Exemestane
Exemestane is an aromatase inhibitor taken by postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer; it is listed here as Aromasin 25mg tablets, the range's only exemestane product.
What exemestane treats
Breast cancers that grow with oestrogen are the ones exemestane is aimed at, and it is used only in women who have been through the menopause. There are two situations. In early breast cancer it is started after two to three years of tamoxifen and continued so that the whole course of hormone treatment runs to about five years. In advanced breast cancer it is used when the disease has got worse during or after a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor such as anastrozole or letrozole.
How it lowers oestrogen
Once the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, most oestrogen comes from androgens that are converted by an enzyme called aromatase, largely in fat, muscle and skin. Exemestane is a steroidal aromatase inactivator: it locks onto the enzyme and disables it for good, so no new oestrogen is made while it stays switched off. The body has to build fresh enzyme before production can restart, which is why a tablet every day keeps the level low. Anastrozole and letrozole attach to the same enzyme but let go again; exemestane's grip is permanent.
Taking your tablet
One 25mg tablet a day is the dose. Take it after a meal rather than on an empty stomach — food improves absorption — and keep to roughly the same time each day, morning or evening, whichever suits your routine. Swallow it with water. Keep the pack out of direct sunlight and away from heat.
Side effects and interactions
Lower oestrogen explains most of the complaints: hot flushes, night sweats, aching joints and muscles, broken sleep, tiredness, headaches and, for some women, thinning hair. Nausea and mild puffiness in the hands and feet are reported too. After years on the tablet the bones lose density and fractures become likelier. Liver inflammation, shown by yellow skin or eyes with dark urine, and severe skin reactions are rare.
Anything that adds oestrogen works against the tablet, so hormone replacement therapy, oestrogen creams and vaginal oestrogen do not go with it. Rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine and St John's wort lower the amount of exemestane in the body.
Aromasin 25mg tablets
The shop carries one exemestane product: Aromasin 25mg tablets, the brand-name coated tablet taken once a day. 25mg is the strength exemestane tablets come in, and there is no lower-dose or liquid version to choose between, so the decision is about how many packs you want.
Sources
- Exemestane: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Exemestane 25 mg coated tablets — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Where can I buy Exemestane in Hong Kong?
Exemestane can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong, listed as generic Aromasin tablets in 25mg. A parcel that does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, is sent again free, and where a replacement is not possible the order is refunded.
What is the price of Exemestane?
Aromasin is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Is there a generic Aromasin?
Yes, generic Aromasin is listed as 25mg tablets and contains exemestane. There is no separate plain exemestane product and no other named version in the range, so this tablet is the one that carries the ingredient.
What is another name for exemestane?
Aromasin is a brand name of exemestane. Here, exemestane can be bought online as generic Aromasin. These are generics, not the original brand.
Does exemestane have to be taken with food?
Yes. The 25mg tablet is taken after a meal rather than on an empty stomach, because food improves how much of the drug the body absorbs. Most people settle on breakfast or the evening meal and take it at that same point every day.
How long do you stay on exemestane?
In early breast cancer it is usually started after two to three years of tamoxifen and continued until five years of hormone treatment are complete. In advanced disease it is taken for as long as it is holding the cancer back.
What is the difference between Aromasin and exemestane?
They are the same medicine: exemestane is the active ingredient and Aromasin is the brand name it was first sold under. PockDose lists the 25mg tablet under the Aromasin name.
Can exemestane be taken before the menopause?
No. It is used in women who have been through the menopause. Before that point the ovaries are still the main source of oestrogen, and switching off the aromatase enzyme on its own does not lower oestrogen enough to help.
Can I drink alcohol with exemestane?
There is no known interaction between exemestane and alcohol, so a glass of wine with your evening tablet is not a problem in itself. Alcohol can bring on hot flushes in some women, and if that happens it is worth cutting back.