Applies to exemestane: oral tablets.
Side effects include:
Adverse events reported in ≥10% of patients with early-stage breast cancer receiving exemestane include hot flushes (flashes), fatigue, arthralgia, headache, insomnia, and increased sweating.
Adverse events reported in ≥5% of patients with advanced breast cancer receiving exemestane include fatigue, nausea, and hot flushes. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity.
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to exemestane: oral tablet.
Musculoskeletal
Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (28.8%)
Common (1% to 10%): Pain in limb, back pain, osteoarthritis, myalgia, pathological fracture, hypoesthesia, skeletal pain, osteoporosis, muscle cramp
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Osteoporotic fracture[Ref]
General
The most commonly reported side effects were hot flushes, arthralgia, and fatigue.[Ref]
Immunologic
Common (1% to 10%): Infection[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very Common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 18%), abdominal pain (up to 11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastric ulcers[Ref]
Dermatologic
Very common (10% or more): Increased sweating (17.8%), alopecia (15.1%)
Common (1% to 10%): Dermatitis
Postmarketing reports: Urticaria, pruritus, acute generalized exanthemos pustulosis[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Very common (10% or more): Hot flushes (up to 32.9%), Hypertension (15.1%)
Common (1% to 10%): Lymphedema, chest pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thromboembolism, myocardial infarction[Ref]
Hepatic
Very common (10% or more): Elevation of liver function tests (including enzymes, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase)
Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis including cholestatic hepatitis[Ref]
Psychiatric
Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (13.7%)
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, anxiety, confusion[Ref]
Nervous system
Very common (10% or more): Headache (13.6%), dizziness (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Paresthesia, carpal tunnel syndrome
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Somnolence, neuropathy[Ref]
Respiratory
Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea
Common (1% to 10%): Coughing, bronchitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, rhinitis[Ref]
Ocular
Common (1% to 101%): Visual disturbances[Ref]
Oncologic
Common (1% to 10%): Other primary cancer[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (up to 22.2%), pain (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Edema, influenza-like symptoms, fever, generalized weakness, pain at tumor sites, asthenia, peripheral edema[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Increased appetite, anorexia, hypercholesterolemia[Ref]
Genitourinary
Very common (10% or more): Gynecological (10.5%)
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, vaginal hemorrhage
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Uterine polyp, uterine polydectomy
Rare (less than 0.1%): Endometrial hyperplasia[Ref]
Hematologic
Very common (10% or more): Decrease in lymphocytes (20%)
Uncommon (0.1%to 1%): Thrombocytopenia, leucopenia[Ref]