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Joint and muscle pain with exemestane

Posted by robijo78 @robijo78, Apr 17 4:12pm

I started taking exemastane after trying anastrozole ,the anastrozole i took for a month and had painful joints and muscels,my dr. Let me stop and now am trying the exemestane. I am now in even more pain!! I talk to her next week to see what I can do,I don't see how i can do this for 5 years!!! Im hoping there's something I can take or if I can try some integrated medicine if my insurance will cover it. I'm just not sure what to do? My dr said most of these meds have similar side effects. ??

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robijo78 | @robijo78 | 5 days ago
In reply to @mistymar "Did they take you off medication for at least a month? I had the same problem..." + (show)
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Did they take you off medication for at least a month? I had the same problem with Anastrazole and he finally said “you shouldn’t have to live in pain” and took me off. It took 3-4 weeks before I really felt comfortable and changed to the exemestane. While I do have a little discomfort in lower back and hips, overall I really don’t feel I have pain from exemestane. Of course everyone is different but this could still be from the Anastrazole if you didn’t have time to recover. Of course, they all have different problems and with the exemestane, extreme fatigue and (as someone else noted here) the INSOMNIA - most likely because exemestane is in the steroid family so stimulates cortisol. I’m lucky if I get 4 hours a night which adds to the fatigue. Currently I’m on another break and while still not sleeping, less fatigued during the day and overall feel better. I call him next week to see what to do and unfortunately, that may mean letrozole which seems to be closer to Anastrazole. Will just have to see where I go with this as I have another 3 years to deal with this.

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@mistymar oh gosh,it sure does sound like a lot of people have the same sort of side effects 🙄 I don't have the insomnia, thank goodnes!!! But I talk to oncologist on next tuesday,she mentioned a drug holiday,im hoping that will help,thank you!!

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