For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Pbrain, I had a long post on RLS syndrome, maybe on the other anastrozole thread. If you click on my name you can see my posts, and it was in the last couple of them.
I started with RLS this summer (slightly had it before DX) and had some horrible nights. I started taking iron (supposed to take with C) and melatonin to help me sleep through the night. I feel occasional spasms but go back to sleep now. RLS is progressive, supposedly, but can go into remission. I still have it but am much much better, which I attribute to the iron. Good luck.0 -
lago, I am well into the osteoporosis range after 2 years on anastrazole. Same as you, hips are OK, but lumbar spine "at moderate risk for nontraumatic fracture". So, have started Fosamax....boo:( MO says I'll only take it for a certain number of years and that it rebuilds bone. If taken for too long it actually has a detrimental effect on the bones. So far, no SEs from the Fosamax for me.
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I took Fosamax for years and my osteopenia definitely improved
bones were fine when I started the meds and have not tested them since but doing regular weight bearing exercises and just hoping
since I can not take the meds again....just hoping0 -
I've been on Fosomax for 9 weeks with no SEs.
Here's an article about prunes (love the dried ones) being great for the bones.
http://www.bodyelectrictv.com/health/osteoporosis/why-your-bones-love-prunes-11/0 -
Yea for prunes! I eat a serving every single day & even bring them on vacation with me
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I finally got my Anastrozole by FedEx Tuesday, it cost under $6.00 and they shipped it overnight. So now we watch for the fun side effects to follow. I get restless leg syndrome mostly at the movies or when I need to sit still for longer periods of time. Haven't had that issue when I go to bed....yet.0 -
All right ladies, tell me if this is normal. I was on Femara, but stopped about three weeks ago. Felt heavenly during two of those weeks. I have been on Arimidex for three days now, and already am getting some of the same side effects returning. Already!! After 3 measly days!! Anyone else have side effects crop up this quickly? Will they go away soon or simply continue to build? I am so worried - Femara was a nightmare for me, and I am not ready to do that again this soon. Was so hoping to find the right drug this time - is there still hope?0 -
Unfortunatly BayouBabe all medications have side effects. Finding one that is most tolerable is probably you best bet. For many people side effects are less severe over time. My doc always tells me, side effects are a way to remind us the medication is doing its job. I wish you the best.0 -
BayouBabe~~Are you on arimidex brand or anastrazole? What side effects are you having? If it's bone pain, Claritin or the generic Loratidine will help that.
Paula0 -
It is generic. I began experiencing severe bone joint pain on day two. Today on day three I am in tears. I also have degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. Think this is part of my problem with these drugs. Going into town later and will pick up Claritin. Ugh - I am miserable.0 -
Ive been pretty se free so far, but have gained a few pounds in the 6 weeks Ive been taking anastrazole. I know its a possible se, but am hoping beyond hope that I am just putting back on the 5lb I lost since diagnosis....I have a bad feeling its not the case tho. I know its minor compared to other se, but having fought to lose 35 lb in the last 18 months, its infuriating to gain because of a pill. If I put on much more I might ask to switch, to see if different or non generic have same se.0 -
Bayoubabe, I was on Anastrozole for 4 weeks, SE's started within the first week. By 4 weeks I had to stop because SE's were so bad. Not so much the joint issues but I felt like I was constantly on the verge of tears,was exhausted all the time and felt like I was heading into depression. I took a 3 week break and started the brand name (half dose) and so far it has been ok. I will probably have to go up to the whole dose after I see my MO on Tuesday. I would hang in there a little longer and see if the SE's get better. If not, you may have to switch again.0 -
My experience has been that stopping and starting makes it much easier. I spoke to my onco about it and he said it works that way sometimes. So don't think you have to make up your mind all at once. You can stop and start and see what happens, You may be surprised, I was.0 -
girls I had all those rotten side effects with anastrozole also... Joint pain so bad even my elbows hurt, tears, " snapping" at everyone, weight shifting all around , hotflashes ,dryskin so after 6 months I'm now on the brand name Arimidex it does make some difference and its made in america not another country. I still have joint pain & dry skin but I really can't complain too much after all what's our alternative? Hope you all feel better soon.0 -
From everything I've read, it looks like the SEs with the brand, arimidex, are much less than those on anastrazole.
I saw my MO on Monday for my 3 month checkup. She was asking me why & how I take the Claritin. I told her, I learned about it on BCO and I had also discussed it with her NP. I also told her that there seem to be less SEs with the brand. She found it all very interesting.
Paula0 -
Luvbugs- your hair looks beautiful. It looks like it has grown in really nicely. Did you color it yourself? You look great!0 -
Hi, Ladies... Year two on anastrozole anniversary next month. First year, hardly any se's. Presently--enough foot pain to bring tears. Have tried Ruth's raisins, Claritin, Topricin, plain old ibuprofen... and, yes, I eat my prunes each day. I am on my feet at least 7 hours a day, so inactivity is not it. I wear sensible shoes... sometimes supportive tennies w/insoles even. Tried an ankle brace a while... Any ideas would be most welcome!! Thank you so much. (And my weight is not out of control, so that's not it.) sigh. (I see my MO next month... wonder what he'll suggest.) oh--I share some of the mood swingy issues that some of you have shared. Silly, but am hesitant/embarrassed to ask about antidepressant. Inhibited, I guess. sorry if tmi0 -
MontereyRobin - please don't be hesitant or embarrassed to ask about antidepressants - its not your fault you have any type of mood swing - its a SE of the medication.. and the doctor needs to know about the SE- any SE.. maybe he'll switch your meds to a different one when he/she finds out your feet hurt so badly.. My doctor told me if any SE becomes unbearable I should call right away because they don't want us to suffer needlessly but can change the meds to find the one with the least SE..0 -
MontereyRobin - ditto to what IamNancy said!!!
My MO was sorry I suffered so long with the Anastrozole SEs... she could have intervened much sooner.
I told her I didn't want to be a weenie.
She emphatically told me - "You're not a weenie! It's the drug!"
Sometimes they can prescribe additional meds to alleviate SEs; sometimes they give you a "drug holiday" to see if that reduces your symptoms; or they can just change you to a different AI.
Please let your MO know what's going on with you. Severe, chronic pain decreases your quality of life; depression sucks all the joy out of living. I know. I was there.0 -
Grrrr! I seriously need another MO. I told her about my side effects on Femara, and she told me I need to see the cancer center's shrink to learn some "coping" skills. Grrrr! More like I need to have coping skills to put up with her idiocy! I am on my fourth day of Arimidex. Hit the health food store for some arnica gel and some "healthy joint" tea. Hoping to get at least 9 months out of this drug before stopping from the pain. It won't be five years, but 18 months of Femara & Arimidex is better than nothing. All kinds of research out their that these drugs are much harder on those of us with arthritis and those of us who were forced into menopause by ooph., double whammy for me. Funny how the research says these drugs are difficult for me, but don't give any suggestions on how to deal with them. Very frustrating. Forward ho, teeth gritted. Thank you all for your support and suggestions. Not throwing in the towel yet!0 -
nancyjc,
I couldn't tolerate Arimidex. First I was on Femara for 6 or 8 weeks and began feeling like I was 90 yrs old. Couldn't get up from a chair without horrible pain, taking so much time just to stand up. I couldn't sit on the ground which I do for work. With Femara, it took about a month for side effects to begin. I waited as long as I could hoping they would go away but they didn't. I may not have waited long enough.
When I started Arimidex, after about a week, the issues I had with Femara with joints and mobility were back in full force. My doctor then put me on Tamoxifen which I am tolerating. I don't have hot flashes or a uterus and have osteopenia, so it made sense for me. My symptom from Tamoxifen is my skin that bleeds with very little pressure. Everyone is so different, so hope Arimidex will work for you! If not, hopefully there are other choices that may work for you.
Georgie0 -
Thank you for encouragement... I just "need to get over it" and face the new reality. Since all the research points to such great success on "starving the bc", I hesitate trying a vacation from it. But normal walking sure would be nice for a while. I guess I'll wait to see what he has to say, and if I get bold enough to ask about options. I've been told to tape my heel with athletic tape (friend had plantar fac... oops/spelling?) anyway, to tape down the painful spots. Has anyone tried tape? Success? (At this point if someone told me to cure it by learning Klingon, I'd give it a go.)
Georgie, bleeding? ouch! I hope you are able to heal quickly. Bayou, what is arnica gel? Thanks!0 -
I got my Arnica Gel at my health food store after reading about it here. It is a homeopathic medicine, paraben free, that is used for muscle pain and stiffness. Maybe similar to Bengay? I used it for the first time today. Doesn't take all my pain away, but takes the edge off. I will continue to use it for now.0 -
I don't have extra joint pain (other than degenerative joint disease), hot flashes, mood swings, or any of that, but I walk like I'm 90 from the stiffness. I know that exercise is the best fix for that, but I'm an XL gal who walks with a cane, so it's not easy. Trying to clear the spare room out so I can use the Gazelle.
Paula0 -
MontereyRobin- I have had really bad pain in my feet, which are a combo of plantars faciitis and also the impact from the AIs. I did something today though that really helped, it is called therapeutic yoga and focused on specific yoga poses that help parts of your body that are struggling for any reason. The workshop today was focused on feet, knees and hips and there are some very simple exercises to stretch your feet a couple times a day that may help. See if anyone in your area offers such a class or PM me, and I can give you some info that may help you. Worth a try?
Also, we talked today about doing yoga 3X a week helping to reverse the effects of osteoporosis. I have heard this for years, but now that I am slightly osteopenic, I am going to up my yoga practice/classes now (been working towards this for awhile) to help counteract the effects of the meds.
Going to see my med onc Tuesday, and going to ask him about either a) taking a vaca and restarting and/or b) trying the name brand vs. generic to see if the SEs are a bit better.0 -
Soteria205
My mom loves her Gazelle.....I hope you get room cleared so you can enjoy it too.0 -
trying to cope with arimidex. Been on it since July 2013 - feet hurt, sciatic all and burning legs, Grrrr. Can't sleep from nerve pain in legs. Time to go back to tamoxifen!?0 -
So I started Anastrozole last Wednesday. I should have started on Tuesday but I just couldn't make myself do it that day. No real side effects at this point. I do however have aching feet at the end of the day. I take my shoes off and it hurts to walk in my bare feet, side effect? Yesterday and today I have been happy, uncharacteristically happy for all that has happened to me since I found the lump.
I hope those of you with side effects that they diminish.
Those of you that went through chemo, did you get lots of peach fuzz on your face when your hair grew back. If so how did you handle it. Mine is getting rather long on my face. I don't want to shave because I really just don't want to have to do that forever and laser isn't an option because the hairs are so blonde. HELP!0 -
Teresa - count me as one of those that had hair on my face -ridiculous! I couldn't get it waxed because I'm allergic to the wax... I lightly shaved it with a little electric shaver.. I had to do it twice about two weeks apart and it seemed to never come back after that..0 -
Thanks everyone for the information on RLS. That seems to have calmed down now, but I did start taking melatonin again. I'm also going to take some supplemental iron since I know my stores are low. I got to a hemoglobin of 6 during chemo, so I've had a lot of catching up to do (am now at 11! Yay!).
So now the balls of my feet are seriously painful. I'm with you Monterey, I can't figure out what to do next. I limp. Plus the two middle toes next to the big toe hurt when I walk. I have never had a foot problem in my life. These tootsies were always tough as nails. I'm seriously discouraged...0
