Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Onc suggested Effexor for hot flashes and depression. PCP sent in the script to the drug store, but I still haven't picked it up. I've heard some things that make me hesitant to try it. Anyone use Effexor?
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My pcp gave me Effexor for insomnia. I gained 70 pounds in about 3 months. My DH was on it along with elavil for about a year & 1/2. He ended up in the hospital with a breakdown, but I've also known people that it helped very well.
So, just be very careful. If you don't feel right after a few days, tell your Dr.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Soteria: I have numbers in just my fingers in my right hand in the middle of the night. What's that about?
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I never had any hot flashes during Menopause. I thought I would be experiencing this SE while on arimidex, but guess what, I AM COLD ALL THE TIME!!!
I researched " Hot flashes decraese risk of breast cancer" and guess what THEY DO!!!!
After doing an informal poll among people that I know who have or had BC, about Hot flashes during menopause , many of them said THEY DID NOT!!! For me it was mainly cold flashes! My dear mom who had BC, was always also very cold through her menopause.
PS : My ER+ is 90 PR+ 5
Just to confirm I asked my Oncologist and she said and I quote " There have been studies done about this and they are pretty conclusive that it is true"
I wonder how many of us who have gone through menopause experienced little or NO HOT FLASHES!!!
Mena
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Regarding Effexor, I'm a fan. I had wicked hot flashes that were even making me nauseated as they came on and I couldn't sleep at night because I would wake up and be soaked through. My onc's nurse practitioner suggested it and within 3 days I could tell a big difference! After about two weeks I also stopped having the aching back and hips from arimidex. I later found out Effexor is also prescribed for fibromyalgia pain. I didn't have any idea it would help my SEs other than the hot flashes. I've been on it now for more than a year and I'm happy.
P.S. I did not gain any weight on it (I've been losing over the last year, on purpose). It does take about a week to get used to taking Effexor, it made me really sleepy and a little nauseated, too. I switched to taking it at night and with some food. Now I can take it any time and on an empty stomach, it doesn't bother me. I take one in the morning and one at night.
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Thanks everyone for the input. It's a very interesting point that having a higher ER makes it more likely to have greater side effects from the medicine. Unfortunately, for me, it's also true that having a very low ER like mine means the medicine is not as effective.the oncologist feels that it's still worth doing. She also said that I'm clinically a triple negative. I'll just consider myself difficult to label:)
I'm sure insomnia has been discussed on this board. Probably extensively. But reading back through is an intimidating task. I've had horrible sleep that last several nights in a row. It's 4:15am now and I don't feel anywhere near sleep. Is this common with Arimidex? Is it something that may work its way out with time? I've only been on the med for 10 days.
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spunkyt
I have not taken effexor, but it hasd bene dubbed " effects or " for its many many SEs - known for weight gain.
I hear it is very very hard to get off too. Bad withdrawals.Others may say different.
Google, keep asking and be carefgul.
Good Luck to you!
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Annie~When do you take arimidex? I take mine in the am, and I've never had insomnia.
I also take Claritin at the same time. It helps with side effects, especially bone pain. I did have stiffness when I first got up in the morning or after sitting for a while, but by the time I scooted to the bathroom it was usually gone. I also took a stool softener or ate dried prunes, which are yummy. That took care of constipation.
By the way, I was 95% ER and 35% PR.
I hope this helps.
Blessings
Paula0 -
I am only 5% ER+ and PR- but I am taking Arimidex anyways...my MO feels it helps beat the odds.
I never had many HOT flashes with menopause but sure having COLD ones now! I am almost 10 months into Arimidex. I sympathize with the morning aches and pains..I find the more movement, the less pain! I find I don't even need the Claritin anymore, but I have it just in case.
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Checking in with another woman who had NO hot flashes during meno and is here now (on the threads, I mean.)
I do have an occasional, brief hot "flush" now on the anastrazole.
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I am 4 months post chemo and have taken Arimidex since Jan. 2012. 3 weeks ago I started to feel Queasy in my stomach and can't seem to get rid of it. My onc put me on Flagel and I took a sample in and it came back negative. I stopped taking Arimidex Saturday because I just can't take that feeling anymore. I will go to onc. on Thursday. Do you think it might be the Arimidex? I read that Arimidex can cause nausea in 89% of people over 60. I am a young 74 and just want to feel good again. Thanks for any info on stomach problems and Arimidex.
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I took Effexor for over 6 months and couldn't handle the side effects. It was very difficult to wean myself off of that medication. I had to keep cutting the pills into tiny pieces and wean off very slowly. It did work for the hot flashes, but my all of my emotions felt deadened. I personally would never consider taking it again. Everyone reacts differently to drugs and some other folks may be just fine on it.
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MENA - interesting about the hot flashes....never had any, got BC. I have an additional theory somewhat supporting that (though I have no real science behind it) -....some BRCA2 cancers that don't grow during pre-menopause, take off after menopause (<< this is science-based)....I believe it is the difference between the sources of Estrogen (ovaries pre-menopause) versus Aromatase (post menopause) which creates Estrogen in the breast tissue. If in menopause, your adrenals and/or body fat are highly estrogenic, then you wouldn't experience the extreme change in estrogen and therefore no hot flashes, but additionally, you would have that excess estrogen in breast tissue (which aromatase causes), which would account for higher BC rates. So based on my science and pseudo science, I think hot flashes would be a good sign for hopefully not getting BC.
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This a.m. just B4 I was heading out to go to my PT I suddenly had excruciating pain in my neck and upper shoulder when I turned my head towards the same side as the pain was on. Ive taken a couple of painkillers which have barely touched it and its still as sore as.NO reason at all. I was FINE before this, and did NOTHING out of the ordinary. I've had crinks in the neck on the odd occasion like most of us, but THIS is much much worse than that. Feels like I've been kicked in the side of the neck by a mule.
I had a similar thing with same side but a bit lower down and more into the shoulder a month ago, which slowly just went away. I can't think of anything else but the Arimidex causing this. Has anyone else had these episodes over and above us already feeling 90yrs old when we get up and what not? 0 -
Musical, before and since taking Arimidex I have had problems with muscle spasms. They can cause excruciating pain and it can happen from a simple movement. I can't say I've had more of them since taking Arimidex, but I get at least three episodes a year. They can take weeks to resolve. Now when I get one, I go to my doctor and get a prescription for Skelaxin, a muscle relaxer. I hope that's all it is in your case.
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Thanks Rocket.Next time I see my GP, I'll be asking about it. I'll see if theres something here in NZ about Skelaxin.
Anyway it's crazy. Almost couldn't drive this a.m. Everytime I turned my head at an intersection ARGGGG! Last episode came right over about a week I think, but at least I could turn my head!. My PT got "into it" and sure found the sore spot. SHe did a bit of massaging then and I think it may have helped. I don't know. Never had this B4 Arimidex.
Heres a question I've been meanig to ask you A team girls... how do you keep tabs on how much bone loss you've got? I was told with my BD scan it's not worth having them sooner than 2 years as they can't tell any difference. This is NZ. Is that the same for you ladies elsewhere?
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They told me 2 years also. I may try to go around them with my PCP. I've seen a post saying that she showed bone loss after 1 year. Mine before the AI showed osteopenia as did the one several years before that. They said I had lost in the hip and gained bone in the spine.
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I don't get it that some can say they've had bone loss after a year, unless of course we're talking about totally different machines to do BD. I know you guys call them dexa scans right? I've had 2. 1 just B4 chemo (around 3yrs ago.) and one about 3 or 4 months ago. Pre chemo one showed me a little above av. Tamox is said to increase it slightly as well and I came off that after 2years right at end of last year. Well the 2nd scan showed a little loss in neck and I think lower back but Im still in the normal range. By the time I had 2nd Scan I wouldve been on Arim about 6 months. If it can do that in that short amount of time, what will it do in 3 years!!!??? I really dislike being on this drug. Sometimes I really wonder if it is doable.
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The person who posted about the bone loss had gone from osteopenia to osteoporosis in a year on AI. She was really freaked out about it.
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I just got my bone density scan report and in the two years on Arimidex it now says I have low bone density according to the World Health Organization standard and average bone density according to the Z score. I have no idea what that means, but I see my onc in November and will ask her.
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After I started taking Arimidex Jan of 2010 I had a bone density and was told I had osteopenia and decided against bone medicine ( I just didnt like all the side effects that I read) I just had another bone density in July of 2012 and not my ONC tells me last week that I have osteoporosis. Now I have other options besides the pill. I decided to do the shot every 6 months. I guess I should have taken that pill 2 years ago, maybe things would have not progressed so fast. Who knows
.Nancy
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Thanks ladies, nwest, what pill are you talking about? I haven't researched the whole bone issue, sometimes ya just get so sick of it.
My lil problems pale into insignificance when I see what this Superstorm Sandy is purported to do. Im watching updates on the box, and I'm leaving it on all day. I Hope you are all safe .....
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Musical I am talking about the Fosamax pill that u take once a week, I didnt like the SE the jaw and dental issues so I didnt take it then
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Thanks nwest
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nwest, I take the prolia shot every six months. I have had two. No problems from it. Another poster thought her blood counts went down because of it. I like it better than the fosamax routine that I was on for four years. It is exspensive so be sure to check your insurance coverage.
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For the "study" of BC and hot flashes.....I had menopause hot flashes really bad for about 3 years, and just the odd flash for an additional 5 years. And, yep, here I am with IDC. And , I've gotten hot flushes with arimidex. Not that bad and certainly not like in menopause!
I also went from stable osteopenia prior to BC straight in to osteoporosis within a month of starting Arimidex. Course, the latest Dexa was run on a different machine and that could make a difference.
I take the Prolia shot every 6 months and technically no problems. However 3 weeks ago and 6 weeks after my last infusion I broke out in red bumps/spots all over my body and my white cell counts went down. I didn't have chemo. Drs have no clue what it was, but apparently a virus? Strange virus if so. Its possible it was a Prolia reaction. We will run another Dexa before I have another Prolia infusion in the spring just to see how I'm doing in the hopes we could put off the infusion in case it was a strange reaction. I just hope I don't come down with more "bumps" as it is not pretty I can tell you, although they don't itch and no fever. Just strange.....0 -
Hello all,
I've been on Arimidex since Jan1st, 2012. The SE started slowly but once the joint and bone pain began it just got worse and worse.
I was post menopause before my diagnosis so having the night sweats and hot flashes was just an ugly reminder.....stay away from intense heat sources, heating pads, spicy foods, alcohol and hot sun. My coping mechanism has always been "head in the freezer"! drinking ice cold water, pop sickles etc. For night sweats, I keep a towel beside my bed and a change of pj's (usually a tank top and panties) some nights I've used ambien to sleep through the night. These symptoms have ceased to be daily, the night sweats are very seldom now.
Biggest complaint is joint, bone pain and frozen joints. My fingers hardly work when I get up in the morning! Wherever I'd had an old injury or the start of arthritis seems to hurt the worse. Walking, moving be it swimming or any other activity is the absolute best. The Rx Mobic 15mg daily saved me from the most arthritic pain.
I too, will try a gluten free diet. Does anyone else crave sugar? I've put on 18lbs and find it really hard to control my appetite for sweets! Help!0 -
I'm curious. Do most of you choose to take your Arimidex in the evening...or in the morning. I am just getting started and trying to figure out the best time to take it regularly.
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firework, hugs. Looks like yu started yours same time as me. Me too, with the joint pain. Yep, sometimes hands hardly work 1st thing, but once I do a few "pumps" it frees up. The crazy thing is it shifts around and it's like everything gets a turn at hurting. I hear you on the old injuries. Most definitley thats the case with me. I have plantar fascitis (Sp??) in the left foot from an injury years ago. It didnt bother me for years until I came on Arimidex. Now I get shooting stabbing pains in my arch. I also broke the 5th metatarcel in my left foot when I was young and likewise that is very painful especially if I squeeze my foot. When did your SideEffects start happening? Seems a lot of us have these after about 4 months.
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Joan I take mine at night, but with me it's a memory thing. I simply forget in the morning. Other ladies might have different reasons according to the best time for them. I have so many side issues I'd be hard pressed to pin down what causes what. For exmple, I don't find Arimidex alters my sleeping patterns as those were all up the shoot anyway, so can't blame Arim. Nor could I blame Tamox. Lots of ladies have had disrupted sleep through these drugs.
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