Best time for exemestane?

I believe Exemestane caused my insomnia. I am at very low risk of cancer coming back - I stopped taking it. I had tried all three of the AI drugs
My doctor did prescribe a sleeping pill. Which made me sleep- but not a great sleep- but I felt very strange and off the next day
Good luck to you

Greetings, Misty Mar, Sorority Sister of a different kind.
Sorry to hear, I am not the only one on the battlefield for wellness.
First to reply to the question. Magnesium helps relax my body.
Lengthy info: 8/2021 Stage 2 | Happy Chemo days | Sept-Jan 2022 | break start Anastrozole | March, left breast mastectomy, reconstruction, 10 lymps bye bye..| May-June: Radiation | July -meet with Team, yippy.
Then the crawl of side effects. I pray I am alone with these.
July 1st, 2026 - 4 yrs Warrior celebration of thriving, keep fighting!

End of Dec. 2025, I started exemestane, which replaced Anastrozole I had started after chemo 1/2022, stopped on and off until surgery and radiation ended.
It took a while to get my "questioning thoughts back on how I should feel while detoxing from treatments, etc.
I will focus on exemestane. With the new info from chat, I will make sure I have a light bite with exemestane.
More than likely, almond butter on a slice of low-carb toast and 1/2 cup of milk. Drs. have me off of calcium supplements.
Without guidance, I take meds at night with the thought that while my body is at rest, the med will work best.
LOL, just like beauty sleep and lotions, etc.
I take at night with magnesium, all products I use are considered "clean products and some are medical grade.
The nausea is relieved with turmeric capsules from the same USA manufacturer of the magnesium.
I learned about turmeric from a young client. She was happy to hear from me. I shared a few things and, as always, kept upbeat. Client said, " Let me explain how to continue your best homeopathic life with prescriptions. Start sipping turmeric tea all day, and your body will feel the difference. Yes, sipping the tea made a difference. Then I decided to order turmeric capsules from a trusted brand.

Thankfully, I am a sleeper. However, since I've been taking the magnesium and turmeric capsules, I sleep well with little or no nausea or cramping.
The magnesium also helped my happy, healthy chemo toes from cramping. I also use the magnesium soap gel and lotion.
I am happy to say that my cognitive thinking has improved since changing from Anstrozole to Dex.
However, the main side effect I am having is substantial weight gain.
From mid-January to May 26, I've gained 32 pounds. I did not earn the gain. Always had weight challenges.
Drs. are not worried, said it happens. I chart and journal. August, when I meet the team for a 6-month check-up, they will decide how to manage the side effect. I am conflicted with the thought of changing to a 3rd try and chance new side effects.
When I was initially diagnosed, I prayed for guidance. Homeopathic or Western. I choose the obvious with the promise that I will do the time. I will be on Dexi for 3 1/2 more years, maybe!
Positive vibes and Godspeed healing, fight fight!

Exemestane questions: Does anyone have substantial weight gain with this medication?
I also have a loss of appetite and have to focus on "See Food, to force myself to eat solid food.
Past 45 days, I am off liquids with the hopes of tricking my body to losing. My next Team appointment will be Aug.
They will run thyroid test, etc.
Interesting thought, Exemestane and Anastrozole affect the thyroid?

Any Yes' of gains?
Help, how to handle the gains and stay on trek with med.
I am on one medication, Exemestane. Thank you!

@medranocm yes weight gain. It is listed as a side effect of the medication. I was holding (not loosing) on Anastrazole but the switch to exemestane hit hard. It the start of the third month, I gained 10# in1 week with no changes in exercise or eating habits. The only thing that stopped it was 24 hour liquid fast. When mentioned it, was told by 2 of the doctors that it doesn’t cause weight gain, just makes it more difficult to loose. You’re not imagining it, it happens to a lot of us.

I gained weight too on exemestane. I had a single mastectomy in 2023.

I've tried to exercise harder, intermittent fasting and nothing helps me lose weight.

And I still have to take exemestane for another 7 years. Not happy about this. I'm have now insomnia, hot flashes and hair loss too.

Oh my, thank you, Sorority sisters, for your responses.
Grateful for chat support.
In the past and currently, I would tell Drs. don't judge the book by its cover.
My labs show healthy; I am healthy, happy, grateful, and cancer-free.

The weight was an old lifestyle.
Yes, Drs. stated, low percentages of my kind of side effects.
Replied: Dr., you are a good listener to patients, start documenting and reporting. I will continue to do the same on MyChart.
So far, I have not seen documentation of my side effects in the chart.
My concerns are now stated.
I just emailed the oncologist at City of Hope, CA, with updates.
Interesting, when communication is written, a response has substance vs. a low percentage of verbiage, etc.

Thank you for the peace of mind. I am not the tin-can woman; I have a brain, and it's not my imagination.
Will continue to fuel my body well, document and think, breathe. " I am a happy, healthy woman, living a new norm."

I was always taking it with dinner because I got sick when I took it without food. I was having very bad insomnia though, so I am trying it earlier at lunch time instead. I am also taking it every other day now because after 3 years, it was becoming more and more intolerable for me to remain on a daily dose.

@coco46 when I restarted, I went with morning. Put it on the list so I’ll get a reminder and will eat something to get it down. The instructions on mine say to take after a meal so with food as it were. Only been a week so just have to see what happens before our next visit at the end of the month. I’ve discussed every other day but he won’t approve it because it’s “against standard of care”. But if it helps you, I may consider ignoring that and trying it. But may be moot point if he changes me to letrozole.

@mistymar
Hi!

I choose to take 25 mg of Exemestane with lunch. The mornings are easy peasy here so. After I am awake a bit I take it with lunch. I have minimal side effects. Night sweats sometimes but not all the time, moodiness, but not always. Some aches and pains here and there, but nothing too much. I feel fortunate. I also drink PROPEL which is a water supplement with electrolytes in it. That was a game changer. Also, I am walking and busier in the afternoon, so things seem rosier. I am taking Fosamax for osteoporosis. Seems like my body is accepting this. How much estrogen do you have after 3 years of taking Exemestane? I would check that out, and ask that question.
Anyone doing Herceptin taking these meds? How successful has that been?>

Hello, Sorority Healing Sister.
"It took that long for me to actually feel like it’s worth living." THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND TALKING TO THE DOCTOR. PLEASE BREATHE AND HOLD ON, SEEK HELP.
INTERESTING, THIS PAST MARCH I VISITED FRIENDS AKA RETIRED RN'S, PYCH, ETC.
WHEN THEY HEARD I SWITCHED TO EXEMESTANE. A FEW IMMEDIATELY ASKED MOOD SWINGS, DEPRESSED, ANY THOUGHTS OF NOT LIVING, ETC.?
I take 25 mg of Exemestane at night with the hope of helping; it rejuvenates and restores while sleeping. Since the last check-in, thanks for the tip to eat when taking medication. I now make sure I have organic almond butter and 1 slice of bread when taking it before bedtime. Happy to hear some have little side effects. Suspect mine may be minimal compared to others.
Received my chart response from the doctor about excessive gains. Disappointed with the response that I might be a candidate for GP1. Whoa, no, thank you. Gain is not from excessive calories.
It is with great appreciation for the shares.
How to manage the new norm while trying to add back the hikes, etc. Oh, and the quick uninvited naps, fatigue, and irritability.
Happy- someone mentioned moods. I am trying to manage the unnecessary thoughts and responses. So unlike me to snap.

SORRY, HAVE TO END CHAT, CLIENT JUST CAME IN.