Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Comments
-
I have a weekly pill dispenser for the morning and another for the evening. Granted the Anastrozole is the only drug I take but I do take some important supplements (D3, vitamin, Calcium etc.) so I don't want to forget.
According to the patient information sheet that came with my Anastrozole.
"If you miss a dose, take it as soon as your remember. If it is almost time fore your next does, skip the missed dose. Take your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take two doses at the same time"Other sources:
http://www.rxlist.com/arimidex-drug-patient.htm
http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/24229/PIL/Anastrozole+tablets/0 -
Hi dear AI ladies,
At 6-months check-up my Onco seeing thicker finger joints of my hands, proposed switching from Femara to Aromasin (exemestane). Because being on Femara for 17 months with all possible SE's I'm asking myself what difference in SE's should be with this new medicine. Should I try? Coping with Femara I was so innovatory to find out what did and could help to maintain going on. So in the last months I was convincing myself the matter is tolerable.
Now, I'm afraid what this turn to the new medicine will bring to me!
I would like to ask experienced ladies or ladies on Aromasin how it's about state of health, how they are feeling, how effective this treatment is or was?
Thanking in advance!
Greetings!
Usha
0 -
No one knows how they will react to any different medication. If your SEs on Femara have interfered with your QOL, then why not try something else? You may find it way more tolerable, if not, you can always swtich back. I have been fine on Arimedex, myself.
This is what my aunt did when her joints on her hands started to thicken and get crooked due to arthritis: she bought white raisins, soaked them in gin (in a quart jar in the fridge) for two weeks, then ate 12 raisins a day. Her doctor told her that it has a natural cortisone effect. Both she and my mom swore by it.
0 -
Dear ruthbru,
I just consumed all melted raisins from my first bottle of gin, the next is preparing, but I really think I should to duplicate nr. of raisins.!!!
Sincerely
Usha
0 -
ruthbru - do you think it needs to be gin or would vodka work to ferment the raisins?
0 -
GabbyCal--from what I've read, it needs to be gin because gin is made from a particular type of berry (can't rmember the name right now) but it inteacts with chemicals in the raisins. I've been meaning to try this, just need to go buy some gin. Used to love gin and tonic.
0 -
So that's why those double dipped dark chocolate covered raisins I ate this week didn't help.
0 -
that's a thought--after soaking the raisins in gin, cover them with chocolate--I don't think it could hurt. My preferance would be white chocolate.
0 -
VJSL8: I believe gin comes from juniper berries. I love the smell of gin, don't care too much for the taste. But, I think I'll have to try this if my knuckle pain comes back. Reading these posts just made me realize that my hands have been feeling better lately - yay! Perhaps it's another of the side effects that is tapering off for me...
0 -
Please help...Sooo worn out from the SE, just called the Dr. to change drugs. Maybe that's not a good Idea. could just mean more or other SE ! Maybe I should just deal with it. Taking Arimidez since 6/22/11, for 5 year commitment. Having neuropathy left over from the chemo (4/19/11), bad knee joint pain, now hands,fingers,elbows. I have not reached out for support until now. Thought all this would go away, now I look at the possibility of permanent disability. Please help !
0 -
345grace - Hi, many of us have found that the side effects ease up after a while. That was the case for me; however, they were never what I would consider debilitating. I still deal with some SEs, but I find them manageable.
Each drug reacts differently with different women. If you switch you might have different or no SEs.
It really does help to keep moving, but I understand if you are in such pain that might be difficult. Have you been able to do a daily walk?
0 -
Grace,
I am so sorry you are suffering. You need to have a serious discussion with your oncologist.
I switched from arimidex to tamoxifen BUT my stage and grade (and age) gave me a lot more flexibility than you may have. Your onc needs to define just how critical he/she feels it is that you stay on the drug. Also there are other AIs that may (or may not) offer similar protection with more tolerable SEs. After all, it is more important that you are taking "the" drug (whatever it is) than if you get so discouraged that you fail to stay on treatment .
If he/she feels it is essential you stay with your current plan there might be some drugs that could ease your pain and your psyche. But you've got to get his attention. Maybe if you wrote down your feelings and gave it to him it would get more attention,
Hugs!0 -
P.J. - where is the "real" Florida? I'm in SW Florida.
I have to give all you working ladies and full time moms a big shout out. I can't imagine going through this and working full time or taking care of little ones. I guess I should consider myself "fortunate" or as fortunate as one can be with BC. My mother and I both became widows within 6 months of each other so we are living together now. Sometimes I cook, sometimes she cooks but there is nothing around the house that I absolutely have to do. So I guess in that respect I am fortunate.
I am choosing not to take any of these medications because, to me, already having fibromyalgia, the SE's are not worth the 10% additional survival rates. I'm having the oncotype DX test to help me make the decision about chemo. But that is my own personal decision based on the fact that my husband is gone and my children are in their 20's now. If they were young I might be willing to deal with SE's. You ladies are so brave and I'm such a weinee when it comes to SE's. If one can have complications from surgery or medicine it will be me 9 times out of 10!
God Bless all you ladies,
Denise
0 -
Hi Denise,
Don't mean to be a smart Alec about the "real" Florida. I live in a small beach community in NE Florida that kind of got over looked in the boom years. We don't have any chain restaurants, no theme parks, only one high rise (snuck in before bldg codes changed), and no gated communities. We do have two stop lights, a Dollar General (woohoo), one gas station and a post office. Having grown up in Florida in the 1960's (in Orlando) this just seems like the way it ought to be.
Gotta admit I can be at a walmart super center in 25 minutes and I did my rads at the new hospital just five miles away. And it is only eight miles to a Wendy's when you've gotta have a frosty! There is something to be said for progress
0 -
Your small beach community sounds like my area used to be in the 60's & 70's. I hate it now.
0 -
I always say there must have been a moment some time in the 70s when Orlando was perfect but we didn't know it. Now I hardly recognize it. Still have three of our four children living there so we get plenty of disneyized Florida
. Ah, progress.0 -
Grace, ask to try a different Al. They are all equally effective, and there is no need to suffer when something else might possibly be easier on you.
As for the raisins and gin; if all else fails, you can toss the raisins and drink the gin!
0 -
Patoo-thanks for your feedback on how Vit D is working for you.
Does anyone know why we all get the same standard dose of 1mg/daily of anastrozole? It seems like other meds have a range for the doseage and that range depends on individual reactions and weight, as well as sometimes age. Maybe one size doesn't fit all.
0 -
newbe didn't you know that all ovaries are the same size Many OTC drugs also have this one size fits all approach. I think it really depends on how the drug works and what it is for. 0
-
newbe6--thats becauese of the way clinical trials are set up. Those trials used the 1 mg dose, so that is what the FDA approved, so that is what the insurance companies will cover. I have seem some early research (done by reivewing records of women taking the drug) that suggest that heavier women need a higher dose (uh, duh? you think?) but it hasn't progressed to the formal study phase yet. Testing a new dose takes almost as much time as testing a new drug. If you look at tylenol and such for children, the dosage is based on the weight of the child. Weight does make a difference for most medications, just not a dangerous differnece.
0 -
Do you wonder if a smaller or older woman takes the 1mg she may also have more SE's? I wonder if there is any research on that. NativeMaine, what you said makes sense in a way, but other drugs when they are initially released (and anastrozole isn't that new), come out with a therapeutic range. For example, vyvanse (a new drug) has range from 20-70mg. Can they check our estrogen level and see how the 1mg anastozole effects estrogen? I wonder.....For instance my ER is 100% w/o asatrozole, but I am 126lbs, so maybe my ideal dose would be different than someone smaller, larger, younger, older, or with a differnent precancer level of estrogen. I hope they are doing research on this. Does anyone know?
0 -
NativeMainer-
Interesting! The AIs work by shutting down the "secondary" estrogen producers after menopause, including fat cells. People come in all shapes and sizes, but it sounds plausible that someone with more fat cells would make more estrogen than someone with less fat cells. So, seems an adjusted level of AI would be helpful.
Thanks for the info!!!0 -
Hi,
Hoping someone can help me with the SE's I'm having from Anastrozole (Generic for Arimidex). My right hand (joints) along with my feet become stiff when I wake up in the morning or after sitting for a while and not using them. Maybe there is a supplement or should I get cortizone shots...it is quite painful in the morning.
Kendahl
0 -
Hi Kendahlking----painful hands and feet has been one of the worse SE's I've experienced with Arimidex. When I get up in the mornings and my feet hit the floor, they feel like they're broken. It takes a little while for that feeling to go away. My hands tingle, hurt and stay swollen 24/7.
Oh yeah!!! Not to mention the 35 lb weight gain!! Only 18 months to go though.
How long have you been taking it?
0 -
about 8 months...how long for you?
0 -
About 3.5 years. And I'm literally counting down the days. On my tag line, I have my last pill being taken on 5/31/13..........
I guess it's better than the alternative.
0 -
Kendahlking that is exactly what my NP said my SE would be. I do have the stiff fingers and toes in the morning but like she said once you start moving them around it's not too bad. The stiff legs are a PITA but it's better than mets any day.
I just started my 7th month. First 3 months I had no SE from Anastrozole.
0 -
Kendahl, Coonie, this thread as become so long, I started a separate thread to answer questions like yours. It's still in this same Hormonal Forum, tho not an active thread, Called Arimidex SE SPECIFICS - http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/771191?page=1#idx_19
If you scroll down, you'll find it. I started it to give SPECIFICS of what all of us have done to deal with the SE's you're talking about. That's the list I have.
0 -
OK how did I miss about the raisins and gin? And what is it supposed to do? I was looking back to find, can you get me caught up? thanks
0 -
I've thought about the raisins and gin but how do you square that with limiting alcohol consumption to once or twice a week? Do you think the actual volume of alcohol is minuscule?
0
