Treatment Modalities for Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeleta JPR
Like Arimidex (above), the drug letrozole (Femara) has uses similar to those of Aromasin. Here’s a comparison of how Aromasin and letrozole are alike and different. You may wonder how Aromasin compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses.
- This isn’t an issue for every patient, but it’s important to know the signs.
- They may be able to recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), to help ease your headache.
- This is why Aromasin is FDA-approved only for women who are postmenopausal (have gone through menopause) and have ovaries that aren’t as active.
In a study of advanced breast cancer, 13% of women who took Aromasin and 13% of women who took megestrol (another cancer treatment) reported having body aches and pains. Due to the specificity of the aromatase enzyme, selective inhibition of aromatase would not interfere with the other steroid biosynthesis. Even though there is evidence that letrozole is more potent in reducing plasma estrogen levels 37, the clinical significance of this finding remains unclear. The phase III clinical trial comparing steroidal (exemestane) vs. non-steroidal (anastrozole) AIs is currently ongoing. Naturally, serum oestrogens levels decrease with a lowered body fat percentage too, as there has been less available fat to produce aromatase enzyme.
What are aromatase inhibitors and why are they prescribed?
Cardiotoxicity is damage that can occur to the heart that may affect how well it works. Similarly, liver toxicity is damage to the liver that may affect its function. These are just a few of the side effects Arimidex may cause.
Common side effects:
By reducing your estrogen levels, aromatase inhibitors keep cancerous cells from growing and spreading. Healthcare providers use aromatase inhibitors to treat hormone receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast https://www.lucyhotel.gr/steroids-understanding-their-use-and-implications-20/ cancer. ER-positive breast cancer often affects women who are age 50 and older.
More about Aromasin (exemestane)
This medication is used in the latter stages after the patient has been on Tamoxifen for 2-3 years. This medicine is also given to women suffering from advanced breast cancer whose disease is exacerbated due to endocrine alterations. Coupled with other malignancies, cancer has the terrible downside of rapid cellular division. This medication attempts to control the increasing estrogen levels which, in turn, helps to limit cancer growth. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen.