(exemestane) film coated tablet
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Exemestane GH. 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 Exemestane GH against the benefits it is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Exemestane GH is used for
Exemestane GH is used to treat 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.
Exemestane GH is used to reduce the risk of recurrence or spreading of the breast cancer. It is also used when the cancer has not responded or has returned after treatment with another medicine or medicines.
How Exemestane GH works
Exemestane GH 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 Exemestane GH has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.
Exemestane GH is only available with a doctor’s prescription. It is not addictive.
Before you take Exemestane GH
When you must not take it
Do not take Exemestane GH and talk to your doctor if you think you may have an allergy to:
- exemestane, the active ingredient in Exemestane GH;
- any of the other ingredients in Exemestane GH listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Exemestane GH if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Exemestane GH may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.
Do not breastfeed while taking Exemestane GH. There is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Exemestane GH is not recommended for use in children.
Do not take Exemestane GH after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not take Exemestane GH if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If your Exemestane GH has expired or is damaged return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Exemestane GH, 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 problems;
- have or have had liver problems;
- have osteoporosis (disease which causes bones to be more brittle and likely to break);
- have a vitamin D deficiency.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell your doctor before you start taking Exemestane GH.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines should not be used with Exemestane GH. These include:
- medicines which contain estrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT);
- oral contraceptives.
Some health food products for menopausal symptoms contains 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 Exemestane GH.
How to take Exemestane GH
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
The recommended dose is one 25 mg tablet taken once daily.
When to take it
Take the tablet once daily 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 Exemestane GH.
Do not stop taking Exemestane GH 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 Exemestane GH as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the one 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 or Poisons Information Centre (Phone Australia 13 11 26 or New Zealand 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Exemestane GH.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
While you are taking Exemestane GH
Things you must do
Use Exemestane GH 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 Exemestane GH.
If you go into hospital whilst taking Exemestane GH, let the medical staff know that you are taking Exemestane GH.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking Exemestane GH.
Things you must not do
Do not give Exemestane GH to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Exemestane GH to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking Exemestane GH or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery, until you know how Exemestane GH affects you. Exemestane GH may cause tiredness or dizziness in some people.
If you experience these effects whilst taking Exemestane GH, you should not attempt to drive or operate machinery.
If Exemestane GH 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 do not feel well while you are taking Exemestane GH. Exemestane GH, like other medicines, may cause unwanted side effects in some people. Many women can take Exemestane GH 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;
- diarrhoea;
- tiredness;
- swelling in your legs;
- dizziness and headache;
- increased sweating;
- difficulty sleeping;
- depression;
- disturbed vision such as blurriness;
- pain in your muscle or joints;
- increase in weight;
- skin rash or itching;
- hair loss;
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal;
- pain and/or numbness of hands, loss of feeling in fingers/thumb;
- frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers;
- symptoms of gastric ulcer such as blood in stools, black tarry stools or vomiting of blood;
- abnormal vaginal bleeding;
- hepatitis, yellowing of the skin or eyes, also called jaundice.
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 Exemestane GH
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 Exemestane GH in a dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not leave Exemestane GH or any other medicine in the car or on window sills.
Do not store Exemestane GH or any other medicines in a bathroom or near a sink. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep Exemestane GH where children cannot reach it. 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 Exemestane GH 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
Exemestane GH tablets are white to off-white, round, biconvex film-coated tablets debossed with ‘E25’ on one side and plain on the other.
Exemestane GH tablets are available in blister packs of 30 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
Exemestane GH tablets contain 25 mg of exemestane as the active ingredient.
Other ingredients
- mannitol;
- microcrystalline cellulose;
- crospovidone;
- sodium starch glycollate (Type A);
- hypromellose;
- polysorbate 80;
- colloidal anhydrous silica;
- magnesium stearate;
- OPADRY complete film coating system 03B58900 White.
Australian Registration Numbers
Exemestane GH 25 mg: AUST R 167858.
Sponsor
Generic Health Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 2
19-23 Prospect Street
Box Hill, VIC, 3128
Australia
E-mail: ghinfo@generichealth.com.au
Telephone: +61 3 9809 7900
Website: www.generichealth.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in August 2020.
Published by MIMS October 2020