Switching from anastrozole to exemestane: Anyone made this switch?

I am about to do this. I have been on Exemestane for 18 months. Side effects are starting to affect me - dizziness, joint aches, hair loss, heart palpitations and then, a blood clot. I was taking it 3X week. Now, I think I will take a month off and see how I feel.

@rosa1935
Red light therapy is great.
I have a neighbor whose son had an osteosarcoma. They bought a nice high-end red-light sauna, and he used it. She swore that it reduced the size of his tumor. He did end up having to have an amputee, but he used it for healing also.
It was a mobile sauna, so she let me use it after my mastectomy. I cannot say that it helped with my healing, but it could have. I was taking gabapentin for nerve damage too, so it finally went away.
But I can verify that I had a small spot on one thigh that I had nerve damage from an old accident/ fall and the sauna would make that same spot heat up like the sun was burning it. I would come out of the sauna with no red spot or burns but the numbness from the nerve damage went away & has stayed away.
I have since bought a shoulder red light wrap for my rotator cuff tear. I do believe it to be helping with that also now.

I took anastrozole for seven months and the side effects were so bad I stopped. I took a month off and my oncologist put me on exemestane. I’ve been taking it since September 15th 2025. The side effects started right away and they are just as bad as anastrozole for me.
Good luck. I hope you don’t have any side effects.

@celestebradham I was reading your post. Hope you are doing well still. I was interested in how long your did acupuncture. I do acupuncture treatments for scar tissue and nerve damage from my mastectomy. It had relieved my pain and spasms significantly and made such a difference. It’s been a journey, but a positive and bless journey. So thankful for the acupuncture treatment.

Hi. I stopped because of the headaches. I only took every other day. And then o even tried every three days( didnt run that past my dr.) just refuse to deal with headaches. I have tried a few different options of these meds.in my mind the side effects were not worth the small percentage of help. I'd rather feel decent everyday. I had stage 2.had surgery ,5 months chemo ( ref devil) and 15 radiation treatments.

@lynnpete Hi, I had stage 2B, surgery, 5 mos chemo (red devil) and 25 radiation treatments, was on Letrozole for 3 months and couldn't take the joint pain, irritability and insomnia. Then a month off and felt wonderful. Just completed a month of Exemestane and the stomach issues and diarrhea were awful and just like you, I only took it 3 times a week. Now thinking of taking "Breast Defend" which is a DIM supplement to support my body.
Not sure what to do next, but I know my oncologist will recommend anastrozole as that's my last choice. I feel SO much better when I don't take any AI's, but the worry is there of a recurrence. What do you think you'll do?

As of today. I'm thinking no more meds.. really i keep going back and forth..i gave PET scan end of Oct.,then mammogram. And in dec a bone scan.. .maybe I'll change my mind if anything shows up in any of these scans. I'm 63, second time dealing with cancer.first time was sarcoma on scalp 25 years ago. Just want to feel good day to day.and the meds weren't allowing that.

Also wanted to ask what you know about "breadt defend" you mentioned

@brightlight66 i think i replied in general info. Sorry..new to this😊 also was wondering what you know about "breast defend"? Thanks

@3dogngt

A month on, a month off is not good at all. No coverage for a month.

Go on Pub Med and read about the trials where Exemestane is taken every other day.
Talk to your doctor about this…