Exemestane and Fatigue: What Users Say

• gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I've been on exemestane for 3 months now. I switched after having side effects from Arimidex. The exemestane has been way worse. I'm crying as I read all the reviews that other users have experienced. I feel so alone. I'm a very active person. I've never felt so awful in my life. I can't explain it to anyone. My fingers and wrists are so sore and swollen. My hands fall asleep all night long. I wake up constantly. I think I'm so tired from not getting any sleep. I get out of bed in the morning and I can barely walk. I stand up from sitting down and everything hurts! Steps are the worst! I'm 43 and I feel 93!! I was an avid mountain biker and runner before this. It's so disheartening."

• jfw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2017

For Breast Cancer "After trying Arimidex and Femara, I tried Aromasin. I had mild hot flashes, shooting pains in my legs in bed at night, my hands went numb several times at night, stiff in the morning and night, and very achy. I had read of someone who took it every other day for a few months, so I did that for 11 weeks. Now I am taking it daily and have mild hot flashes at night, some fatigue, hands are achy in the morning. My quality of life is much better. My oncologist was not aware of every other day, but it certainly has helped me be able to take this drug. I have never written on a blog, but if my experience helps others, I'm glad. I was at the point of taking no drugs for my estrogen-positive breast cancer. 11/15/16. JW"

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I’ve been on Aromasin for about 9 months. I had hot flashes for the first few months, rarely now. I experience massive fatigue, to the point that for several months I could barely care for my young children. Moderate exercise helps some with that. The joint and bone pain is unpleasant, but tolerable so far. I have nausea throughout the day, mostly in the morning. Shooting pains in my legs, feet, and arms at night. The worst side effect has been the weight gain: 30 pounds in 9 months, despite exercising more and maintaining the same diet, and actually eating less than before. So frustrating. I’m thankful if the drug is keeping the cancer away, but the side effects are really awful."

• tho...
• November 16, 2009

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "I have just been on Aromasin for 9 days and so far have no side effects. I tried Femara and after 14 days went off it because of joint pain and fatigue. On Femara, it was so bad that I couldn't climb my staircase without crying. So far, Aromasin is a miracle drug for me if it stops estrogen in its tracks!"

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2017

For Breast Cancer "My oncologist switched me from letrozole to exemestane because I was having some bone loss. I was a little more tired and achy on the letrozole, so I assumed the same would happen with exemestane, but oh my gosh, what a difference. I gained 6 lbs in a month, experienced horrible headaches, pins and needles in my hands, back pain, fatigue, waking up in the middle of the night, hot flashes, ringing in my ears, and blurry vision. I'm switching back to letrozole, at least the side effects are tolerable. I guess everyone is different, if it works for others, awesome, but not for me. These reviews are so needed in our for-profit health care system. Doctors won't tell you or don't know about all the side effects, and who even knows about the long-term ones?"

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2015

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "I have been on Aromasin for about 70 days. Just had a short holiday. Came back hardly able to walk, joints were aching from first taking it. But thought this might be because I'm not getting any younger. But now I wonder. Also, my sleep patterns have altered. I wake quite early and am a lot more tired. Also, at times I seem quite breathless, although I'm asthmatic. It has always been well-controlled. Will see my doctor to see what he suggests. This was my last resort for drugs, as most of the others I have tried had side effects."

• Bir...
• April 26, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I thought I was going crazy. Taking aromasin for 11 months. I fall asleep in the middle of the day, even nod off when I'm with friends. Terrible sleeplessness, hand joint pain in the middle of night, thinning hair (after losing hair after chemo). The fatigue makes me lack motivation, no interest in anything, poor eating habits, can't exercise, don't want to do anything. This is worse than Arimidex!"

• Fig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking 25 mg of Exemestane for 22 days now. After the first week, I started having a cough with clear phlegm every day. I recently had bad headaches that lasted 3 days. I had to lay in bed with the lights off. I also have been having diarrhea and nausea with some vomiting the past week. Two nights ago, I had very uncomfortable heartburn, I had to sleep sitting up. I have also had increased bone/joint pain and fatigue. I hope the medicine is working because I really don't like feeling ill on a daily basis. I will discuss these side effects with my doctor next week."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2018

For Breast Cancer "Getting ready to start this after quitting anastrozole, which I was on for 18 months. With the anastrozole, I ended up in the hospital, thought I was having a heart attack. Fatigue was terrible, vision problems, dizziness. If this doesn’t work, I’ll quit taking tablets."

• Twi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Been on this for a few months, bone pain, fatigue, weight gain, pain in feet and legs, migraine headaches, more depression, anxiety, and hair loss, vision issues, tinnitus. Was on Fareston for over 5 years and made a choice to change as it may have caused other serious accumulating health issues, although not cancer. Also have lymphedema and have custom-made garments to keep potential infections under control, which has been ongoing for about 7 years. So far, these side effects are less than Fareston. Unable to tolerate Tamoxifen post breast CA, Stage 3A. I do not expect to be free of any side effects, rather having some quality of life, and hopeful."

• M S...
• May 15, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I've been on exemestane for 3 months now. After the first couple of weeks, the joints in my feet hurt so much I couldn't walk. I now take vitamins that help out immensely - fish oil, calcium, vitamin D, and joint mix in the morning and mega red at night when the pain flares up again. I get hot flashes, but my oncologist put me on a serotonin booster to help with them, and it also helps with my mood. I wake up at night, throughout the night. Ibuprofen P.M. helps. Lately, I've been very fatigued through the day. Other than coffee in the morning, I don't know how to fix that. So far, it's not too bad once I got my vitamin regimen figured out."

• Joa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Exemestane is the 3rd anti-estrogen medication I have taken. I was not able to take Tamoxifen due to a bad interaction with another medication I take. The first 2 other aromatase inhibitors I took gave me severe side effects. Exemestane has been the best so far, but it does give me insomnia and then fatigue, and headaches. My main problem is the expense! Although it is generic, it is much more costly than the other medications I was on, and I can't understand why!"

• Con...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2022

For Breast Cancer "So many reviews of this drug with horrible side effects. My journey started last May with stage 1A breast cancer, ER positive. Lumpectomy with 2 nodes removed in June. Started radiation in August along with Anastrozole. Started having burning, pins-and-needles feeling in my face, then went to my head. Every few weeks it spread to a different part. Radiation oncologist and medical oncologist said no, it was not radiation or hormone blockers causing this. I suffered from hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, low libido, depression, bone pain, confusion and memory issues, vaginal dryness, and hair loss. I kept telling doctors it was the medication, but they insisted it was not. In December, the oncologist switched me to exemestane because I complained. The bone pain lifted but I started having frequent urination, bladder issues. Had a severe sore throat for a month. Started having itching from chest up, so the oncologist finally took me off. I have an appointment tomorrow."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2021

For Breast Cancer "Been on Aromasin for 7 months and supposed to take it for 10 years. Not even 1 full year in yet, and I'm falling apart. I'm 38 and was a healthy, active young woman prior to cancer and meds. Now I'm borderline depressed, extremely fatigued and tired, achy joints, mean, moody, and insensitive, lethargic, no energy nor interest, not sleeping despite taking Gabapentin, thinning hair, genital/urinary problems, and unrelenting, unforgiving hot flashes. I'm struggling to work my normal full-time job and will have to go down to part-time. Married with 4 kids and will continue to take in hopes of reducing a recurrence."

• SCG...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 31, 2024

For Breast Cancer "Lots of side effects but tolerated better than Letrozole or Anastrozole. After 3 years, the side effects got worse for me and include mouth sores, terrible facial cystic acne, small bumps all over my neck, metallic taste that won’t go away, insomnia, numbness in fingers and hands, swollen hands, feet, legs, severe joint pain in shoulders, knees, lower back pain, horrific hot flashes/flushes/sweating, no libido, some severe headaches, extreme fatigue, bad nausea all during the first year. Overall quality of life is affected, and the oncologist has done zero bloodwork, stating it was not necessary per NCCN guidelines - this medication has caused a marked increase in osteoporosis and osteopenia in 3 years. IMO, this medicine is the only option other than Tamoxifen, which my oncologist said may cause blood clots and kidney issues."