Which Aromatase Inhibitor Is Best With Least Side Effects

For more information on any of these side effects visit the treatment side effects section.
Which aromatase inhibitor is best with least side effects. Some common side effects are described below. But aromatase inhibitors can cause more heart problems more bone loss osteoporosis and more broken bones than tamoxifen at least for the first few years of treatment. Pdf version 135kb. The most common side effects of ais are symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes night sweats and vaginal dryness.
The pain may be in the hands and wrists. Aromatase inhibitors ais like arimidex aromasin and femara are also used to help fight cancer cell regrowth. These drugs can also cause muscle and joint pain. Findings from randomized controlled trials have shown the aromatase inhibitors exemestane and anastrozole may lower the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk however aromatase inhibitors are not fda approved for use as risk lowering drugs.
Anastrozole and letrozole are both aromatase inhibitors anti cancer medications used for treating postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors are used in the treatment of breast cancer to reduce levels of circulating estrogen. Premenopausal women who also get ovarian suppression. The side effects of all three drugs are similar.
Like all drugs aromatase inhibitors can cause side effects but it s not possible to predict how any of the drugs will affect an individual. Side effects of anastrozole and letrozole that are similar include nausea vomiting and headache. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that work by blocking the enzyme aromatase the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen. The brand name for anastrozole is arimidex and the brand name for letrozole is femara both drugs are available in generic form.
This means that less estrogen is available to stimulate the growth of estrogen receptor er positive breast cancer cells slowing or inhibiting the. Joint pain arthralgia and muscle pain myalgia are common side effects of aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitors have similar side effects to those of tamoxifen but also affect bone health. Aromatase inhibitors tend to cause fewer serious side effects than tamoxifen such as blood clots stroke and endometrial cancer.
These drugs work to block cell receptors like estrogen and progesterone in breast cancers that are hormone receptor positive. Joint and muscle pain. Which aromatase inhibitor causes the fewest side effects. What are the risks and side effects of aromatase inhibitors.
People often ask if one drug causes fewer side effects than the others. Side effects of aromatase inhibitors include. The table below gives you a summary of some of the most common possible side effects of the different hormonal therapy medicines so you can do a general side by side comparison. Aromatase inhibitors have been studied in the risk reduction setting.
This side effect can be serious enough to cause some women to stop taking the drugs. Nausea and vomiting diarrhea and constipation hot flashes headache bone pain severe fatigue skin rash swelling and water retention.