Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Headaches? I have had a headache off & on and off course my fear goes to the worst possible thought.
However, it feels sort of like migraines that i had before this entire breast cancer journey. I was reading last night where vasodilatation is a side effect and some folks get headaches from that. Which makes sense to think.
I have been on arimidex for several months now- about 6 months. I have my last herceptin tomorrow so I can ask. Just wondering for any advice from folks who might have had this side effect on how they managed it & did it get better??
Thanks.
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It could also have something to do with herceptin (or herceptin plus arimidex), so maybe will get better once the herceptin is out of your system. CONGRATULATIONS on being done with the herceptin leg of the journey!
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LisaGH - I have a long history of migraines but when I quit my job in August my migraines got a lot better then around November I started having headaches almost everyday. It seemed that I would wake up about 3 or 4 am with a terrible migraine type headache. This I have attributed to Anastrazole along with all the other side effects I acquired about the same time. I had been on the medication about 6 months when they started. The headaches are getting some better now and aren't quite as frequent as they were, so I'm hoping this means that they are getting better. It has been 4 months since my side effects started and most are improving.
By the way Congrats on completing your Herceptin.
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Here is the latest on me and Anastrozole. I have been on it since Jan 1. I tolerated it quite well for a month. The last couple of weeks I felt like I was going to cry-depressed-extreme fatigue etc etc. NO aches hardly any hot flashes. I called the Dr today and he said, via the nurse, to stop taking it unitl my follow up on March 7 and then he would re evaluate. Anyboday out there done that? What
are the alternatives? Since I was feeling great until the last few weeks and nothing else has changed, I bet the Anastrozole is the culprit.
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Hi Jean,
I had a really hard start on Arimidex - headaches, the blues, body aches, carpel tunnel, etc. I took a break after about 2 months for 2 weeks with my oncs approval. He said that 55% of the folks who restart after a break feel better. 55% try another AI and feel better. When I started back up, I did not feel that much better, but by six months in, things settled down emotionally and physically. i still have lots of stiffness and can feel tired unexpectedly, but i am much better than when i started. To get me through the rough start, I played around with the time of day that i took it, changed my diet, worked in more exercise, took some pain pills and anti - anxiety drugs, etc. I just decided that I was going to treat the side effects in a way that kept me positive and moving.
I am now a week away from completing my first year - yeah! I feel much stronger even with the aches and pains. I think a break is a great idea, but definitely give it another try when you are ready. Good luck!! Beau
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tinat- thanks- i was fine the first several months but the headache just started last week. it's gone totally now so might have been migraine like i used to have. now last couple of days it's lower back pain. i guess it's better it still moves around (the pain) and doesn't last in one area for long. the headache scared me more than anything.
i was off on the herceptin- have 1 more dose to go- went today for what i thought was last & my MO said there's one more! so, 3/1 is the day.
my mo offered to switch me to femara. not sure it that would be better, worse or the same? scared to try. he said i could call if i wanted to try. feeling mixed on that option? any thoughts there???
i want to hang in. i truly believe this medication is important.
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LisaGH - I was having a rough time with Arimidex, the joint pain was pretty bad, as were the hot flashes. My oncologist switched me to Femara and it's been a LOT better. It hasn't been long, but I'm finally starting to feel like ME again!
Purrs,
Jenn
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Many on this thread have reported some of the same SE's, depression, joint pain, hot flashes, etc. and some started shortly after beginning the Arimidex/Anastrozole or after taking them for a few months. Many also reported the SE's subsided after awhile, or they became manageable so it could be a matter of timing. So be certain to bring that up with your MO before switching. Sometimes another AI is better but it could also bring it's own set of difficult SE's. As we are all different what works for one may not affect you the same.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I think most of us agree that we are happy to be able to have somethng we can take.
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Patoo,what you've said really interests me. I've spend a ot of time googling to compare the most common SE's of the 3 AI's. Very surprised to see how different some are. I'll finish my (first) 5 years on Arimidex next summer, and wondering what's next. Know there will be something - and I take an SSRI, so Tamoxifen still isn't an option unless I'm willing to change that med ( no, took me too long to find what worked for me)
Agree tho - so grateful to have this medicine. REALLY grateful....
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I had a friend who mentioned she took Evista with no problems. I am hoping the side effects I had go away quickly! Meanwhile I will wait until March 7 when I have my check up. I know they are important drugs so I am glad there are some options. I have a system that is super sensitive to drugs and have felt like a science experiment before when trying to find one that works for me.
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Hey, all, was it on this thread that there was some talk about taking claritin to help with the AI side effects? If it wasn't claritin that was being talked about does anyone remember what it was?
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Hi NativeMariner,
Yes, I saw someone mention claratin a few pages back, but I don't remember who it was or exactly what page. I tried it for a few days and thought it helped, but it also aggrevated my dry eyes so I stopped for the moment. I also threw in some benedryl some nights which also helped a bit. I may go back to it again, but right now I am doing ok so I am sticking with what works.
I would be interested to hear if other folks have tried it and how it went for them. best, Beau
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I saw the Rad Onc and nurse today. She ( the nurse) is a real sweetheart as had her for chemo a couple of times. She confirmed that it was a good idea to get off the anastrozole and said there are several other drugs I could try. She also said that perhaps the Oncologist could start me on the anastrozole very gradually. One good thing about that clinic is I always feel better coming out than going in!
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I don't know about Clariton for this, but I know some people take it (regular, not Clariton D) before Neulasta shots and it helps them with the achy bone feeling, so it would probably be worth a try.
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Is Blood pressure a SE of the "A" I have always had normal or a little bit lower blood pressure and just today mine was 140/90 is this something I should be concerned about? I hope it was just a craxy day.
Be Well
Balsie
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Balsie, it is one of the known SE's. Keep a close watch on it. Check it whenever you are at the grocery of drugstore. If it contiues high your MO or primary needs to evaluate and treat. that said, stress and anxiety can cause a high reading.
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I agree with ptdreamers, keep track of it yourself at first to see if it was a flunk or not (you can also get a home BP monitor quite cheaply). I wouldn't put too much faith into any one reading (especially if it was done at the doctor's office).
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NativeMainer: I was the one who mentioned Claritin to alleviate bone/joint pain. My nurses recommended it when I got my Neulasta injection after each chemo treatment, specifically because it reduces or eliminates bone pain caused by the Neulasta injection. (They don't know why.) When I recently switched from tamoxifen to anastrazole, I developed bone and joint pain within about a month -- had difficulty walking, getting up, etc. from all the stiffness (and I'm uber-active, so mentally that was quite stressful). One night I was lying on the sofa bed, in agony and unable to move -- couldn't even grip anything. Then, I remembered the Neulasta/Claritin connection and tried it.
That first night I took the Claritin, it took the edge off my ungodly pain within about 30 minutes and by the next morning I was completely pain-free. I've taken it every day since, and the one day I forgot, I felt the aches and pains returning. I may test it again, but, meanwhile, I am pain-free and back to all of my regular activity. If anybody else tries this, please report back - I'd be happy if the Claritin could provide some long-term bone pain relief while on AIs!
Somebody recently asked about headaches: I've had sporadic headaches, from dull ones to a couple of bigger ones, since being on anastrazole. I've also had a couple of dizzy spells (when I first went on the med, but not recently). I'm someone who never, ever gets headaches, so I assume these are a SE of the AI.
Other than that, I've no SEs of note.
Btw, tonight I counted how many pills and supplements I take each day: 35! Most of them are vitamins and supplements, but that's a lot. My body may not feel like an old lady yet, but my bathroom counter sure looks like one lives here! :-) Many of the supplements are under the direction and supervision of my acupuncturist, who is an internist at my cancer center as well as certified in traditional Chinese medicine. (If you've ever been to a Chinese apothecary, it is primarily filled with herbal remedies.)
Susan
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Is this true the Arimidex can cause carpal tunnel? Because I have recently been experiencing it since being on Arimidex starting last November.
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It's true Divine... add it to the list
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DivineMrsM, I cannot say for sure from a medical viewpoint that Arimidex causes carpal tunnel syndrome, but I believe it can. I began to experience something called DeQuervain's syndrome shortly after I started taking Aridimex in October. Basically, the top of left wrist hurts when I move my thumb. Good luck alleviating the carpal tunnel syndrome no matter what is causing it.
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My onc has me on tamoxofin, started taking it dec 1 2011. Wondering about Arimidex and left a message for him to call me. I read somewhere that is may be better than Tamoxofin? Chemo induced meno so far.. have hot flashes and some night sweats but small price to pay.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome is an known side effect of all the AIs.
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CTS - been there, done that - kicked it horribly at the 3 month point. Slept in wrist splints, went to physiotherapist, did the hand exercises she gave me - gone in a few weeks.
WRIST SPLINTS. WRIST SPLINTS. WRIST SPLINTS for sleeping. A must til it goes away...
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Ckgray you have to be post menopausal to switch to arimidex. I started on tamoxifen for 3 months post chemo to make sure the chemopause was permanent. Then tests showed post meno for sure. Switched to arimidex since then (3 months). SE from arimidex are no picnic
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Ditto to SunflowersMA - wrist splints. I wore a soft one during the day because I work on the computer all day and put on a more stable one at night. After a few weeks didn't use the day one and now don't need any - Carpal Tunnel symptoms disappeared, as did the trigger thumb (another possible SE).
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Those of you who have taken a "vacation" from Arimedix: My depression lifted pretty quickly, about 48 hours after last dose. But the feelings of anxiety and nervousness still continue. How long does it take for the drug to wash out of your system and for some balance in the estrogen come back? I had none of this prior to being on that drug. This is a horrible feeling. Thanks
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I started on Tamoxifen following treatment and was on that for a little over 3 years. Onc finally decided to switch me to Arimidex (on generic anastrazole) mid-December. He kept me on the Tamixifen for so long because he wasn't convinced I was post meno. Anyway, I have been on the anastrazole for almost two months and was wondering when side effects really kick in. My Onc told me that they usually get bad around month 3 - 5 and by month 6 they start tapering off. Is this your experience? So far I am extremely tired all the time and kind of stiff and achy when I get up in the morning.....oh yeah, and I have been getting headaches once each month for about 4 or 5 days in a row.
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Official prescirbing info says "Suppression of serum estradiol was maintained for up to 6 days after cessation of daily dosing with ARIMIDEX (anastrozole) 1 mg." So it will take AT LEAST 6 days to get the effect out of your system.
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