Life on aromasin
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Same here Lily55, nothing is the same.
What's causing the buzzing?(I don't have that)Have I got that se to look forward to?
x x
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Songbird:
It sounds like it may be from the Anti-depressant (Effexor) that they put us on for the hot flashes from the Anastrozole that we take to stop the estrogen that fuels the cancer that seems to be the cause of ALL THIS CRAP !!!!
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I was all set to try the Claritin many months back and then found this:
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-05-18/news/mn-592...
Changed my mind. Ugh. Sometimes I think I read too much.
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Thank you for explaining that Annie:)
I am not on effexor or any other antidepressant for hot flashes. I take neurontin (gabapentin) for those. I don't think I've had any adverse effects.
I've been thinking about estrogen. How can a hormone that we need in our body make/fuel cancer? I don't get it.
Also, I understand aromasin is non steriodal, but what does it mean when it says that it is irreversable(have I got that right)? Are the other AI's irreversable too? Is that a "good" thing?
So many questions, sorry gals!:)
x x
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That's a good question. I wish I would have asked my MO that when I was in the other day.
Anyone else's doc alluding to having you on it for 10 years vs. 5? I don't know if I can take another 5 years after this is up.
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bc101 been alluding for the past year. Will see what she says in 3 weeks.
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I started generic aromasin in February and I've noticed my hands are tingling and going numb at night. At first I attributed it to after effects from the taxotere, but since I never had it while on taxotere, I'm thinking it could be due to the exemestane. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm also having worse hot flashes. Ugh!
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It could be. Call your MD. I know numbness in arms and legs from this drug means heart issues.
"Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; confusion; depression; fainting; general feeling of being unwell; numbness, burning, or tingling in the skin, hands, or feet; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; severe or sudden bone pain; severe stomach pain; shortness of breath; sudden, severe dizziness, headache, or vomiting; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet; vision or speech changes; yellowing of the skin or eyes."
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Bayou Babe - that study was from 1995 and apparently it doesn't mean anything - besides which I already have cancer and the pain from the meds is relieved by the Claritin and EVERYTHING gives mice cancer - remember the saccharin scare from 40 odd years ago and the Canadian mice???!
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"The FDA statement pointed out that there is "no clinical data (to) support the findings" and said that "further study is needed to determine whether these kinds of animal data suggest a potential concern for human use of the drugs." This was the part of the article that concerned me - no clinical data in humans doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. This is why it is so important for each of us to make the decisions that we can live with. Being BRCA + brings extra concerns for me. Even Tamoxifen in recent studies has been shown to produce very agressive uterine cancers in BRCA women, different from risks of regular women on Tamoxifen. BRCA + is a whole new ballgame - sucks. Glad it provides relief for you Sandy.
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leslienva- I get numb hands and arms at night. I definitely think this med has something to do with it. Giving up dairy and sugar makes a difference for me.
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Iago, thanks for the heart issues info. I read the se's, but missed that the numbness and tingling was in the severe se category. I think I miss a lot these days!
I have the numbness and tingling - have done for months! It's left hand that's affected(fret board hand ffs). No chest pains and I feel ok.
Can't believe some bodybuilders choose to take aromasin(found on google when doing an aromasin se search). That is messed up.
I'll bring up se's at my next appt, along with the irreversible thing.
bc101, they hinted at ten years for me too. I'm not even gonna think about it til I get there.
Keep well everyone:)
x x
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oh my god I hope I don't get those side effects when I start on the aromistace
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does Effexor help with depressipn
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did u have any side effects after taking this drug
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Hi Raider Girl,
I'm on Arimidex, not Aromasin, and struggling to maintain a decent amount of mobility. After reading mention of Claritin on this site I added it to my pile of pills. It really does help, particularly with the bone pain. I had to go off of it for a couple of weeks prior to some allergy testing and I could hardly wait to go back on it as the pain was interfering with my sleep. After a couple of days much of that pain was relieved.
The allergist told me that it was safe for long term use and my MO had no objection to me taking it.
I also take Vitamin D and Magnesium. Acupuncture every 2 weeks also helps a great deal. I do Tai Chi and Xi Gong. Lately, if I know I have a lot of walking coming up I'll use topical Voltaren and that provides quite a lot of pain relief.
Good luck and I hope some of these suggestions are helpful to you.
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Florida2015
Don't fear. I know a lot of women on AI that have no side effects at all. Those of us that do, come here to vent and get advice.
Move ahead girl, take a leap of faith, expect all good things, ask for help if you have SE.
Effexor is an antidepressant called a serotonin uptake inhibitor but it has an "off label " effect to reduce hot flashes. So you get two benefits on one med. I however can not take any of this class of meds. It makes my head buzz, and dizziness. I take Megase for hot flashes , works wonderful.
Effexor can have sexual side effects on men and women alike. Not only can it kill the libido but it causes... how can I put this delicately?... you can't cum.
I'll take my Megace for hot flashes and Wellbrutrin for depression. No SE from those for me.
RG
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Bayou Babe,That study was done in 1994 on mice only. The mice were given whatever to produced tumors and then given Claritin which seemed to cause the tumors to grow faster. The study is too old, too limited and we are not mice.
If I had joint pain I would take Claritin. Just my opinion.
I wish the best for you.
Gentle hug
RG
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KmpodThese suggestions are indeed helpful. Frankly I have gotten some insanely good insights on this forum.
I also take Vit D, Krill Oil, Calcium and Vit E 400 mig daily. The Vit E was MO recommended.
Next week I see the general MD for the annual stuff. It will be interesting to see how the AI ha effected cholesterol.
RG
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Songbird,
Ok here goes. No it is not forever. It is related to the substrate in androgens. . It binds irreversibly to active site of the enzyme which is why its sometimes called suicide inhibition. So its mechanism is irreversible but does not permanently effect the process.
Once you stop taking it, the effect stops too. What I don't know is how long does it take the female body to produce some menopausal. estr0gens
Body builders take testosterone to build muscle mass. Some testosterone is converted to estrogen. These bodybuilders start to develop breasts (man-boobs) so they take the AI to stop the over production of estrogen. Testosterone also reduces the size of their testes.
So they have big muscles, boobs and small balls which in turn makes the penis look bigger.
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Anyone else on Lipitor? My cholesterol just keeps going up. I just recently found out that high cholesterol is one of the side effects of Aromasin. That and the risk of heart disease, said the cardiologist. Yikes! Really? I must have missed that on the sign up sheet. I used to say I have no SE's from Aromasin, but they are beginning to creep in. Memory loss, moodiness - everything but joint pain. Guess I'm one of the "lucky" ones, huh?
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Yep AI increases cholesterol. I just had blood drawn today for the lipid profile. Interesting to see the results as I have never had high cholesterol.
If it does come back high I am not taking a statin drug.
#1 it does lower the LDL (bad cholesterol) but does nothing for the HDL (good cholesterol) Its more important to have high HDL than low LDL. #2 Liver toxicity is high #3 In people without heart disease , statin drugs must be taken for 5 years to reduce the risk of heart attack by 1.6% and stroke by 0.35%. #4 in increase in diabetes is high something like 1 in 60 patients.
Below is the data from NNT Group.
http://www.thennt.com/nnt/statins-for-heart-diseas...
I am now taking krill oil 500 mg which is not the same as Omega-3 oils but in the same family.
Krill oil will not lower LDL but it will increase HDL. Im not sure if the dose I am on is sufficient.
Please this is not medical advice. Only my opinion. I hate that women on AI have to take 5 or 6 other drugs to combat the SE of AI.
Happily I know women that have no SE at all...go figure.
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Hi Everyone, I am "happy" (?) okay, I am "something" to make your acquaintances. I had my first lupron shot yesterday and will be starting on exemestane tomorrow. I had been taking tamoxifen for three months but found the cognitive side effects to be too much to bear. I can take constipation, weight gain, nausea, constant hunger, joint pain. But I cannot take not being able to work. I mean, this is my job. So. I found some research indicating that of all the drugs aromasin seems least likely to make my brain go on the fritz, given its mild androgenic properties in the brain. Under duress, my MO tested my hormone levels for menopausal status. I am oddly not fully post menopausal (close but no cigar), hence the shot.
I have been off hormone therapy for three weeks and honestly haven't felt this good since I was diagnosed. I am still carrying around about 15 pounds of "cancer panic" + tamoxifen weight, but otherwise I am feeling very much back to normal. Let's see what happens once the Aromasin kicks in... Fingers crossed.
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Hi ladies,
I have been a lurker, reading about your challenges with this drug. When I started a year ago, I had morning bone pain which went away with some movement as the day progressed. Then no pain at all. Recently, 6 weeks ago to be precise I started having debilitating pain in my knee, started PT to no avail. Then went to see my MO who has given me a 2 week drug holiday and then I will start Femera. Since I will be using AI's for 20 years who knows I might be back here in the future.
I wish you al the best.
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Thank you for the info Raidergirl:)
x x
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School--why do you say you will be on AL for 20 years? only heard of 10 years but that is nasty enough
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I was on Tamoxifen for three years following an IDC diagnosis, then was diagnosed with DCIS in the other breast. I was puton Arimidex, and 8 months later, the joint pain is almost debilitating Didn't have much joint pain with Tamoxifen. Have any of you tried going to non-generic or to a whole other AI? I am 60 and no other health issues. I have been taking (generic) Effexor for hot flashes, etc since I started Tamoxifen...it works well for me..no dizziness or buzzing...input is welcome
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I was 43 when diagnosed. My MO said to take it 10 years at a time but I believe he talked about a possible reoccurrence within 5 years of stopping. So it would be at the age of 63 when i would stop taking AI's and not having the estrogen being blocked. I also went to Sloan Kettering for my second opinion and they concurred.
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wish you the best on your treatment, you certainly have had good docs
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so ladies im off aromasin and on to femara next. I feel horrible in this drug. Vertigo and way more joint pain then on tamoxifen. Funny how all these drugs affect everyone so differently
I hope one of the Al's is my friend
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