Managing Side Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors: Tips for Patients

The duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy will vary depending on your individual case. In general, treatment with aromatase inhibitors is recommended for a period of 5 to 10 years, but your doctor will determine the most appropriate duration for you. During aromatase inhibitor therapy, patients may experience several common side effects.

• I’d never force him through that level of pain just to keep him around.
• That may be why weight gain is such a key risk factor for breast cancer after menopause.
• The side effects made my life miserable so although I certainly understand why I should be taking something, I need to have a quality of life.
• Furthermore recent data concerning muscoskeletal pain induced by the use of AIs have emerged.
• If there’s an avoidance of sunlight (in northern parts of the world), there could be vitamin D deficiency that affects bone mass.
• To manage these symptoms, it is recommended to eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid greasy or spicy foods.

Selection of patients suitable for https://www.icd-inc.com/2024/12/19/steroid-injections-pharmacological-overview/ adjuvant bisphosphonates to prevent metastases Adapted by Hadji et al. 72. In vivo and in vitro data suggest that DIM also has favorable effects on muscle growth, recovery, libido, mood, and overall well-being by balancing estradiol levels13, 14. 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) is a bioactive metabolite of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli and cauliflower). DIM appears to modulate estrogen metabolism by acting on the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor that regulates gene expression in men and women 12. As an analogy, think of the androgen receptor like a parking lot with a limited amount of open spaces for estrogenic and androgenic vehicles.

I realized I was no longer experiencing quite as much joint pain, which for me, had been one of my worst side effects. One day last summer, when I was recuperating following my DIEP surgery, it hit me – I was feeling better – regarding AI side effects. The side effects are nothing to sneeze at either and can, in fact, be quite unpleasant, impacting a woman’s quality of life. In fact, despite the benefit, the side effects cause many of us to stop taking these drugs early or even to opt out of starting on one at all. But, as we all know, lowering the body’s natural supply of estrogen also can create problems, for some of us anyway.

However, it would be fair to say that the current evidence warrants further and deeper investigation 23. Many patients are on medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of AIs. For the estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer patient who will be starting nonsteroidal AI therapy such as anastrozole or letrozole, the list of major interactions is short and largely manageable by monitoring. One of the interactions that can be seen in this population is the concurrent use of methadone for chronic pain control. CYP19, an aromatase enzyme, theoretically plays a role in the metabolism of methadone. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women leading to a significant morbidity and mortality 1.

Tips for Managing Hot Flashes

These foods not only support hormonal health but also come with numerous other health benefits. During this time, it is important to take the medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Aromatase inhibitors are usually taken once a day, either with or without food, depending on the specific drug.

Recent studies are finding that the foods we eat and even things that we drink can raise estradiol levels in men. This can cause an array of unwanted side effects, such as higher levels of body fat, an offset libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty putting on muscle mass, depression, weak bone density, and others. For that reason, you may see doctors prescribing aromatase inhibitors to combat those effects. Aromatase inhibitors are used for the blocking of the enzyme aromatase, which turns the hormone androgen into small amounts of estrogen in the body.

Open communication with healthcare providers is crucial to address any concerns and explore potential solutions. These individuals are the exception to the rule and may need to use aromatase inhibitors in order to feel well on any given protocol. Again, these instances are exceedingly rare and indicate an inherited genetic disease. Additionally, individuals currently diagnosed with hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast cancer, should consider discussing dietary strategies with their healthcare team. A nutritionist can help devise a plan that incorporates these beneficial foods while respecting individual treatment plans and health statuses, ensuring a well-rounded approach to wellness. Consulting with a healthcare provider or a qualified nutritionist can provide personalized recommendations on food choices and balances.

Natural Aromatase Inhibitors

Adding green tea to your daily routine could enhance your aromatase-inhibiting efforts. I was osteopenic (pre-cursor to osteoporosis) prior to BC, and diagnosed with osteoporosis along with my IDC. It took a year of asking my oncologist, and for me to focus enough to realize it wasn’t being addressed, before he referred me to a specialist for osteoporosis.

The onset of the cutaneous presentations correlates with the onset of malignancy and sometimes even before the tumor is diagnosed. Complete remission of the skin manifestations can be seen following successful treatment of the underlying malignant disease 18, 19, 20. While prescription medications are very effective for treating gynecomastia, Gynectrol offers a natural, accessible, and cost-effective alternative with fewer side effects and additional health benefits. Unfortunately, medically prescribed options are not always the easiest to get, nor are they the cheapest, and they can also give you an array of side effects. AROMATEST is a product that we can firmly recommend as a natural aromatase inhibitor. Too much or not enough of one thing can really be detrimental to your physique and progress.

By Mary Nolan-Pleckham, RNNolan-Pleckham is an Illinois-based registered nurse with over 15 years of direct patient care experience. If you are having difficulty affording hormone therapy, you have a few options. Work with your doctor and compare the costs of the medications that are recommended for you. Several drugs can help if a woman is really troubled, like low doses of some antidepressants (paroxetine and Effexor) as well as gabapentin. They mention it helps even out hormones and eliminate excessive estrogen.