Prescription medication · Aromatase Inhibitor (Steroidal)
exemestane
Also sold as Aromasin. Exemestane is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 20,856
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 98% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $36.67
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
exemestane (Aromasin) is a prescription Aromatase Inhibitor (Steroidal), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (20,856 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 98% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
exemestane (Aromasin) is a prescription Aromatase Inhibitor (Steroidal). Exemestane is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause.
Exemestane is a medicine used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause. It lowers estrogen levels in the body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$36.67/unit
Generic Price
$0.67/unit
Generic Savings
98%
Generic Available
Yes (6 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Exemestane is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause.
Common side effects
Hot flashes, Feeling tired, Joint pain
Key warnings
Exemestane can cause bone thinning (lower bone mineral density).
The sections below are summarized in plain English from exemestane's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Exemestane blocks a substance called aromatase in your body. Aromatase makes estrogen. By blocking aromatase, exemestane lowers the amount of estrogen, which can slow the growth of breast cancer cells.
How to Take It
Take one 25 mg exemestane tablet once a day. Always take it right after a meal. If you are also taking certain other medicines (like rifampicin or phenytoin), your doctor may tell you to take a 50 mg dose.
This is a plain-language summary of exemestane's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Exemestane can harm an unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you must use effective birth control while taking exemestane and talk to your doctor. Do not breastfeed while taking exemestane and for 1 month after the last dose.
This is a plain-language summary of exemestane's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of exemestane's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store exemestane tablets at room temperature (between 59°F and 86°F).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 20,856 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for exemestane, by number of reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
2,175 reports
- Cancer getting worse
Cancer getting worse
1,772 reports
- Joint pain
Joint pain
1,679 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
1,675 reports
- Loose stools
Loose stools
1,661 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
1,372 reports
- Discomfort
Discomfort
1,111 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
1,066 reports
- General feeling of discomfort
General feeling of discomfort
1,049 reports
- Head pain
Head pain
1,047 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for exemestane each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where exemestane sits
exemestane has more FDA adverse-event reports than 56% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is exemestane; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 20,856 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
20,856
Reports Mentioning Death
2,477
11.9% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
5,181
Top Indication
Breast Cancer
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 2,174 |
| 2 | MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION | 1,772 |
| 3 | ARTHRALGIA | 1,678 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 1,675 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 1,661 |
| 6 | DYSPNOEA | 1,372 |
| 7 | PAIN | 1,111 |
| 8 | ASTHENIA | 1,065 |
| 9 | MALAISE | 1,049 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 1,047 |
| 11 | COUGH | 1,001 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 971 |
| 13 | DISEASE PROGRESSION | 961 |
| 14 | DEATH | 927 |
| 15 | NEOPLASM PROGRESSION | 923 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Exemestane can cause bone thinning (lower bone mineral density). Your doctor should check your vitamin D levels before you start taking exemestane. If you could get pregnant, exemestane can harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control while taking this medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
Drugs That Induce CYP 3A4 Co-medications that induce CYP 3A4 (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or St.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body break down exemestane faster, which could make it less effective.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your dose of exemestane while you are taking this combination.
Drugs That Induce CYP 3A4 Co-medications that induce CYP 3A4 (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or St.
Mechanism: Phenytoin speeds up the liver's ability to clear exemestane from your system.
What to do: Your healthcare provider might need to adjust your medication dose to ensure it still works well.
Drugs That Induce CYP 3A4 Co-medications that induce CYP 3A4 (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or St.
Mechanism: Phenobarbital causes your body to process and remove exemestane more quickly than normal.
What to do: Your doctor may need to change your dosage to keep the medicine at the right level in your body.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I take exemestane if I am still having periods?
Will exemestane cure my breast cancer?
Can I take estrogen supplements while taking exemestane?
How long will I need to take exemestane?
What should I do if I have severe side effects?
Will exemestane cause weight gain?
Can I drink alcohol while taking exemestane?
Does exemestane interact with other medications?
Will exemestane cause hair loss?
How often will my bone density be checked?
What are the common side effects of exemestane?
Does exemestane interact with other medications?
What drug class is exemestane?
Is there a generic version of exemestane?
Is exemestane safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Aromatase Inhibitor (Steroidal)
Other drugs grouped near exemestane - same-class peers and common alternatives.
abiraterone
Zytiga
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anastrozole
Arimidex
Anastrozole is a medicine used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause.
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bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens
Duavee
Duavee is a combination medicine containing estrogen and a drug that blocks estrogen in some parts of the body.
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cabergoline
Dostinex
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clomiphene
Clomid, Serophene
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for exemestane
The FDA label for exemestane (sold under brand names such as Aromasin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Aromatase Inhibitor (Steroidal) class. Exemestane is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Hot flashes, Feeling tired, Joint pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 20,856 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.67 versus $36.67 for the brand - a 98% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 29, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages