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    Home > Active Ingredient News > Drugs Articles > Side effects of aromatase inhibitors

    Side effects of aromatase inhibitors

    • Last Update: 2020-04-03
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    Aromatase inhibitors are drugs that can reduce the level of estrogen and inhibit the activity of aromatase Aromatase is required for estrogen biosynthesis It helps the adrenal gland to convert androgens into estrogen, thus increasing estrogen levels in the body Aromatase inhibitors are mainly used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women However, the drug has no effect on reducing estrogen levels in premenopausal women, because the synthesis of estrogen before menopause is mainly done by the ovaries As a result, these drugs are not used to treat breast and ovarian cancer in pre menopausal women Aromatase inhibitors are usually classified into two categories: irreversible steroidal inhibitors and non steroidal inhibitors These drugs can control the growth of breast cancer cells by inhibiting the conversion of androgen to estrogen Specific cells in breast tissue contain estrogen receptors Estrogen binds these receptors to stimulate breast tissue growth However, in the case of breast cancer, when estrogen binds these receptors, it will lead to the rapid growth of cancer cells in postmenopausal women Therefore, it is necessary to control the level of estrogen in order to prevent the proliferation of cancer cells The ovaries of postmenopausal women stop producing estrogen, but androgens are converted into estrogen by the adrenal glands and aromatase Aromatase inhibitors can inhibit aromatase activity and prevent estrogen biosynthesis It is usually recommended to use after the first cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy Sometimes they are also used to treat early breast cancer But doctors usually recommend the drug to patients treated with Mo Xifen (Tamoxifen) for 2-3 years Tamoxifen is a commonly used drug for the treatment of breast cancer The study found that taking tamoxifen for five years after taking it significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women There are three main types of aromatase inhibitors used to treat postmenopausal women breast cancer: anastrozole, Aromasin and Femara The side effects of these drugs are usually mild Compared with the side effects of tamoxifen, the serious side effects of aromatase inhibitors are rare One of the most common side effects of these drugs is bone loss or osteoporosis, which develops over time Osteoporosis increases the risk of fracture In addition, other common side effects of these drugs include joint pain or numbness, and the increase of blood cholesteol Symptoms of joint pain and numbness affect about 50% of women taking drugs On the other hand, the increase of cholesteol in blood is a disease with too much cholesterol in cells and plasma The disease is caused by a decrease in estrogen levels in the body The disease also increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which is narrowed by the accumulation of fat in the arterial wall This in turn increases the risk of heart disease or cardiovascular disease In addition to these, some women will experience hot flashes, headache, muscle pain, vaginal dryness and other adverse reactions Considering the side effects of these drugs, patients should consult their doctors before deciding whether to use them The main side effects of these drugs are bone loss or osteoporosis Therefore, women taking aromatase inhibitors should check bone mineral density regularly Sometimes, doctors recommend enhancing drugs to counteract side effects However, bone loss usually stops when the drug is stopped Therefore, in order to avoid complications, the doctor should be informed immediately after finding adverse reactions.
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