Exemastane

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The cancer has usually advanced.

How does it work?

• Exemastane lowers circulating estrogens. In breast cancer, growth of the cancer is fueled by estrogens.

How is it best taken?

• Take after a meal.
• Take at a similar time everyday.

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 medicine without talking with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, and pain medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or hobbies 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.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling tired. Use caution when driving, doing other tasks or hobbies.
• 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.

What should I monitor?

• Check blood pressure regularly.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.

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.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in tight container at room temperature.

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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