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| Pronunciation |
|
 (exe
MES
tane) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Aromasin® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antineoplastic Agent, Miscellaneous |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
- If you have an allergy to exemestane or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding.
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|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
The cancer has usually advanced.
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| How does it work? |
|
|
- Exemestane lowers circulating estrogens. In breast cancer, growth of
the cancer is fueled by estrogens.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take after a meal.
- Take at a similar time
everyday.
|
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible, but it should be after a meal.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- If you are premenopausal tell your healthcare provider.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that may affect blood pressure.
This includes cough/cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling tired. Use caution when driving, doing other tasks or
activities.
- Hot flashes.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Depression.
- Inability to sleep or
nervous.
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| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Severe nausea or vomiting.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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