Exemestane and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• She...
• September 14, 2020

For Breast Cancer "Exemestane is the third aromatase inhibitor I have tried, and although side effects are fewer than with letrozole or anastrozole, they are still severe. I decided to make a serious effort to treat side effects aggressively so I can continue exemestane. I have added omeprazole and simethicone to handle the digestive issues and have had good results. My oncologist prescribed Lasix for the swelling in my hands and feet, and that also helps significantly. I'm consulting a rheumatologist about the joint pain in my hands and feet. Hot flashes and night sweats can be addressed with gabapentin and/or Lyrica. I'm using gabapentin. Ask your oncologist or PCP for a prescription. If exemestane makes you cry all the time, don't hesitate to ask for an antidepressant. Don't just sit there and be miserable, ladies! Hold your treating physicians responsible for dealing with your side effects!! Just because you have cancer doesn't mean you're supposed to suffer unnecessarily."

• 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"

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2019

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "I was on Arimidex for 6 months and started having neuropathy in hands and feet. Doc changed me to Aromasin, and I still have the neuropathy, which has altered my quality of life. Had no side effects from Tamoxifen other than weight gain and hot flashes. The Aromasin has also caused overall weakness and balance issues. I have been off of it for 2 weeks and still have the neuropathy and weakness. I am waiting to make sure it is from the Aromasin and then deciding what to do. I am quite certain I will not go back on the medication."

• 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!"

• fin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 18, 2013

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "I just came off Aromasin, on tamoxifen for 2 years, then Aromasin for 5 years. I am having cold chills and then hot flashes now. While on it, I had all the side effects, sore bones, hot flashes, gained weight, etc."

• 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."

• wa7...
• May 19, 2008

Exemestane for Breast Cancer "This medicine I have been taking for 7 months, it is easy to take being such a small pill. However, the side effects are still there - leg cramps and hot flashes. It is better than the tamoxifen I was taking for 2 and a half years. Overall, I think it is a lot better."

• Mam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Been on this exemestane for 2 years. Had really bad foot pain in the beginning. Had a hysterectomy. Have hot flashes. Not sure if it's from the medication. Also had numbness in hands and pain. It causes me to be very tired as well. I did start working out, and it has helped a ton. No more foot pain or hand pain. I am not good at taking it every day. I also take breaks when I get to the point where I can't function anymore because I'm so tired. I have gained 20 pounds on this medication. I'm able to maintain now with keto and CrossFit. But still can't seem to get back to the body I had 3 years ago."

• 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?"

• Mic...
• April 16, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Aromasin (Exemestane) 25 mg for three years. I tried the other two inhibitors but had severe bone pain, so this one is the best of the bunch. I do have some joint pain, low stamina, no libido, waking throughout the night, swollen fingers, toes, and abdomen, severe hot flashes that feel like I'm being burned at the stake, and the worst one is the weight gain. I've gained 50 pounds in the last two years and still have two years to go. My doctor put me on Clonidine every 6 hours because my skin was allergic to the 24-hour patch. It helps ease the hot flashes for about 4 hours. He doesn't have any advice for my inability to lose weight and the fact that I keep gaining even though I exercise and eat the same as before. Ugghhh!"

• MIS...
• July 2, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I've been taking it for almost 2 1/2 years. I'm 40 years old. So far, no recurrence. I was able to improve muscle and joint stiffness with moderate exercise. I'm also able to maintain/lose weight while taking this medication. I also have hot flashes occasionally."

• Deb...
• October 10, 2011

For Breast Cancer "On this medication for the past 4 months. Still unable to sleep at night, hot flashes, but a lot nicer than the other medication I was on. The only side effect that I can deal with is the muscle pain that it causes in my legs. I also notice my skin being oily and breakouts on my face."

• KTa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2018

For Breast Cancer "After trying Arimidex and Femara, which both made me horribly miserable in many ways, I tried Aromasin, but first I let my body 'detox' from the other drugs for a month or so. Both my oncologist and my pharmacist were good with that. Exemestane (Aromasin) has had the least number of side effects for me. I was already taking fish oil and glucosamine chondroitin for arthritis, so not sure if that may help as some have noted or not. Two years after chemo and I still have terrible neuropathy in my feet, and they hurt most all of the time. Was taking gabapentin for the neuropathy, but had to take so much so often, and it just kept wearing off, so I stopped taking that. The worst side effect that I have now (other than hot flashes and sore feet) is my thin, brittle fingernails. They were always thick and strong before cancer. I started taking biotin for that, but only recently, so no great results yet. I also take vitamin B12, which helps with energy."

• 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."

• She...
• July 5, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Kidney problems? Carpal tunnel numbness? Insomnia? (Hot flashes are a given, I take gabapentin and venlafaxine, which helps.) I just started exemestane after taking tamoxifen for three years. I started the new drug about a month and a half ago. I had similar side effects when I started tamoxifen but never had kidney pain. I am in a lot of pain, which is covering about a 6-inch radius on my side. I am not 100% sure if it is pulled muscles since it came on overnight, but I don't recall any injury. Has anyone had this issue?"

• KC ...
• January 26, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking this for 4 years. I feel like my muscles have gotten a lot tighter, as I have plantar fasciitis and bursitis; that was helped with PT and stretching. My hair was thinning, I started taking a 'Hair, Skin, and Nail' vitamin supplement, and my hairdresser said my hair is looking healthy. I take a fish oil supplement and, of course, a calcium supplement (which my oncologist said I should). I have hot flashes at night, but I think if I were to chart those to my diet, it might be associated with alcohol and/or red meat. The best news is my cancer has not come back. But with any of these types of medication, it is hard to determine if that is indeed the source of the good (no cancer) or bad (side effects) outcomes."

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 8, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I had hot flashes when I first started taking it, but one year on and I have none. I always get the Greenstone brand of exemestane now, as I have found it very tolerable. If I take other formulations, I tend to have side effects. Also, I do walk 5 miles a day. It is not always easy, but I push myself to do this every day. I think that helps me a lot. They just started me on Letrozole. I don't like it at all."

• 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."

• 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."

• Arm...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 20, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I am a 48-year-old woman, diagnosed with Stage 2A breast cancer at age 41 that was pretty aggressive. I had a left breast lumpectomy, and I did 6 months of chemo 2x per month and then 28 days of radiation daily. I started with Tamoxifen, but after a year, my breast cancer team didn’t think that was the best option for me. I’ve been on Exemestane with Lupron injections for the past 5 years, my oncologist said I need to be on it for 10 years due to my age. I have horrible hot flashes, I sweat ALL the time and not just a little! I do CrossFit 5x a week, and I still haven’t been able to lose weight! My carpal tunnel is worse than ever before, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to get the surgery because I wake up a couple of times a night because my right arm has fallen asleep. And that makes me so tired, I’m getting dark circles under my eyes due to lack of sleep!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I’ve been taking it for 9 months and have extreme joint pain. The first few months weren’t too bad, except for the hot flashes. However, now the joint pain is so bad. I contacted my doctor, and she told me to stop taking it for a few weeks to see if the joint pain gets better."

• RSM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2023

For Breast Cancer "1st few months, only minor, occasional joint pain along with mild intermittent hot flashes. After that, had increasing joint pain issues and significant pain in wrist. Still can't bend my left thumb joint. Oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen about a month ago. No change in pain levels, though. Took 25 mg daily."