Aromasin Consumer Medicine Information
Exemestane 25mg tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Aromasin. It does not
contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you
taking Aromasin against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Aromasin is used for
Aromasin is used to treat advanced breast cancer in women who no longer have their menstrual periods, either naturally due to their age (after menopause) or because they have had their ovaries surgically removed.
Aromasin is used when the cancer has not responded or has returned after treatment with another medicine or medicines.
How Aromasin works
Aromasin is an aromatase inactivator. It works by significantly reducing the supply of oestrogen to cancer cells. This stops the growth of those cancer cells which need oestrogen, a natural female sex hormone, to grow.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Aromasin has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed Aromasin for another reason.
There is no evidence that Aromasin is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Aromasin
When you must not take it
Do not take Aromasin and talk to your doctor if you think you may have an allergy to:
- exemestane, the active ingredient in Aromasin.
- any of the other ingredients in Aromasin listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not take Aromasin if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Aromasin may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.
Do not breastfeed while taking Aromasin. There is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Aromasin is not recommended for use in children.
Do not take Aromasin after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
Do not take Aromasin if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If your Aromasin has expired or is damaged return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Aromasin, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to:
- any medicine
- other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you:
- are still having your monthly period
- have or have had kidney or liver problems.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Aromasin.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines should not be used with Aromasin. These include medicines which contain oestrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and oral contraceptives. Some health food products for menopausal symptoms contain natural oestrogens. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medicines or health food products containing oestrogens.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns or questions about taking Aromasin.
How to take Aromasin
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take and when to take it
The recommended dose is one 25mg tablet taken once daily. The tablets should be taken after a meal at approximately the same time each day.
How long to take it
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how long to take Aromasin. Do not stop taking Aromasin unless your doctor tells you to, even if you feel better.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking Aromasin as you would normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, pharmacist or the National Poisons Information Centre (telephone 03 474 7000) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Aromasin. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are taking Aromasin
Things you must do
Use Aromasin exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Be sure to keep all your doctor's appointments so your progress can be checked. If you feel that your medicine is not helping your condition, talk to your doctor.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Aromasin.
If you go into hospital whilst taking Aromasin, let the medical staff know that you are taking Aromasin.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking Aromasin.
Things you must not do
Do not give Aromasin to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Aromasin to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking Aromasin or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Aromasin affects you.
Aromasin may cause tiredness or dizziness in some people. If you experience these effects whilst taking Aromasin, you should not attempt to drive or operate machinery.
If Aromasin makes you feel dizzy, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you feel unwell while you are taking Aromasin.
Aromasin, like other medicines, may cause unwanted side effects in some people. Many women can take Aromasin without any problems, but some women may have mild to moderate side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects or other effects that you think may be related to your treatment:
- hot flushes
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, indigestion, pain (including stomach ache)
- constipation
- tiredness
- swelling in your legs
- dizziness and headache
- increased sweating
- difficulty sleeping
- depression
- skin rash
- hair loss.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people. Some of these side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking Aromasin
Storage
Keep your tablets in their blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep Aromasin in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store Aromasin or any other medicines in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep Aromasin out of reach of children.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Aromasin or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
Product Description
What it looks like
Aromasin is available as 25mg tablets.
The tablets are round and off-white to slightly greyish in colour marked with '7663' on one side in black ink.
Aromasin 25mg tablets are available in blister packs of 30 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient: 25mg exemestane.
Other ingredients: Silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, light magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, methyl hydroxybenzoate, macrogol 6000, polysorbate 80, polyvinyl alcohol, simethicone emulsion, sodium starch glycollate, sucrose, titanium dioxide, cetyl esters wax, purified talc, carnauba wax and black printing ink.
This leaflet was prepared in May 2002.
