What are the Side Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors

The decision to walk away from taking aromatase inhibitors is a choice many women are now making. Women are doing research and realizing they have a right to make the best choice for their health. Wanting to follow his advice, I tried another drug, Aromasin (exemestane). Once again, I began to experience unwanted side effects and was placed on tamoxifen.

You may start at one dose and have it increased or decreased based on how you respond to the medication. Choosing a provider that understands the use of comprehensive testosterone replacement is important so that they can help to minimize unwanted side effects. Multiple studies have reported higher E2 levels in obese men and a direct relationship between E2 and BMI 4. As men age testosterone production Halotestox 5 mg P&B Labs buy online declines and the ratio of estrogen to testosterone rises in favor of estrogen. For example, weight-bearing exercise helps protect bones and lowers the risk of hip fractures 141.

• Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe.
• A large clinical trial studied Aromasin as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.
• For more information on the possible side effects of Aromasin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Both Aromasin and Arimidex are aromatase inhibitors (drugs that lower the production of the hormone estrogen).

Aromasin as extended therapy for estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (off-label use)

SPPs are pharmacies that handle medicines that are often not stocked at regular neighborhood pharmacies. Your healthcare team can help you find an SPP that works with your insurance. Some of the other factors that may influence the dosage are other medications the patient is currently taking, and the indication for taking the medication. One important aspect of dosing is how you respond to the medication.

Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors

Additionally, data suggested that the amount of time on average patients lived without the cancer worsening (median progression free survival) was 9.9 months with exemestane, compared to 5.8 months with tamoxifen. However, looking at the results over a longer period, the progression free survival and survival was similar with exemestane and tamoxifen6. But it’s possible that Arimidex, when used with other treatments for cancer, may increase the side effects you have. Arimidex can safely be used with other treatments for your breast cancer. For example, your doctor may suggest using Arimidex with fulvestrant (Faslodex) or with abemaciclib (Verzenio) based on the type of treatment they recommend.

For example, letrozole may cause hair thinning that may be reversed when switched to anastrozole or exemestane. Holding the AI for 2 weeks with the resolution of a bothersome side effect is an indication of the need to switch to another AI. The half-life of anastrozole is 50 hours, letrozole 48 hours, and exemestane 24 hours. In our practice, patients have been known to try all three AIs and start back on the original AI without side effects. Management of side effects requires providers’ thorough assessment, establishing trust, and follow-up so that patients will be invested in their medication management. In one study of advanced breast cancer, weight gain was reported in 8% of women who took Aromasin compared with 17% of women who took megestrol.

There was a higher rate of aromatization in the group of older men which was explained by greater fat mass 1. Interestingly, E2 was reduced in obese men 2 years after gastric bypass surgery, and SHBG was increased, resulting in an even greater decrease in bioavailable E2 1. Estrogen can act to block the release of these signaling hormones and halt testosterone production. Therefore, monitoring and managing Estrogen levels during TRT are crucial. This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates. However, if you have any pain, report it to your health care provider right away.