Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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I've experienced some stiffness for about a month now (been on anastrasole for almost 2 years with almost no SE's). The past week I'm having trouble with stairs. I don't have joint pain, but when I go upstairs it feels like my muscles are jello on the right side. The left side is normal. Do you think this could be a symptom of A?0 -
wren. Be sure to mention it to your doctor. Is it just your leg or your whole side? If it's the whole side I'd really make an appt asap. I don't want to scare you but strokes are a possiblity for anyone not just those on A.0 -
thanks Ruthbru and moonflwr. So I called my doc Saturday. She said to stop taking the arimidex and come in this morning. 2 days off and some slight improvement in the pain area. I saw the doc this morning and explained everything to her. Turns out my resting heart rate was 122! She said this is probably from the drug. My normal is around 77. My blood pressure was also higher than norm. Explains a lot of the symptoms.
She took me off everything for a week. If my heart rate drops to 100, then I can start on Tamoxifen next week.0 -
ducky. So glad you talked to your doc! I hope your HR drops to the right level and stays there. Much love.0 -
Yikes, glad you went in!
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I seen my onc in October and told him my jaw had been hurting and I knew that was a SE from the prolia shot I have been taking . Only two times but now my left jaw pops mostly when I yawn . I see my dentist tomorrow . I have a funny feeling it is from the prolia shot . No more injections for me I will just take my chances that I don't break a bone, just two more years of Arimidex
Nancy
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Just from reading the above is helping me understand what I am going through or starting to feel SE? Go hours with no sleep at night and then during the day I sleep for 2 to 4 hours. Have some nausea off and on and have started noticing that my appetite is reducing. By late afternoon I realize I have not eaten because I don't get hungry....no have not even lost a pound! Not even trying to loose weight. Has anyone noticed a loss of appetite?
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nwest125,
Makes me worry about getting my first Prolia shot next week. But the 3 plus years on Arimidex has put me into osteoporosis so I need to build and protect my bones. Definitely don't want jaw problems later from the shot. Seems like we take a medication for one condition, than we get another condition.....
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The jaw problems are very rare.....
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My dentist said he doesn't know if it is from the prolia shots or not all I know is I am afraid to take anymore I went from osteropeia to osteoporosis in the three years I have been taking Arimidex. I have put up with a lot of SE from that, but I just don't think I can live with jaw problems if the prolia shots are the cause???? I don't got back to my ONC until April so that will give me a 6 months break. I will see how that goes and make up my mind then. Two more years on Arimidex for me my ONC already told me he was not going to keep me on it any longer that the 5 years because of osteoporosis. Just really don't know what to do .
Nancy
I
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Personal opinion:
As with any drug that we take to help us combat one issue there are a plethora of possible side effects related to that helpful drug. Many women take Arimidex with no problems - they're not on this site because they don't need the community support. We're all here because we are experiencing some level of SEs from Arimidex. The same is true with Prolia. Please don't dismiss it's proven helpful benefits (bone rebuilding) because you're afraid of a rare possible side effect (jaw necrosis). Regular dental cleanings and x-rays won't cause jaw necrosis. What the literature warns against is having anything more invasive done in terms of dental care (dental surgery) where the jaw bone is actually exposed. I started this whole BC journey slightly osteopenic. I've had two prolia injections so far and am scheduled for my third in early January. I have not had any SEs from prolia that I couldn't also blame on arimidex. So......while I thoroughly respect everyone's personal decisions, please do discuss Prolia thoroughly with your MO and your dentist before deciding not to take it. For myself, I feel the chance of having jaw necrosis is remote enough that I would rather protect and rebuild my bones during the arimidex regimen.
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Martessa, When do you take the Arimidex? I took it in the morning originally and couldn't keep my eyes open. I switched to taking it at night, which cured the sleepy day problem.
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I just don't know what I will do. When talking to my ONC in oct he just acted so different when I brought up my jaw was bothering me and told me to get to the dentist quickly, (already had my cleaning coming up for Dec) He chose not to give me the shot at that time. My dentist said he couldn't say if it was related to Prolia or not but my jaw did have inflammation.I had no problem until this last October. Just don't know.... I will make that decision when I go back to see my ONC in April..
Nancy
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I switched my arimidex to bedtime instead of morning also and it seems to have alleviated some fatigue too.
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nwest, would an endocrinologist be able to advise you?
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what is an endocrinologist ???
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From online:
An endocrinologist is a specially trained clinician who is qualified to
diagnosis conditions that affect the glands. They may diagnose and treat
hormone imbalances in the endocrine organs, which include the pituitary,
thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes and pancreas. Some of the conditions that
are treated by an endocrinologist include cancers of the endocrine glands,
cholesterol or lipid disorders, diabetes, hypertension, infertility, lack of
growth, menopause, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, over or under production
of hormones and thyroid diseases.0 -
thanks
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A friend of mine already had severe osteoporosis when she started BC treatment; because of this she added an endocrinologist to her treatment team & ended up taking tamox instead of arimidex. Not suggesting that would be what you should do, but sometimes it is good to have someone with a different 'angle' look at your situation so that you can get a clearer view of the big picture.
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I had osteopenia when I started taking arimidex and after 2 years it went into osteoporosis. I had taken 2 shots of prolia. we will see after this 6 months off . My onc said mined was mostly in my right hip just enough to qualify for prolia shot .
Thanks for all the advice
Nancy
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Wren44 I am sorry I just read your message. My sleep has gotten much better. I am now awake throughout the day. I am noticing that every two weeks I go through different side effects. I am being treated for an ear infection which in turn went into a head cold affecting my throat. It has been a week that I have been on antibiotics (clyndamicin). However, as of yesterday I noticed a lump under my left side of my jaw line (a little lower from my jaw line) and this morning my right-side...is this jaw necrosis? Are the glands affected by taking Arimidex?
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Martessa - I'd call your MO and/or your dentist to be safe. Are you getting Prolia injections for bone building? I googled jaw necrosis and found this comment regarding jaw necrosis in people on various bone-building drugs
ONJ most often develops after an invasive (surgical) dental procedure such as dental extraction
Everything I've read indicates that jaw necrosis is a very rare but possible side effect of Prolia but I don't know if it's a SE of Arimidex.
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Martessa - If you have had a cold and an ear infection it's very possible that you're just feeling a swollen lymph node from the infection. There are lots of them in the neck area. However, best to check it out if you're concerned. Feel better!
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I don't think it has to do with Arimidex, but definitely get it checked out!
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Thank you ladies, I am already in process of getting an appt. with my doctor. In addition, I am finding out that about every two weeks of the side effects that pop out.
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Hello, I'm new to this post. I am currently doing radiation, and have an appointment next week with my MO to discuss starting Arimidex after radiation ends in two weeks. I had a bone density test last month and it was normal. I'm 60 years old, post menopausal. I'd love to know what questions I should ask my MO next week about Arimidex. If anyone has helpful ideas for questions to ask or for information that I should definitely get from my MO before starting, please let me know. Thanks!
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Bondsy,
Welcome to this forum. I have been on Arimidex (gen. anastrazole) for 18 months now. Please ask for a sheet on the S/E's of whatever SI you are prescribed. Please note: we are all different and react differently to the drug. Some have no S/E's, some minor, and some so severe they must be switched to another drug. I, too, had ostepenia (left femur) dx'd three years before my dx, and now is into full blown osteoporosis. I had joint pain (mainly knees) and some hot flashes, but now, I may have one hot flash every other day and no joint pain. I am taking the Prolia shot 2x's a year. I have been doing strength training 2x's a week and yoga 2-4 x's a week. I truly believe this has helped, plus making sure aI get nutrients in my diet. Again, we all react differently to this drug.
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I think the SE change every few weeks/months or at least that seems the pattern for me... the last week or two I have had the worst neck pain and hot flashes...the neck pain is so painful.. I have taken naproxen and that only takes the pain away for an hour or so and then it starts up again..I hope it goes away as quick as it came.
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Thank you kjiberty. I'll get the SE list.
IamNancy, sorry to hear about your neck pain. Never would have guessed that's a SE of arimidex. Not looking forward to this!
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Hello,
I'll be starting on Arimidex in mid-March and am extremely concerned about side effects. I already have arthritis and hot flashes and this is supposed to make it worse? for 5 years??? Now I just found out it can cause some permanent hair loss. Mine is just starting to grow back from chemo! Talk about adding insult to injury! My MO says we'll treat symptoms as they arise but I am not happy about this treatment. He actually wanted to start me on it the day after I completed rads but I pushed it out two weeks (the maximum he would allow) so I could recover.
I see a lot of you exercise to alleviate some of the joint pain but I absolutely HATE to exercise! I am active, as I do a fair amount of walking around work, but in the evenings I'm a couch potato. I may be living on Aleve for the next 5 years!
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