ARIMIDEX SIDE EFFECTS

[Elinka]

I have been on this med for 1 year!  The side effects are so bad now-swollen joints, artritis all over my body, swollen joints with much pain, trick fingers, no sleeping, night sweats, hot flashes-I have have all of these!



I stopped for 1 weeks taking this medication!  I fear the cancer will return as my estrogen and progestrone receptors are high positive!  Is this worth all the suffering I have had to endure??



Is there any other drug to take that will help me?  My onocologist has suggested Femara!



PLEASE REPLY-I THANK YOU ALL-GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS!

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear Elinka:  It is not uncommon for women to experience side effects from the aromatase inhibitors such as arimidex.  You might touch base with your oncologist to discuss the following:  Any medications or interventions that may help in dealing with the side effects and/or there are other drugs (such as femara) that have a similar mechanism of action in terms of estrogen suppression.  Your oncologist can also discuss with you the risks versus benefits in terms of your specific case.  

[Happy4825]

I have been on Arimidex for about a year. On a whole I have few side effects.  I have a friend who is on Femera, and is doing very well, with hardly any side effects.  We have to take this medication, no matter what. This stops the production of Estrogen. That could be responsible for the return of our cancer.  Mine was Lobular, and I chose to have a Mastectomy.  I plan to stay on Arimidex, even with it's side effects.  God Bless, and good luck.

[Avidhiker]

I just started Arimidex yesterday.  It will be daily for five years.  My oncologist told me it is a very safe drug.  The side effect he stressed was osteoporosis.  I am planning to take a baseline bone density test.  I'm not so keen on this drug either but like the previous poster stated it is so necessary to those of us whose tumors were ER+ to avoid a recurrence.  Everyone is different. I am hoping I can manage the side effects, if any.

[Twocapes]

I have been on Arimidex since July of 2004.  My tumor was 98% estrogen and progesterone positive.  I am experiencing more aches and pains but have also been placed on an anti-cholesterol drug (Vytorin) which also can cause aches and pains. The pains are occasionally helped by Advil but there is no way that I would stop the Arimidex - I've read and heard too many positive things about it.

[Elinka]

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS!  I am now back on Arimidex (after 1 week of being off of it!)-although I do not want to be-my husband insists I stay on it!  The joint pains are severe-as is the pains in both hands!  But I have no choice either take this medicine or have the breast cancer return!  So hard and difficult right now!  I had a knee replacement in May 2006-this medicine has affected that joint-it is so swollen!  So unfair!  I suffered for 10 years before I finally had the knee replaced! Now this! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Elinka

[sfj]

my dx was stage 1 ILC with trace found in one node,,so did 8 chemos, 33 rads,,,was finished with everything Dec 4th of 06. Dec 3 started taking Aromasin....stopped after 3 and half weeks. I couldn't sleep, it made my neuropath worse, I had depression, and was effecting my thought process!!!  hot flashes also. oh yes and Constipation.



anyway I am now trying the arimidex have just been taking it since Tuesday 23,, How long does it take on the arimidex to start having side effects,  With me on the Aromasin it was just 2 weeks then wham  they started big time. I know the difference between the two is Aromasin is a steroid and Arimidex is not.  Has anyone taking the Arimidex had depression with it?



Steph

[boninclyde]

Can you take tamoxifen? Are in already in menopause? The girls at breastcancer.org (the discussion board) have a good bit of knowledge about these meds and things to do to ease side effects. You may try logging on there. Wish you the best.

[sfj]

Bonnie, I am post menopausel I am 55 went through early menopause and was on prempro for almost 9 years that is why I think I developed breast Cancer,  OF course that is just my opinoin!  No I haven't tried the tamoxifin yet if the arimidex doesn't work that will be the next drug I try.  



Thank you for responding!!!



Steph

[boninclyde]

Again try going to breastcancer.org. The discussion boards there are great.

[judio]

A related discussion, worried about results was started.