Arimidex vs Exemestane

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LM070917
LM070917 Member Posts: 323
edited March 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hey ladies,

I'm due to start hormone therapy in the next 3 weeks. I originally thought I was going to be on exemestane, but instead my oncologist is keen for me to try Arimidex with zoladex. Does anyone know the difference between these two AIs and is one more effective than the other? I am pre-menopausal (35 yrs old) and 90% ER positive/30% PR. I will also be taking a bone acid intravenously every 6 months to prevent bone loss and further reduce recurrance.


Thanks 😀

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited March 2016

    In the US, AIs are prescribed to post-menopausal women only. Usually, they start with arimidex or its generic version anastrozoleand move to something else if arimidex doesn't work or gives bad side effects. Exemestane has a different mechanism of action but produces the same result. You can find more details in the hormonal treatments section on this website.

    Does your oncologist plan to remove your ovaries before starting you on an AI?

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  • LM070917
    LM070917 Member Posts: 323
    edited March 2016

    thanks muska, no my oncologist has advised I take zoladex (a monthly injection) to shutdown my ovaries.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2016

    Hi, one drug might be first rx'd a bit more than the other..I took tamox till I menopaused, then got arimidex with awful side effects. I'm on aromasin (exemestane) and it's much, much better. Our physiologies are unique to us, so some women do awfully on exemestane but wonderfully on arimidex. It just depends. My MO told me that both drugs are equally effective at what they are supposed to do.

    C

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited March 2016

    Arimidex/anastrazole was the first aromatase inhibitor on the market so tends to be the initial choice for many. Femara (generic=letrozole) has a similar chemical structure, as hinted at by the -zole at the end of their names. Aromasin, also known as exemestane, is different due to being an androstenedione derivative, putting it in the "steroidal" class. It was the most recent introduction, in the US anyway.

    They all work to inactivate the enzyme that converts substrate to estrogen and, as claireinaz describes, are usually thought to be equivalent from a clinical standpoint.

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  • SheriBell
    SheriBell Member Posts: 393
    edited March 2016

    Hi Ladies,

    I haven't been on the boards on a long time. I was dx in Feb 2011. Had bilateral mastectomy and then a hysterectomy in 2012. While on Femara I got a torn meniscus and required surgery on my knee and a "trigger thumb." I attributed this to the meds and I was in a lot of pain. My onco moved away and I was assigned another onco who told me I basically no longer needed an AI since I had the hysterectomy. Well, now I have a newer younger and FEMALE (yay) onco who is telling me that YES INDEED I still need to be on an AI. Since I crashed and burned on Femara she is putting me on Aromasin. I have had the pills in my possession since March 3rd and I can not bring myself to start taking it. The pain was so so bad on Femara I am so scared to start this med. Has anyone had a bad experience on one of these drugs and then took another and was fine?? Any info appreciated!!!

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