side effects of arimidex

[kathymcleaner]

I am back on arimidex after being off it six months. Has anyone felt frustrated dealing with clumsiness. I am dealing with feeling sick and pain, expecially in my hands, but I seem to be stumbling easily and all and all, I don't feel like the people I occasionally see in a breast cancer group, take me seriously, I agreed to try this, but how come nobody, in the medical field (oncologist and nurses) don't take side effects seriously??

[often]

I, too, find it very annoying that many in the medical field refuse to deal with the side effects we get from the meds they give us.  Look how long it took them to admit to "chemo brain".  I think in a lot of cases they are hoping it will pass and we will continue on the regimens.  

Weakness and loss of strength are known side effects of Arimidex, along with the joint/bone pain.  It is possible that this is what is causing you to feel clumsy...I know that the joint pain I had with the Tamoxifen was bad enough that I had to stand slowly and let my bones "adjust" before I could move.  I almost went down on my face a couple of times.  

[riley180]

Most of the side-effects with Arimidex involve symptoms you would expect with menopause.  There are reports of stiffness of the joints which may account for the clumsiness in the hands you describe. I am concerned with symptoms of falling as you may be in danger of trauma. Some patients experience sleepiness, this may increase the risk of falling. If you feel some headaches or dizziness prior to feeling the sense of instability – you may need to have this evaluated with a neurologic examination.  Inquire from your doctor of medications that may improve bone health- this may help with stiffness if that is the cause of clumsiness. I’m also curious why Arimidex was stopped for 6 months?

[lizziecee]

I have been on Arimidex for some 4+ years now and do get clumsliness.....I am 63 yrs young, and have just put it down to declining age.

I had severe hip pain about 2 yrs ago, was terrified it was bone mets, but after a bone scan was dx with osteoarthritis in both hips, feet and hands.  Some days, I have to put my hands in hot water just to relieve the pain.  I believe my problems with arthritis are due to some 30 yrs of steroids for Crohn's. but, my bc surgeon took my hip pain seriously and ordered the bone scan, and a DEXA scan, which showed much thinning of my bones. I have had to accept some of the problems of the ageing process.

I am intrigued as to why you came off Arimidex for 6 months....why? I am coming up to 5 yrs post dx and am wondering how I can protect myself from a recurrence of bc if my bc surgeon takes me off Arimidex.

take care,
Liz.