Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Comments
-
pboi, you have to test and see what works for you. As you can see above, some take it in the pm unlike others (like me) who take it in the am. I don't remember why I switched from pm to am because it was over 6 years ago I started but I have not had any problems with the am.
0 -
Ive been on for 2 years and take in am. However I will do almost anything to help sleep at night, so wonder if I should switch to pm. Hate to upset the apple cart at this point, as have few problems, but wonder if Id be less sleepy in morning, and more so at night.
0 -
aviva, give it a try - you can always switch back.
0 -
I don't post much but this thread is always interesting to check out. What is the IBC test? I cant remember exactly how long I've been on Arim. without checking my notes. A guess is around 4 years. Did 2 on Tamox before that.
It's always encouraging to hear how peoples dreadful SE can go away. Feeling 90years old getting out of a chair, stiff sore feet and hands etc. I remember having dreadful SE's to the point of almost stopping, but I persevered and they subsided almost completely. Mine started about 4 months in, and did lasted some months after. All I get now is the odd occurrence of stiff fingers first thing, but they free up very quickly. The only thing I'm questioning is that it still may be affecting my sleep.
0 -
Dear Musical, I think you mean BCI test. Just google it. I had it last year and it proves that I will receive benefit from 10 years of AIs. We see so many women who go to mets after 10 years.
0 -
Hi janett2014
I asked my pharmacist about getting the teva brand and she has not been able to find any pharmacy around here that has it
What pharmacy did you get yours from?
I have had some SE and would like to try it.
Thank you.
0 -
Sunkissed, some people also go directly to the arimidex manufacturer, AstraZeneca, and buy direct, especially if cost is not an issue (I saw both $30. and $40. for 30-day supply). http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/medicines/astrazenec...
0 -
Aug242007 I did get that wrong. Thanks for the correction.
0 -
i get my Arimidex from CVS. Mine is Teva.
0 -
So, new city/state, MO, pharmacy, so now my anastrozole is by Roxane, sub of a German company. Current med is by Breckenridge and no telling where they get it from but I haven't had any problems. Think I should start the Roxane brand so can switch back if any issues.
0 -
sunkissed,
Like moonflwr912, I get my Teva brand Anastrozole from CVS.
0 -
Patoo, I'm now on Aromasin, after having difficulties with Arimidex. I began having pretty bad side effects on Aromasin after my local hospital and mail-order pharmacy both changed manufacturers of the generic, to Allergen, I think, I did some research and asked my MO to give me a new script and finally found a pharmacy that uses the pill by Roxane. I pay triple what I used to, but it's worth it because the bone pain went away, I'm con vinced that different generics can make a difference. I hope you find the Arimidex by Roxane to be a good fit.
0 -
That's interesting that one generic can be different from another. I must have been lucky that I noticed no difference between the premium drug and the generic.
0 -
Thanks Wave. I started the Roxane this morning so will see over the next few weeks/months. It's covered under my drug plan so only pay $14. for a 3-month supply.
carole, I had no problems when switched from the brand to generic a couple years back. Actually was on my second manufacturer of the generic without a problem with any SE's. The reason one generic can be different from others is not in the drug itself as that has to be the same for everyone, but in the fillers. To hold the drug a manufacturer can use any filler(s) and they do differ by manufacturer. This is why a person may tolerate one generic and not another.
0 -
Teva from walgreens
0 -
My primary doc told me that generics only have to have a minimum of 70 percent of the actual drug, that fillers can differ significantly and that, as generics have proliferated, lab inspections have decreased. That's why I was reluctant to use a generic made in Asia. Teva doesn't make generic Aromasin, but I know lots of women on these forums who swear by the Teva brand for generic Arimidex.
My doc said she is seeing more and more patients who cannot tolerate certain generic brands of many drugs, not just our AI's
0 -
I just did a basic search:
Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers - Food and Drug ...
AdministrationJan 7, 2015 - Yes. A generic drug is the same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken and the way it should be used. FDA requires generic drugs have the same high quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs. Not every brand-name drug has a generic drug.
The filler apparently is what causes differing SE's (as long as you are not sensitive to the brand-name drug itself). I've never seen anywhere that it is only 70% pure. (not that I've seen everything
) However, I guess if inspections are down the generic mfrs can do whatever and if they are coming from overseas I would not be surprised at all. Yikes, now I'm scaring myself. 0 -
Thanks patoo, that 70% thing sounded scary!
0 -
As Patoo (and my pharmacist) says generic drugs have to have exactly the same ingredients of whatever drug you are taking. It's the fillers that can cause problems for some people. That would hold true for any drug coming into the United States from where ever. I had to take the name brand for the first couple years because it was under patent (it was many hundreds of dollars A MONTH, and that was with insurance)......I knew ladies who were forced to take tamoxifen instead because they couldn't afford the cost......so I was thrilled when the patent expired and I could go generic. I, myself, couldn't tell the difference between the two.
0 -
Sorry to cause confusion and spread misinformation. What my primary doc told me seems to be unsubstantiated. Sorry, ladies, and frankly glad she's wrong
0 -
Wave, not to worry. We all get plenty of misinformation that we trust because it's from a source that should be reliable. That is why these threads are so valuable to get other input.
0 -
Hi ladies, first time on this thread, I've been on Arimidex for 1 year, had hot flashes before starting on it and they remain, just part of my life I guess. The joint pain tho keeps getting worse. I was taking Claritin for over a year but it wasn't helping. I called my MO today and got the ok to take a 1 month vacation from the AI. If I feel a lot better I may switch to another kind or maybe Tamoxifen. My knees, elbows and feet all hurt all the time, I'm just sick of it, I feel like I've aged 20 years in the last 2. I am a hairdresser so I spend a lot of time on my feet, getting back into yoga to help balance it out but just so tired of hurting. So today is my first day of vacay, going to stay off it until Thanksgiving. Any words of advice?
0 -
Genny, the "vacation" sounds necessary to help you decide what to do. You can't live in pain because quality of life is important, as well as extending life. Good luck to you.
0 -
Arimidex is killing me! I've only been taking it a week and already my feet hurt so badly that I'm walking with a limp. I was on tamoxifen for 4 years and developed a second new breast cancer. Since I've had a hysto MO switched me to Arimidex. I had pretty severevSEvwith tamoxifen previously but this seems much worse. I will most like abandon as it is really impacting the quality of my life.
0 -
sknitter, I found that switching to the Teva brand helped my foot pain. If you're already taking the Teva brand, maybe try getting Arimidex (not generic Anastrazole) directly from the manufacturer: Astra Zeneca.
0 -
sknitter, Janet is correct. Try switching manufacturers (you may need to go to another pharmacy) or get it from AstraZeneca before you abandon. Also check with your MO as there are other AI's as well.
0 -
Skitter, good advice from Janet and Patoo. Lots of women switch AI meds to find one that's tolerable. There has also been discussion on this thread about some women having problems with one generic but doing better with another generic by a different company.
Good luck to you. I was one of the fortunate ones that didn't have a lot of SEs but I was still glad when my 5 years were up.
0 -
Hi, Ladies. I have had many of the side effects that seem to haunt Arimidex users, but most come and go. However, I have had horrid hot flashes over the last two weeks. They have increased in duration and intensity and I'm having at least two an hour. I've had some kind of hot flash for years - prior to chemo, as well - but this is unbearable. Any suggestions? Thank you. Linda
0 -
Im on gabapentin which I take at night, and it helps the flashes.
0 -
I took 75 mg. of Effexor generic during my 5 years on arimidex and had warm flushes instead of hot flashes. They were uncomfortable enough.
0
