Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Comments
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Beets are my nemesis too and I eat virtually anything but cringe at the thought of beets. I was at dd's house the other night and she had beet chips. They were actually good! I have had no se's from Arimidex so far but it's only been a little over 3 weeks since I started. Does it take time for the se's to occur? Caryn
PS: would love that chocolate cake even with beats but I've sworn off sugar:(0 -
Rohanna -
I'm taking Requip for my RLS and it helps some, with the added benefit of restoring some of my libido. Odd, but true!
Last night I wrapped a cold pack in a towel and rested my feet on it. Helped a lot, since one of the things I experience with RLS is burning feet.
In other news: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239002.php
Occupy Arimidex! We are the 64%! LOL.
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I started taking 1mg of anasatrozole on Thursday Dec. 8th. I have not been able to sleep, awake every hour. Last night was awful. I called the Dr. this morning and they said to skip tonights dose and start taking it in the morning and see how that does. Sure hope it helps. Have noticed that I have muscle pain and it seems to hop from place to place.
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Laughing with mybee - I keep buying beets from the farmer's market around here - and then months later, and I mean months, I always wonderf what those dried up things are in the corner of the vegetable compartment. Also have found the occasional eggplant in there too....
Currently eating sweet potatoes, and fresh broccoli. And lieterally PRAYING my blood sugar levels go down with the chromium picolinate and cinnamon pills I'm taking. Acupuncturist also gave me some Chinese Herbs from Blue Poppy. Blue Poppy Aller-Ease completely stopped my hay fever with no SE's - so I've got my fingers crossed.
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mommarch -
That sounds like Arimidex! I take it at night because taking it in the morning leaves me non-functional. Taking it at night results in night terrors, difficulty sleeping, and restless legs, but at least I can function during the day!
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So, does this mean I can blame Arimidex (anastrozole) for that absurd, scary dream I had last night? The one about the pine trees falling through the house, and the zillions of spiders everywhere, and the doors rotting off the hinges? You know, ... that one?
Never mind that I've been on Arimidex/anastrozole for 3-1/2 years already, and that we watched the Twilight series' "New Moon" last night. Couldn't have been that movie, could it? Must've been the Arimidex, I say.
BTW... has anyone found that a particular manufacturer's version of the generic anastrozole works better or worse than others? I was on brand-name Arimidex for more than 2 years before switching to a generic. My first generic was being marketed in the U.S. by "Breckenridge" (made elsewhere by another company). I had no more problems on the Breckenridge generic than on the brand-name.
Two months ago, my pharmacy filled my script with a generic (anastrozole) from Teva. I now have worse aches and pains than before; I'm moodier than before; and for the past, oh, 4 or 5 weeks, I've noticed that the pills have a strong chemical odor that I never detected in the brand-name or Breckenridge pills.
So, yesterday I called around and found a different pharmacy that's using a different generic -- the one from Mylan. There's no difference in cost, of course; so I'm going to try it to see if there's anything to this anecdotal evidence about different generics having different SE's.
Anybody else notice that?
otter
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Otter -
TEVA is one of the largest global manufacturers of genetic meds. I was glad to get them as soon as it went generic. Don't notice any difference from the brand name. BUT, we know the "fillers" are different on many of the generics - and maybe there is something that's disturbing you? Can't remember ( why am I not surprised!) who posted the list of all the generics of A and the fillers - but it's somewhere...
DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A CHEMICAL SMELL. Wonder if you got a "bad lot."
Will post if I remember...
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Here's a question I don't think I've seen yet - I've been on the generic Arimidex for about 5 months, and I have really bad gas. And hiccups. Always 4 hiccups - several times a day. The gas can be pretty bad. Of course, it could be the Percocet (herniated discs in the back), so was just wondering if anyone else was having some uh 'issues'.
Sulphurous purrs,
Jenn
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I've had the hiccups more than usual though not daily. As far as the um.... "reverse hiccups,"...no.
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Hands and chest and back still swollen after 5 days off of Armidex...when do these side effects dissipate?!?!?!?!Hadn't thought about the different generic brands....and their binders...should have though as I react to some.
In any case, tried beets in my coleslaw today....and I have to say that while everyone else in the school loved it, I gagged my way through my serving..may have to try the cake thing...certainly didn't get enough in my to help detoxify, that is for darn sure!
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I've been having lots of problems with Arimidex, and was ready to call it quits. I've been on it for 9 months now, and have had joint pain, terrible sleep problems and bad restless legs.
I've been taking glucosamine with fish oil, magnesium, calcuim, vitamin d - religiously for the past 2 months or so. I've also been taking 3mg of melatonin each night.
This week - I feel fantastic! I've been sleeping well (thanks to the melatonin) and while I do still have some aches and pains, they've slipped down the scale from about 8 to 3.
I feel like a new woman. I was also getting really depressed - but now I'm sleeping well, that seems to have gone too. Everything looks much better when you have a good sleep.
I'm staying on the Arimidex now - and feel "happy" about doing it.
Cheers
Trish0 -
Sandeeonherown - do you have a juicer? you couold make carrot juice, with an apple or 2, and a beet - if you experiment enough you can come up with something quite delicious.
Generally, to all, I've been on arimidex going on 3 years and, amazingly, though i wanted to get off about a year and a half ago, I stayed on, and it's gotten much better. Please don't read any more unless you have a very good sense of black (gallows) humour. I was having a chitchat about that with my pharmacist the other day, picking up my prescription, and we were exchanging pros & cons, and for the finale I said oh well - guess it's ok to put up with a little stiffness -and then, out of my mouth came ...as opposed to being really...really...stiff. we both cracked up. please don't report me!
Arlene
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Well, last night I dreamed I hooked up with an old boyfriend (and I mean old, like 1974)......so I am going to THANK arimidex for that one
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Sandee, I was on Tamoxifen for one year and Arimidex for four years..I finished up
over five years ago now and I have to say it took a few months for the side effects
to wear off, at least for me...the change seemed very slight but it did get better over time.
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Hello A Team Members,
I just had my annual physical today and have been on A for 1 yr now. Discovered blood in my urine microscopic hematuria and now have to go see urologist. Has anyone experienced this? Could it be from low estrogen levels? Any input welcome! I just dread having to go to ANOTHER DR for ANOTHER PROBLEM!!
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Trish - so happy to read your GOOD NEWS...I think it takes our bodies a while to get used to this "new" normal. So happy all the supplements seem to be working for you too.
kdemoss - I had some early staining, it was attributed to "vaginal atrophy" and was at about the 1 year mark for me too. LOTS of moisturizer, coconut oil, was the only thing that helped me. It's definitely a SE of being on the A Team - and I hope to have it for YEARS & YEARS
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kdemoss--microscopic amounts of blood in the urine can, but usually doesn't signify anything serious. If you had sex or douched or had a hard/big bowel movemment that can iiiritate the bladder or urethra enough for some blood to leak though. MOst of us on an AI have vaginal drying, which means there is drying in other mucus membrane areas, including the urethrea, and that loss of moistue causes loss of elasticity, which leave it prone to microscopic bleeding. Your PCP is playing the game correctly, hx cancer plus blood where it shouldn't be = referr to specialist. I'm betthing you 'll find out nothing is really wrong.
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Thanks Flanellette, socalllisa...unfortunately, I don't feel I can do arimidex...the swelling concerns me because of my heart attack last March and the potential for lymphodema....and I have zero energy...and have been sadder than sad....not planning to live this way. For the oment, i will take my chances. I have to get my energy back or it just is not doable. Can' even get to the gym and liver is , according to my naturopath, not working as well as it should be ....I am just plain pooped but not really sleeping and now am, according to my dentist today, grinding the hell out of my teeth....which is nothing in comparision to everything else but just one more thing....!Glad the rest of you are doing all right on it...
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I am grinding my teeth a lot lately too - day and night. I think it is emotional.
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Hi y'all!
I've been on Tamoxifen for 1 year and like a week. I am having a complete hysterectomy/oopherectomy Monday at which time I will switch to Arimidex.
I have no idea what to expect!! May I have cliff notes from the past 125 pages?
With Tamox I had horrible hot flashes, night sweats, bone and joint pain, and just overall fatigue. Also, I gained like 35-40 lbs during chemo with all the steriods and predinsone,.. and could NOT lose it on Tamox.
I'm hoping with Arimidex.. some of the pain and fatigue will subside,and I will be able to lose the weight? Please tell me, "Yes, Anne!"
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Anne~ Maybe you will have better luck. I had a H/O and was put on Arimidex and I have hot flashes bone and joint pain .... but I havent't gained any weight. No night sweats or fatigue.
Balsie
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Molly- I was really aware of the teeth thing last night...woke up with tight jaws and lying on my back..always means I was in a deep sleep..starting to dream again...had not even noticed I wasn't on arimidex...but was not sleeping deeply either so...connection? the vlaerian combo my naturopath put me on last night may have helped!
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I went off Arimidex for two weeks due to hospital stay and just testing to see how it made me feel being off of it for a couple of weeks. My energy came right back and I didn't feel any body aches. Now that I've been back on it for 5 days, I find I need to nap, I'm fatigued, and I'm stiff and achy. Hmm...do ya think it's the arimidex? I hope generics aren't a factor. I too use Arimidex loosely as it Anastraodole or something like it.
Hugs,
Kat
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Yes Anne, you can lose weight and feel good on Arimidex. It can go both ways, but I know a couple people who had a lot of trouble with Tamox and felt much better with the Arimidex.....didn't have the hot flashes, were able to drop some weight etc.
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Anne068 - I had the same route you're on, the hot flashes are abating a bit for me on the Arimidex, and I'm not having the joint pain. Or, compared to the two herniated discs in my back, maybe I'm just not noticing it!
Best of luck with your surgery!
Hot purrs,
Jenn
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I wish I could just dump all the drugs and get back to life as I knew it. I hate the arimidex but my onc insists that I must stay on it. I love to be active. I used to be able to cycle 30-40 miles at a time. It gets depressing having so little energy. Has anyone tried vitamin K something? I would have to go back and see where that was suggested but it gives me a glimmer of hope!
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Yes - energy would be nice
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I will be joining the A train after New Year's. I had problems with tamoxifen hyperstimulating my ovaries and lots of pelvic pain from that so I had a hyst/ooph two weeks ago. All I've had from instant menopause so far is one hot flash and feeling a bit emotional. Not bad.
I already have my bottle of pills but my MO told me I could wait until after Christmas to start taking it...let my poor body adjust to one new assault at a time. I've been lurking here a bit so I must admit I'm dreading it all. I hope everyone won't mind if I ask questions later on after I've started...
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I was only on tammy for 3 months then switched the A. Hot flashes better and joint aches too! Good luck!
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Keep moving; alot of problems will go away as your body adjusts. I also think many of the problems people blame on Arimidex are actually post treatment SEs from all the other things our bodies have been through. When you are 'done' with active treatment, and finally have a chance to catch your breath and go "What the hell just happened?" That is a hard time of adjustment for all BC survivors.
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