Arimidex
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Ok, I called Astra Zeneca and I'm not eligible for prescription assistance because I do have some kind of insurance. Bummers. They gave me numbers for some cancer orgs that can help with that. Talked to my Mom and she sez the oncologist's office can prolly give me samples as often as I want.
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My insurance won't pay a dime for the Arimidex. They will only pay for generics, even when there is NO generic. Like you, because I have insurance that covers other drugs I am not eligible for help from AstraZeneca. I am considering ordering from Canada. Will be a little over $100 cheaper a month.
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There is a generic for Arimidex in Canada. See this page:
http://www.planetdrugsdirect.com/Drugs/Arimidex/1348/
Having said that, my breast surgeon (who was the doc who originally prescribed Armidex for me) says that he doesn't want me on the generic for the first two years. I'm assuming that's because that's when the risk of recurrence is the highest. I do have a Medicare part D drug plan that will cover Arimidex but only up to the "coverage gap" (aka the donut hole). Believe me, it doesn't take many 90 day refills of Arimidex to get to that $2700 mark!
If anyone else's doc approves of them taking the generic, this site might be worth looking into.
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Unique, I picked up a carpal tunnel hand splint from the pharmacy; 2 actually, one that I wear during the day that allows more freedom to type on the computer/laptop and another with a little more support that I wear at night. I've used them for about a week and I have tremendous relief now, actually not using one at this moment. My employer is supportive but I doubt they will get me the digital tablet or speech recognition software.
I'm sorry you sisters have to absorb so much of the cost of your arimidex. I'm blessed that my insurance prescription plan pays for mine and my copay is only $40. for a 90-day supply. Better keep my job and coverage for the next 5 years. How you can have prescription insurance that won't pay for your meds when there is no local generic is questionable. Hopefully you have gone over your insurance papers with a fine-toothed comb. There should be some medical oversight board that can correct that - it's not right.
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My Arimidex WOULD cost $359/mo. but I just pay a co-pay of $30. Once my prescription deductible is met, I pay nothing the rest of the year! It's so sad to see the shape our health system is in, and the outrageous prices they get for drugs. My heart goes out to those of you whose ins. doesn't cover Arimidex.
Nancy
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Unique....I felt the same way about starting the Arimidex....I don't know why....
I took my first pill 2 weeks ago....I think....I'm 6 weeks out of chemo. But Idreaded it. So far I have had minor side effects.....a little stiff and achy....but I have really started running on a regular basis (4X a week) so this could be part of it. A few more hot flashes..but not the break out in sweat kind. I have actually lost 2 pounds....probably due to the running and the fact that my foobs look HUGE!
Funny your from Emmaus.....so is my husband!!!! My in laws live in Fogelsville.
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Hi Gang...Carol from Toronto. I am on Arimidex, started it mid-March - no SE's yet. Anyhoo, when I went to my pharmacist and asked about a generic I was told that there wasn't one yet. So not sure I would trust those on line pharmacies. My two cents worth anyway.
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Hi gals! Alo, so cool your folks are from the area. Fogelsville is just up the highway from me. My bank is there ...
Do you run with your foobs? What do you mean they look huge? That you look thinner when you wear them. What a cute pic - is that you in the pink hat?
I TOOK MY FIRST PILL. Funny that I was so tense about it. Part of it is I am so stiff when I get up in the morning already, I don't know how I will hack more stiffness. How will I get out of bed? Stuff like that. My bone density numbers are fine. I think it is just age related arthritis. Maybe I will have to make a contraption for myself like in Wallace & Gromit, that erects me and drops me into my clothes, LOL.
Maybe I won't get stiffness, just hot flashes.
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I read - don't ask me where - that the patent ( is that the right word?) runs out in 2010, so it would make sense that other companies have already developed a generic, but it wouldn't be approved yet. In the same article it said that because of law suits, etc. it might be as late as 2012 before an approved generic is on the market. Because it is working for me, I can't take the chance of not gettng the real thing. Patoo, yes, I've gone over the papers thoroughly. I have filed a complaint with the state insurance dept. over the wording on my policy. It does not state clearly that if there is no generic there will be no coverage.
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The human body is amazing - here I am, reporting back in to say all my tiredness and aches and pains have disappeared! Maybe the heavy rains recently are helping? I've been on Arimidex for about 9 months and the only constant SE is stiffness in the morning getting out of bed and if I sit at my computer too long. What keeps me going with this drug is knowing that my tumor was 98% ER positive - and after what I went through with the surgical complications (mrsa) I NEVER want to experience that again on my "good" side - so I'm training myself to deal with the SEs as they come along. Athritis strength Tylenol really helps so much - as does swimming and walking. I had arthritis in my hips before I started on this BC journey - the Arimidex is making it more noticeable and in places I never hurt before - but my onc is very pro-active. He's got me scheduled now for a total bone scan and cat scans of my lungs, pelvis and hips. This is to "re-stage" me since I've finished my year of Herceptin. I'm hoping for a clean bill of health - then I'll feel more relaxed about my aches and pains. I'd rather blame them on Arimidex than on mets!
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Alpal, good, I'm glad you filed a complaint as that makes no sense (and I work for an insurance company!)
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Question for Arimidex users -- Have you noticed any side effects related to your nails? The first month I took it, I didn't seem to have side effects (I never sleep well, so who could tell!). Soon after the first month my nails started breaking and peeling. I had never experienced anything like that before. They break off in chunks and just layers of the nails split off. I can't do simple things like button a button or open a flip top container (ketchup, not beer) where I instinctively use my nails. My oncologist suggested going off for six weeks to see if it made a difference. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, does it get better over time?
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Cmm3 - interesting question - I was blaming my nail problems on the Herceptin I took for a year. I've been finished Herceptin for about a month now and still my nails have problems; I just assumed the Herceptin was still in my body and my nails needed more time to grow. So now I'm not sure - perhaps you are right - and it's really the Arimidex. I'll keep a close eye on my nails for the next few weeks and report back if they get any better. I hope you don't need to stop Arimidex because of this - I'd be more concerned about bone loss than fingernail loss - perhaps the nail problem is indicative of what's happening to our bones? Good luck and let us know what you end up doing!
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Hey cmm3...Did you have chemo by any chance? I know that my nails are really awful right now because of the chemo. They started to "break down" after the second chemo back in January. I've been on Arimidex for just over a month now.
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So far no nail problems fro me probably too soon. I am on the zometa trial for my bones....in additition to the zometa infusion I take 2 oscal (vit d and calcium) in the morning and 1 at night. I hope that helps with an nail issues.
Unique....what I mean about my foobs...is the my TE's are expanded to the max....660cc's. Getting ready for my exchange. So they seem huge to me.....they actually make the rest of my midsection look smaller.
Good job on you first pill!! I hope you feel great as the days go on!
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cmm3, I've been on Arimidex since last June (10-1/2 months ago). I have not skipped a single day. And, my fingernails and toenails are stronger and smoother than they have ever been. There has been no chipping or flaking at all, and they're growing like crazy. If I were you, I would consider that there might be other causes of your nail problems besides Arimidex.
I should note that I did not have any nail problems during chemo, either (4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan). I did get the usual 4 white bands, one for each chemo treatment; but my nails never turned funny colors or detached. So, maybe mine are stronger than average?...
otter
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No chemo. I had partial breast radiation (1 wk twice a day) that ended in September. I was also wondering about what it might be doing to my bones. I don't care about the vanity of nice looking nails. I take calcium and glucosomine twice a day and just started Fosomax once a week.
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PurpleMe,
I'm really not sure where these online pharmacies actually obtain the stuff they sell. My husband recently ordered Nexium from one of them. We have no idea where in the world (literally) it's coming from. I guess we'll find out when it arrives.
I do know that Astra Zenica in India does manufacture Arimidex.
http://www.astrazenecaindia.com/AstraZeneca%20India%20-Products.asp
I called Astra Zenica a few weeks ago and was told that the medication sold in the US is made in the US (Newark DE). It's also distributed to a few other countries such as the UK. The person I spoke to knew very little about their global operations.
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I have been on Arimidex since June 08, the first few months I had more hot flashes, aches and pains. Sooo much better now, but I have to keep up a moderate amount of exercise or the aches and pains come back. I have developed a narrowing of my tear ducts that my Opthamologist blames on the Arimidex. I do believe that many of the SE were under reported during clinical trials.
I will say that the lack of estrogen does plague me with insomnia, no libido but this started with menopause not the Arimidex. The only thing I really worry about is the brain fog and lack of short term memory, I hope it isn't permanent, some might say it is just because I'm blonde LOL
Irregardless of the SE I hope and pray it keeps us all dancing (even if it's a little stiffly) with NED
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My oncologist wants me to start on Arimidex as soon as I finish rads, which will be in June. He's told me that after 5 years, the protection lasts the rest of my life. I haven't seen that written anywhere.
My biggest fear isn't the side effects, per se, it's that the side effects will be permanent. I could put up with aches and pains, if I knew they would go away at the end of the 5 years.
Because I have osteopenia because of a parathyroid tumor several years ago, I plan to insist on a bone density test before starting with any hormone blocker. I also plan to ask my dentist about the safety of bone density drugs because I have a history of TMJ.
I'm much more comfortable with the mechanism of action behind Evista or Tamaxofin, because they don't completely rid the body of estrogen and they may actually help to improve bone density. But I don't want to play Russian Roulette with cancer either.
I do plan to be diligent about diet and exercise, as soon as my body recovers enough from chemo so that I can exercise again (right now my muscles are like rubber, and burn when I move).
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Hi, 2tsus, wondering about the stuff from India. How cheap is it and why does she think it is the real Arimidex? Would tend not to distrust the furriners any more than us after all the craziness here in the US with spinach, tomatoes, peanuts etc. I don't think my insurance company would pay anything for stuff from India. Right now they paying 50% of retail - trouble is the retail price is SOOOO high.
My mother sez her oncologist (in same practice as mine) sez I get most of my meds in samples, they get as many as they can get from the pharm rep who takes them out to lunch every week. They think the price is obscene and the profits the pharms make are obscene (a reasonable profit not a problem, it's the HUGE profits they make off us he minds) and make sure to get as many samples as possible to help us ladies.
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cw89134,
how do you get the arimidex from india? I went to the site but it sez it's only for medical practitioners ... no way to buy.
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Unique,
Sorry I didn't make myself clearer. I haven't purchased Arimidex from India. I was only mentioning that Astra Zenica India does manufacture Arimidex. I assume that a patient can't purchase directly from Astra Zenica.
I've only been on Arimidex since 2/26. I've gotten some samples from my surgeon and have gotten two 90 day scripts covered under insurance.
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Hi - you know, I might be able to get a cheaper prescription, but my insurance won't pay anything so it would have to be a HUGE discount to make it worth it for me, much less than half of the price in the U.S. They will pay half if I get it thru their online pharmacy.
My mother keeps telling me I can get it all thru samples from the doctor. I hope so.
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Unique,
This is strictly my personal opinion but I would not count on samples. So far, my doc has been generous with Arimidex samples. However, I've seen situations with other docs where their source of samples "dries up", so to speak. Drug reps change and sometimes the docs, no matter how well intentioned they are (and most of them are), can run out of samples.
Again, just my opinion.
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Hello! stopped by the arimidex thread to post a question about ses & here you are mentioning an old posting of mine. I thought you might be able to get arimidex cheap via www.drugdelivery.ca, but just checked it and not so. The best price they listed is $210 US for 28 pills from a European pharmacy. I checked around on google a bit, pages from Canada, and found 2 online Canadian pharmacies that sell brand name arimidex, one for $199 US for 28, and one for $219 US for 30 pills. Well, this is still high, because I think (am not sure) I pay around $180 Canadian, which is even less in US dollars (maybe $160 or so these days?) for 30 pills. The pills I was mentioning that I HAD ordered in the past were sildenefil - you know - little blue pills - ok, viagra, and they were really cheap and the real thing.
One site mentioned a generic arimidex at 30 pills for $99 US, but I am in Canada & figure I should be getting generic if it actually exists, as it would be so much cheaper & my pills have so far been paid by my community health service which pays for all breast cancer meds during treatment & a bit after. You can try www.canadapharmacy.com or www.77canadapharmacy.com.
and there are probably many others. But I think rock-bottom would be around $160 US for 30.
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Hi everybody, I have been on arimidex for about three months now. So far I have noticed numbness and tingling in my hands and some mildly increased joint pain. The other thing I have noticed, which concerns me, and which I think may be attributable to the arimidex, is an increased mental "fogginess." I just don't feel like I'm as sharp as I used to be and my memory is really not good compared to what it used to be. I have a much harder time remembering things that are said to me, remembering the words for things, and focusing on what I'm doing (the classic going downstairs and then not remembering what I've gone there for). Has anyone else noticed this on arimidex?
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Absolutely. I've also been on arimidex for 3 months. yes, mental fog, can't remember names, terrible short term memory, I keep wondeing - is this early alzheimer's, or arimidex? also, and it has been quickly increaing lately, joint aches & pain esp for me wrists - I'm going to see a carpal tunnel specialist, have to wear wrist splints at night, fingers tingling & numb, can't sleep so just went on trazadone as my old zopiclone wasn't working well any more. Past few days aching knees & feet, gettting down on the floor is a struggle, getting up more so, and stiff as a board on waking. Must investigate glucosamine & some sort of mild pain meds. Was hoping to find some advice here. so far I'm trying long hot showers first thing, trying to make myself do easy morning yoga to wake up, massaging my hands & knees & feet. it's like I've aged 15 years................
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Kamico3, I had all those symptoms but it was way prior to arimidex. I turned 60 this year and literally have a hard time finding the right word for something - used to be very good at that; can't remember what I even went into the next room for at times - have to go back to remember; focus? what's that! Wish I could attribute it to the arimidex, though that's not saying you and Souad can't.
Souad, glucosamine has worked extremely well for me for years for hip pain. Initially it does take 3-4 weeks to notice a difference. After about 6 years I was able to stop and the hip pain has not come back. On arimidex my med onc put me on calcium and vit d and I decided to also do the glucosamine again just in case. Been on arimidex for about 2 months now and not having any joint pain except what may have been the onset of carpal tunnel in one hand only. I started with the wrist splints during the day because I'm on the computer all day at work and also at night and have gotten exceptional relief. Now I only wear it only occasionally during the day if I start to feel any discomfort.
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thanks patoo - funny, I think it might have been me suggesting to you earlier this year about the wrist splints? lol. I might have the wrong size - just took my husbands & he has large hands - I've never used them during the day so think I will do that too. also the glucosamine. Am already on calcium (1500 mg/day) and vit D (3000 mg) as I was tested & am low. I do have some arthritis in my finger tips but that has never hurt. this carpal tunnel is all brand new, as of about a month ago, as is the mental fog. I'm pretty sure it's the arimidex. It IS had to distinguish arthritic aches from arimidex at this age. (I'm 61).But it's so dramatic - I think because of estrogen falling.
Mr dr. gave me a website to look up on this very problem. Can't find the piece of paper (I wonder why?) but if you google Dr. Thorn (he's Canadian) & arimidex you will find his article insome medical magazine which talks about this -and a few remedies. he does also mention acupuncture.
All this is so ironic cause I sailed thru mastectomey, chemo, radiation, with almost no problems, congratulating myself on being the bionic woman and now this........argh!
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