Side Effects

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In general, exemestane is well tolerated and the following side effects observed in patients treated with exemestane are mainly mild or moderate in nature. Most of the side effects are associated with a shortage of oestrogen (e.g. hot flushes). Contact your doctor immediately to seek urgent medical advice if you think you experience any of the following serious side effects: Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): • A reduction in the number of white blood cells. Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): • A reduction in the number of platelets in the blood. Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): • Allergic reaction (symptoms include sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of eyelids, face or lips, fever, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body). Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people): • Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). • Inflammation of the bile ducts of the liver which cause yellowing of the skin (cholestatic hepatitis) may occur. Symptoms include feeling generally unwell, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), itching, right sided abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data); • Low level of certain white blood cells (lymphocytes). Changes in the amount of certain blood cells (lymphocytes) and platelets circulating in your blood may occur, especially in patients with a pre-existing reduction of lymphocytes in the blood (lymphopenia). Other side effects: Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): • Depression. • Difficulty sleeping. • Headache. • Hot flushes. • Dizziness. • Feeling sick (nausea). • Increased sweating. • Muscle and joint pain (including inflammation of the joints, back pain, and joint stiffness). • Tiredness. • Abdominal pain. • Elevated level of liver enzymes. • Elevated level of a haemoglobin breakdown product in the blood. • Elevated level of a blood enzyme in the blood due to liver damage. • Pain. Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): • Loss of appetite. • Carpal tunnel syndrome (a combination of pins and needles, numbness and pain affecting all of the hand except the little finger) or tingling/prickling of the skin. • Being sick (vomiting), constipation, indigestion, diarrhoea. • Hair loss. • Skin rash, hives and itchiness. • Thinning of bones which might decrease their strength (osteoporosis), leading to bone fractures (breaks or cracks) in some cases. • Swollen hands and feet. • Feeling of weakness. Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): • A breakout of small blisters on an area of the skin in a rash. • Drowsiness. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help to provide more information on the safety of this medicine.