Connect
Best time for exemestane?
I’ve been on exemestane for about 16 months. Taking it at dinner time because it needs to be taken with food and that is my most consistent meal. Extreme fatigue started at 4 months - HAD to take a nap mid afternoon or would actually fall asleep in the middle of things. All tests were normal. Then at 7 months the insomnia started which of course made the fatigue worse - lucky to get 3 hours of sleep. This made exercise more difficult (couldn’t do a full mile anymore without stopping 5 or 6 times). Other side effects of course but these were the major ones. He took me off at the last visit for 4 weeks which I extended to 6 because it took that long for me to actually feel like it’s worth living. Started melatonin and currently getting about 6-7 hours of sleep and doing much better otherwise. He wants me back on the exemestane to see if all my symptoms were just because of a lack of sleep and not because of the medication. Trying to find out recommendations for when to take it. Maybe better in the morning? Should I try for mid-day to try to change when it actually peaks? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.
Connect
@mistymar, you may also be interested in the tips shared in this related discussion:
- Timing of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) - taking day or night?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/timing-of-hrt-anastrozole-taking-day-or-night/
I take Exemestane first thing in the morning. Been taking it since Nov 2024. This is the first time I've heard that it should be taken with a meal. Quick web search says taking Exemestane with meal helps avoid nausea--which I never get with it.
Web also mentions that less may be absorbed when no food is present in stomach. No medical oncologist has ever warned me about this . Is this true? Is there research on this? Many thanks in advance to anyone who knows!
@peggydobbs this one is a bit tricky. The reason I take with food is because the prescription says to take “after a meal”. This usually means the drug is fat soluble. Which means not absorbed well without food. HOWEVER if you read the research, there is negligible difference in amount absorbed with or without fat. One said take with high fat meal for best absorption but in the same article said to not take with high fat because it can increase dose amount. So back to the primary reason for us is to prevent stomach upset. I eat low fat (high protein) anyway so I take after food to prevent any stomach upset.
To mistymar--Many thanks for your helpful reply!
I also take exemestane after food. I have a laundry list of medications to take every AM and PM so I do this to avoid nausea.
I was taking it in the AM but found by 4 PM, always, every single day, had a massive headache.
So I switched to after dinner. I can get a "small" headache as the evening goes on but it seems to be (so far) not as bad as taking it after breakfast. I also try for a high protein diet. Kind of tricky now b/c I have discovered I can not take dairy in anyway, shape or form. Despite taking Lactaid chewable pills when I do have diary. I am now discovering they are no longer effective. Have no idea why this started... but know my gut now doesn't like dairy at all. And I suffer the consequences. I live in the area where home-made pies, breads, cakes, etc. are absolutely delicious! Ugh! It is what it is. If I do "cheat"...my body feels it. The little pleasures in life, right?
How long does it take to get rid of the extra hormones we have on Exemestane? I can't believe that this drug takes 5 years to get rid of 95 % of our hormones. No every effective with taking it every day?? 25 miligrams?
Plus this drus is designed so it doesn't get rid of all the hormones, because as women we need our hormones. What amount is safe can anyone answer that question???
@peggydobbs I take it at lunch, as it breaks up the day and I am more active in the afternoon, than the morning. so I am not thinking about the medicine. Just about what I want to accomplish that day. I also take it with PROPEL with electrolytes, I have little to no side effects, once in a while I might have night sweats but, haven't pin pointed what I did differently that day to get night sweats. I do walking in the morning, and errands and gardening in the afternoons.
@mistymar
Any tips on Herceptin?? Starting that July 1st, anyoone got any good tips about this??