Life on aromasin
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I want this ear ringing to go away. I feel like ditching exe
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Meow, my tinnintus got worse just about the time I started exemestane. Now that I'm back on arimidex, I think it's better. I don't think they list this as a side effect. but, between the two of us, maybe they ought?
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Welcome Auroaya! We have mixed results with Aromasin around this board. Many of us have at least a few troublesome side effects but for the most part, people are sticking with it (at least so far in my case)
Meow and Brookside, there is an "adverse events" area on the CDC website for any and all drugs so you could write your tinnitus issues there and also look to see if others had this problem. Hope it lessens or goes away. So far, that is one I have not experienced thank goodness! That would be a deal breaker for me for sure.
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April, I've been going to the "full prescribing info" for whatever drug, where they list everything everyone demonstrated during the drug's testing. Is the CDC website different (as in individuals reporting their side effects, rather than a testing population)?
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Not sure but I think so. I think anyone can report adverse incidents with any drugs, both prescribed and OTC. CDC collects the information so people can see what others experienced? Not really sure....
http://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/basics.html
EDIT: It is not the CDC, it is the FDA that monitors drugs for adverse events...sorry!
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Aurora I have had better luck on Exemestane (generic Aromasin) that I did on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) as far as SE. I did get anxiety but according to my PCP only 4% of those who take it get that. Other than that I have no other SE from it. On Anastrozole I had back/should/neck pain, sleep issues, gained 10 lbs, gradually increasing depression. All that stopped when I went off it. Lost the 10 lbs in months without changing anything. I will never go back to Anastrozole.
I also believe someone posted a recent article that says Aromasin works better than the other AIs. We may hear more about that with the San Antonio conference next week.
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Lago, I also picked up on that other post. I've been wondering whether it is believed aromasin works better, or if it is just that some drugs work better for some than others?
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or maybe more women are compliant with Aromasin because of fewer SE. So hard when we really don't have the details.
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there are so many unknowns about this. Recently I had a nasty reaction to a cleaning product that my hostess on Turkey day used, Had to call when I got home to find out what it was. Comes to be scrubbing bubbles....one of the top 10 most harmful of the cleaning products. Weird as ladies on a dif cancer board (not BCO) said yeah they used it as it works well and one even said she sneezed when using it so has her cleaning person use it!
Yikes but if it made me sick (I was heading to an asthma attack) then I sure do not want a person who is working for me to use it! Who knows what combo of stuff makes us sick. I worked in printing plant for many years around lots of bad chemicals so how does that affect my diagnosis or my reactions to the med as well?
sorry but this issue pissed me off this past week including certain folks reactions!
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I too am having trouble with one of my ears, this got picked up when I went for my annual physical and I failed part of a hearing test. My PCP said it could have been from the chemo, MO said he didn't think so, but at the time of my physical I had been taking anastrazole/Arimidex for 5 months. I ended up with a 6-week break from the Arimidex, and it did improve a little, but not that I am on examestane I am noticing it a little more again. My left ear feels like it is blocked all the time. Yikes!
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Yikes - I have a new cleaning lady who has cleaned for my friend for years and years and the only thing she requested was scrubbing bubbles - previously cleaning ladies didn't use the stuff and neither did I - guess we're going to make a change - why on earth are they allowed to produce such toxic cleaners - thought we were getting away from that.
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sandy, apparently many folks love the dang stuff but it foams and the toxic junk stays in the air. How could they be allowed to sell it?
My shower & bath is cleaned with vinegar and water and my cleaning person knows my history and agrees with me else she is not my cleaning person~~
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has anyone tried alternating meds? I know aromasin is a steroidal inhibitor and wonder if that makes weight gain more likely?
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Finally, others who are having ringing in the ears...I went to my Eye Ear Nose and Throat specialist. My hearing is fine..he said ringing in the ears is a side effect from chemo for a special few. It drives me absolutely nuts sometimes. There is no cure, he said use fans, radios anything to distract the noise. If it gets real bad there are hearing aids that disguise the noise.I am also on Anastrazole and have been for almost a year.
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Right before falling asleep the ringing in my right ear drives me crazy. My face and neck look puffy and I need to lose 40 pounds. I hope my exercise and calorie intake decrease works.
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ringing...never stops...turn up the volume!
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Hadn't opened the last fill of Exemestane until needed another bottle tonight. Turns out it's a different manufacturer. Trying to keep an open mind about how that might go. Have been on the same one until now for 2-1/2 yrs.
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lbrewer I gained 10 lbs on Anastrozole… then lost the 10 lbs when I switched to Exemestane.
I noticed more episodes of tinnitus but not too bad. I know it's from chemo. There is no cure for tinnitus. Sometimes you can hide it with white noise. It's very common in people who wear hearing aids.
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Responding to earlier posts, I'm on Aromasin and Lexapro, an antidepressant. Had a really bad bout with depression about this time a year ago, switched from Zoloft to Lexapro.
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Femara gave me constant headaches. They just never went away. Was on Femara for about 4 months then switched to Aromasin. Headaches are gone but now have terrible joint pain and weight gain is not good either. And I have 4 more years of this? Guess the other option is not good either. I certainly do not want the cancer to return.
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Haven't been here for a long while but I am looking for others experience with joint pain. Before Aromasin I had knee pain from arthritis. The pain was minimal. Knee pain was bad on Femara so I've been on Aromasin for two years. Still have knee pain but much less than Femara. I have been taking Meloxicam for pain but now my creatinine is going up and my PCP says to back off on Meloxicam. What are others doing to help with the knee/joint. When I am on the Meloxicam, the paint is tolerable. When I am off Meloxicam, the pain increases and I also have pain in my ankles and elbows.
Would like input from others on how they treat joint pain and if they have seen other issues arise, liked increased creatinine levels.
I am in the process of changing oncologists, maybe my new doc will have a magic potion.
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Hi Ohio 4,
If only there was a magic potion ...
I'm on Arimidex, not Aromasin, but have also been plagued with knee pain since going on it over 3 years ago. I've found a few things that are helpful, at least enough to keep me somewhat mobile. I did find that when I was switched to the generic, Anastrazole, the joint pain became much worse and began to spread to my shoulders and feet. After returning to the name brand things did become more manageable again.
I take loratidine (generic Claritin) daily. No one is quite sure why or how it works but a number of participants here use it to good effect. It's an important part of the pain control for me. My MO has no objection to it and my allergist says its safe for long term use.
I supplement with fish oil and Boswellia/Magnesium supplements. The Boswellia is a natural anti-inflammatory.
The next piece of the puzzle is acupuncture every 2 weeks. I have a Chinese trained physician who is very skilled and has years of experience. It helps to keep the swelling down and seems to reduce the tendon tightness.
I also do Tai Chi and often wear knee support when doing it.
Each and every one of these items seems to be necessary for me to keep the joint SE's under control. Even with all this my mobility is limited, but at least I haven't yet had to resort to a cane or a walker.
Others do find that exercise helps to reduce the joint pain, but that is not the case for me.
Good luck on finding something that helps to keep you going. All of these AI's are a major challenge. By the way, I have found my GP to be much more helpful in dealing with (or even acknowledging) the AI side effects than my MO is.
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I have been on Aromasin generic for about 3 months.Seems I am losing a lot of hair.Does this taper off after awhile? Anyone else have is side effect?:( I was on anastrozole for 3 years didn't have this side effect.
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Walley, same as you... Did not lose hair while on Arimidex for a year vut had to give it up because of joiknt pain and stifffness. Pretty severe hair loss on Aromasin. Trying Biotin, Viviscal, Nioxin shampoos. Frustrating, isn't it???
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kmpod I too am now going to my PCP to treat SE for this drug. My MO tends to send me to a specialist for SEs and I feel that isn't always necessary. I don't need more MDs in my life especially when we know what the cause is.
walley lots of women notice more hair loss on Aromasin. I have always had an issue so I am on biotin and Minoxodil. I think it now has subsided. Been on the drug since April.
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I was on Anastrozole for not quite 2 1/2 years. Terrible back, hip and leg pain along with muscle pain. Onc switched me to Exemestane in early Sept. 2014. For about 6 weeks pain much better but now it's back. I can't sleep because of it and am miserable during the day. Onc put me on a low dose of Celebrex. May help during the day (I take it in the morning) but by evening and all night it's bad. I have to take an AI as I'm 100% estrogen positive and stage IIIC. Are we destined to be in pain after everything else we have been through?
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lago,
I too am seeing too many specialists. I usually go to my regular NP for primary care. I've been with her for over a decade. She's helped both me and my daughter through very difficult times, so I'm devoted to her. She is very sharp, communicates almost immediately, and will do almost anything for me. I can usually get in to see her within a few days. Unfortunately, she'll send me to specialists exactly as my MO does. So I'll show up at a specialist for something minor that a PCP could have followed. She used to be more possessive of my care, but BC seems to have changed this.
I go to a university hospital/clinic, so I have to first give my history to a resident, then s/he gives it to the attending, then I hear it back as a flawed in translation or omission. Getting tired of this. I don't mind the residents when I see my established doctors - MO, PS, RO, BS, GYN, NP. They know me and my history. I enjoy participating in the teaching loop, or at least respect the need for it.
So not sure what to do other than push back on referrals? I guess this is never going to be perfect.
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My PCP has been wonderful through all the se's on all of the AIs (I've been on them all) only referral was to a cardio and believe me it was necessary (my heart was affected by my chemo) - my MO knows my PCP and is in accordance with her taking care of se's (MO doesn't always acknowledge them) - funnily enough my MO and her charge nurse took my Claritin advice (other patients had mentioned it as well) and is now advising patients to try it for bone pain - my PCP says it is safe for long term use.
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Kmpod...thanks for the info. Gonna start with claritin. Already added some exercise. Will check with MO or PCP about fish oil and Boswella.
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Thanks everyone! I will keep an eye on my hair loss......I take Biotin daily..how much do you take?...just another SE
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