Manufacturers For Generic Exemestane/Aromasin

[iamTeal]

Hello,

I'm reaching out to ask if any of you have had yr aromason's manufacturer change?

I was on ROXANE manufacturer and was able to tolerate. Due to insurance it was changed to another manufacturer for Aromasin and now I'm having worse side effects. I stopped after 4 days. I heard generics aren't tested as strictly as the original drug.

Please share any information or experiences you've had w changes of manufacturers for your medications.

Greatly appreciated!

[Iamagardener]

Hi, I take anastrozole. I am part of 2 AI support groups on Facebook. There is much discussion there about different manufacturers of various AIs. I know the active portion of these medications need to be identical to the name brand. What is different is the "fillers"; other inactive ingredients. One post I read had info that a women had gleaned from a friend who works in the pharmacological field. He was able to explain the list is inactive ingredients in one of the generic brands of anastrozole and he commented on possible side effects. Some of the women recommend that the doctor write on the prescription designating the manufacturer required. Perhaps with your doctor's support you can appeal to your insurance. It's not acceptable to have someone stop a required medication because insurance wants to save a few pennies! I don't think most insurance (and many doctors) understand that the filler ingredients can cause bad side effect; everyone is different and what works for one person is not right for another. Meryl

[RobertaG1961 in reply to Iamagardener]

I don't know what state you are in but your attorney general's office may have a health care advocate. If your doctor is unable to get you the correct drug, try reaching out to the AG's office. I can give you the info for New York and they may be able to tell you how to find your state's information.

ag.ny.gov/bureau/health-car...

1-800-428-9071

[iamTeal in reply to RobertaG1961]

Thank you! Located in Calif.

[Knapweed in reply to Iamagardener]

Hi - I tried looking on Facebook for the AI groups but could only find one for people who are rejecting it and one for people after 10 years! Please could you tell us the names of the groups thank you -

[Iamagardener in reply to Knapweed]

Here are the 2 I am a part of:

Anastrozole(Arimidex)/Letrozole/Exemestane/HormoneTherapy Support Group

Anastrozole, Letrozole and Exemestane...Living with Side Effects

If you just search the word anastrozole these will pop up. They are cover tamoxifen plus the treatments younger women get who are not yet in menopause. Let me know if you need more info. FYI Share also has a support group (meeting virtually once each month) regarding side effects of AI and other treatments, to encourage us to stay the course. It is lead by a BC survivor, Mary. Check it out; I can send more info if you need it

[Knapweed in reply to Iamagardener]

Thank you so much for the prompt reply! I will start with those fb pages and go from there - I am UK by the way

[Iamagardener in reply to Knapweed]

These groups are pretty international. I often read posts from people in UK, Ireland, other European countries. I am sure the Share group would also welcome you, we meet by Zoom but I don't know about the time differences

[Mary115 in reply to Iamagardener]

Do you know of any groups not using facebook. Thank you for this pertinent information.

[Iamagardener in reply to Mary115]

The Share cancer support program can help. Go to sharecancersupport.org/ and click on support. There is an AI support group that is meeting by zoom once a month; led by a BC survivor Mary Vetting. These women share experiences and encourage each other to stay the course on estrogen suppressing meds. Share also does phone counseling; I have not used it but I hear it is quite good. I believe they can match you to a survivor with very similar characteristics to yourself in terms of diagnosis, age, etc, etc. Hope that helps. Meryl

[Mary115 in reply to Iamagardener]

Thanks Meryl.. Very appreciated

[iamTeal in reply to Iamagardener]

Thank you so much for the valuable information! Happy Holidays!

[iamTeal in reply to Iamagardener]

Thank you for the valuable information!

[Scrapbooker]

I was on that Exsemestane & bad side effects. I got off after 19 days. Also on 3 others & went back to first one Anestrazole. Carpal tunnel but better than other side effects than others. All bad. I’ll live with carpal than not walk from exemestane. God bless us all & hold our hands through all of this. 🙏

[iamTeal in reply to Scrapbooker]

Sorry for the delay reply.... Hope you're doing better! Take care of yourself and hope you are doing better on Anestrazole. 🙏