Exemestane and Headaches: What Users Say

• Rut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Stage 3 infiltrating ductal carcinoma breast cancer survivor twice over 20 years (single mastectomy). I’ve already had high dose chemo & radiation treatments. They also found a brain tumor in 2018. Turning 60 next month, I need to take an estrogen prohibitor and exemestane aka Aromasin is my 3rd AI to try! After 3 months on this drug, I’ve had hot flashes, watery eyes, bad foot pain, headaches, falling asleep in the afternoon at work, but the worst for me has been hip/joint pain I never had before. My primary care doctor gave me a cortisone shot in the hip for the pain. He thinks it’s bursitis? (I’m going to try taking high dose vitamin D 50,000 units per week for joint pain someone else suggested in here). Not sure if I can do my time of 5 years on this drug, but oncologist said if I want 10 more years I should try. Comes down to quality of life vs duration of life? I’m running out of options!"

• Cur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed in June 2018, Stage 2 BC. Started chemo, stopped after the 12th treatment, cancer was getting bigger. Bilateral mastectomy in Dec '18, then 30 rounds of radiation in 2019. In April 2019, I had a full hysterectomy. I was getting the Zoladex shot since Jan '19 and began taking exemestane in February '19. After the hysterectomy, I really started to notice the side effects. By June, my body was aching all over: knees, back, hands. Headaches occasionally. Weight gain was horrendous. From April to June, I gained 15 pounds, and this was with exercising 2x a day and watching everything I eat. I've started a medication holiday, been off for one week. I'm starting to feel so much better. I've lost 2 pounds already. I see my OC next month (July '19). I had ER/PR BC, so I'm nervous about not taking anything, but my quality of life on this daily pill is atrocious."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2016

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "Have taken three different drugs of the same nature and purpose. This has the mildest side effects. Nausea, sweats, insomnia, headache, joint pain, increased appetite, lethargy, dizziness are some of the side effects I am experiencing."

• 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?"

• Dox...
• December 29, 2014

For Breast Cancer "This is my 3rd medicine for reducing estrogen. I have been on it for 6 months, after going through surgery and radiation for Stage 1 breast cancer. It is much easier than the other medications. BUT I'm still not sure if I will continue. Since I have started on this medicine I have had the following: blood clot in lung, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, pain in my right side, insomnia, jaw pain, ringing in ears & some imbalances, these are new just since starting this medicine. (Pain in joints is something that is better on this medicine than others.) As I have already tried the other medications available to me this is my only option except taking nothing."

• far...
• January 26, 2012

For Breast Cancer "I was on Arimidex for two months, and I thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out it was the medication. I have been on exemestane for three months, and my chest feels really tight most of the time. I have no energy and headaches. I am trying to decide whether to go off it and go on Tamoxifen. I have talked to several people on Tamoxifen, with no side effects to speak of except hot flashes. I also have pain in my fingers and feet. I also feel like I am having some hearing loss, which I never had before."

• Mz ...
• November 21, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Have been on this medication about 4 months. I was wondering why I couldn't sleep and have gained an excessive amount of weight. I read the reviews, which helped me considerably. I wake up with headaches in the morning. I take Excedrin, it helps. My skin breaks out weekly. My right arm is numb and feels like no circulation. I believe I am going to take myself off this medication. I can't afford to keep buying clothes. Oh, by the way, my sugar has gone up. I've never had this problem before. I believe this medication is the common denominator for most, if not all, my issues."

• 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 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2021

For Breast Cancer "It was really helpful to read the comments here as I thought I might be the only person to have a bad experience with exemestane. I switched to exemestane after 2 years on letrozole. I was having severe muscle pain with letrozole and heard from a variety of sources that a switch to exemestane would cure all my ails. Well, I did not have muscle aches, but the other side effects were worse - light-headed, headache, spaciness, and forgetfulness (possibly because of the insomnia from the drug). I did not feel like myself at all and quit after one month since I thought I might not survive the 6-month adjustment period. It was also 4x as expensive as letrozole. At least I can take ibuprofen (although it has its own issues) to counteract the muscle pain. I'm sorry any of us have to take any of these medications!"

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I was put on Femara after my radiation and had terrible, debilitating side effects. My bones and joints were in constant pain, the headaches and hot flashes were frequent. My oncologist took me off and put me on Aromasin. What a difference! I occasionally get ringing in my ears and an upset stomach, but thank goodness nothing like the Femara."

• 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!"

• Lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2022

For Breast Cancer "I have been on this 2.5 years. I hate it! I have put on so much weight in my midsection that I don’t even recognize my body anymore. Hot flashes, restless sleep, and nerve pain that travels to different parts of my body. I’ve always had headaches, migraines, so I can’t say that it’s from the medication. I am so tempted to just stop taking it. I mean, 2.5 years seems sufficient. This is awful."

• Ces...
• May 17, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer in my left breast and Stage 1 in my right. This is my 2 months taking it. It is way better than the first one I was on. That made me really bad leg pain, stiffness, and Charlie horses. When I started exemestane, it made my hand itch like I wanted to scratch the skin off my hands, but that went away. The only side effect I feel now is really, really tired, lifeless, but looking at other comments, I will start exercising. I’ve been doing a lot of natural vitamins like Seamoss every day, and I feel my energy coming back. I also get headaches, and my voice is very hoarse at times, and I feel like sometimes a Charlie horse is coming but doesn’t really. I’ve been drinking a lot of water and Pedialyte to stay hydrated, so far it’s not that bad, I can maneuver around the symptoms."

• Jud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2025

For Breast Cancer "I was initially prescribed Kisqali and Letrozole, neither of which I could tolerate. My oncologist then prescribed exemestane. So far, I’ve had few side effects. When I started getting headaches, I increased my water intake immensely, and that helped a lot. I think these drugs are dehydrating because my mouth and eyes get dry. I changed my diet by limiting meat, dairy, and carbs. I am trying to get more exercise, which helps my energy level. I started to get arthritis before my cancer diagnosis and have been taking Schwartz turmeric-curcumin, which took my arthritis pain away. So, I have not experienced any new joint pain from the medication. So far, so good."

• 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."