Anyone else have Insomnia with Aromasin (exemestane)?

I have had pretty bad on and off bouts of insomnia since my diagnosis and treatments began. I have been on aromasin for a little over 2 years now. I honestly don't know which of my medications cause which of my side effects, when you start so many treatments/medications all at once or within a couple months of each other. I also don't know why sometimes it's worse than others but I have tried a lot of different things. Some times one helps more than another, some times nothing helps.

I try to relax as much as possible before bed, limit phone/tablet interaction. I do watch TV but I try to keep it to programs that won't get my brain thinking too much. Sometimes I will listen to soothing, relaxing music before or even while I fall asleep. I go for instrumental hymns and praying as well. I have a weighted stuffed toy that I lay across me, it makes me feel more relaxed. I used to have a weighted blanket but now with my hot flashes and how weak I am, I can't use it anymore.
I take melatonin, a slow release low dose. I also take a tart cherry extract gummy before bed, that has helped me sleep deeper. I was hardly sleeping and never dreaming since my diagnosis but when I started on the tart cherry gummies more recently, I have been dreaming regularly again. Even when I still don't get as many hours of sleep, I think it's a better quality of sleep. Something else I use often but not always is a sleep mask, to make it darker for my eyes. When I have bad hot flashes, I have to take it off because my face gets too hot and sweaty. When I get bad anxiety attacks, I have something called a Purrble, it's little toy companion with a heartbeat and it also makes a kind of purring sound/feeling. The idea is that IT has a fast heartbeat as if it's scared and by YOU holding it next to your heart and stroking it, it calms down slowly and the heartbeat slowly slows back down. This in turn, slows down your own heartbeat along with it. It's pretty amazing how well it actually works. So depending on how I am feeling, the causes making it worse, etc, I just adjust all these things as needed and do my best to stay relaxed.

I hope something here might help you get some much needed rest. Hugs

Some may find these stories relaxing. They can be found on any major podcast or music site. Places like Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music.
Enter the info exactly as follows: Larissa's Moonlit Tales. Larissa has a soothing voice and shares stories. I believe they are stories associated with her life experiences. Even her own teenage daughter couldn't sleep due to an illness. She played this for her and she fell asleep. Worth a try.

@kategiddyup, while not specific to Aromasin (exemestane), you might fnd these related discussions helpful in addition to the helpful tips you got from @ksue3 and @coco460

- Does taking aromatase inhibitor at night contribute to insomnia? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-taking-anastrozole-at-night-contribute-to-insomnia/
- Has anyone on Letrozole had night sweats and poor sleep? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/letrozole-and-night-sweats-and-poor-sleep/

Yes!! I did while on Exemestane

I have been on exemestane for about a year now. Started on Anastrazole but because of side effects, was changed to exemestane after about 9 months. Initially, it was so much better but now I have the same problem, coupled with extreme fatigue. It’s a physical fatigue - I’m not sleepy, don’t yawn and get that “feeling” but just kind of wear down mid afternoon and have to lie down for a rest (not a nap because I rarely actually sleep). That started about 4 months into exemestane. They did a panel for fatigue and everything was normal. Then about 7 months into it, the insomnia hit. I’m also on about 4 hours a night if I’m lucky. Nothing helps - have tried melatonin, sleep sounds, meditation, counting - whatever I find that may help. Did finally try magnesium glycinate and initially it seemed to help, up to about 6-7 hours, but then everything reverted back. Unfortunately, no one will admit to exemestane being the cause - both oncologist and PCP push for antidepressants. I currently just work around it the best I can because I’m not comfortable coming off the med.

A couple things I did that helped with insomnia was acupuncture, pranayama, magnesium glycinate and sleepy time tea. It helped for almost 9 months or more. Than insomnia hit again…
I did a wash from Exemestane and started Letrozole- I made every joint and muscle in my body hurt. Doing a wash now from that. In the meantime I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in left knee. It came on very suddenly 🙁. I may try Exemestane after the holidays but not sure. I’m enjoying no aches and stiffness in most my joints.
I have a low reoccurring risk but still a risk. Tough decision but one you need to be comfortable with.