switch to Aromasin for completion of a full 5 consecutive years of adjuvant hormonal therapy.
The cases of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has built up succeeding tamoxifen therapy can also be treated with Aromasin (Exemestane). Apart from lowering the risk for breast cancer recurrence, the medication may slow the development of specific breast tumors by decreasing estrogen levels in the body.
What should I know about Aromasin before beginning the treatment?
You should have vital pieces of information about Aromasin (Exemestane) treatment to derive maximum benefits from it. The medication should not at all be used if you have hypersensitivity to Exemestane or any of its excipients. Before using Aromasin, you may need to adjust your doses or carry out special tests for safe use of the drug if you have conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, or if you have not passed through menopause.
Pregnancy related issues must be clearly discussed with your healthcare provider. As Aromasin is included in the FDA pregnancy category D, refrain from using it without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant during the treatment. The drug can cause damage to an unborn baby. So, the doctor may prescribe you to take a pregnancy test before starting the treatment to ensure you’re not pregnant. You may also use an effective birth control means to avoid pregnancy.
Another issue to ponder is about breastfeeding a baby. Although there is no confirmation of Aromasin (Exemestane) passing into breast milk or causing harm to a baby as yet, you should take the advice of your doctor before using the drug if you’re nursing a baby.
Aromasin adjuvant therapy must be continued for a long period of time, up to 5 years. So, have patience and keep using it regularly to reduce the risk of breast cancer reappearance. Abide by your doctor’s guidelines with utmost care. Never miss a scheduled appointment with your doctor. You should also test your blood at regular intervals to repel any doubts regarding the harmful effects of Exemestane.
The effectiveness of Aromasin (Exemestane) may go down if you make simultaneous use of the drug with hormone replacement medications, or if you take birth control pills or patches during the treatment. Some medicines may interact with Aromasin. Inform your doctor if you are taking medicines such as rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), St. John's wort, or seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) or phenytoin (Dilantin). Do not start or stop a medication without making your doctor known.