For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
-
I had the shot on my thumb about 2 months ago. It wasn't fun, but after all the ca tests and such, well, I survived that too. Took a day or so to really feel better.
Now my thumb is locking again. Not happy puppy. Will be talking to MO next week about this and several other se's.0 -
Spookiesmom, geez hope it last longer than that, dr. told me sometimes people have to come back and have it again, and if it doesnt work in a few times then surgery is an option, but I am not up for that, enough surgery! sometimes it just goes away I guess. btw, I just love your profile picture, what a sweetie and such a pose!! how cute.0 -
Yep, that's my girl!
I was thinking it should last longer too. I'm noticing more aches and stiffness in my hands in am. I don't like this. I thought I may have arthritis in a few joints, but this isn't that. I'm convinced it's the devil pill.
My fix-it list is long, really don't want to add hand surgery to it.0 -
hrf - I'm well into my second month of Anastrozole and I noticed in the last few weeks my hair thinning too.
Lucky for me it had grown in fully after chemo (finished chemo in Jan 2010) and my hair had grown in very thick.
With the recent hair loss I've noticed a big difference in how it feels but everyone else is complimenting my hair. It used to stick up everywhere and was hard to manage but now that it is a bit thinner it's actually easier to manage!
Although, I hope it stops falling out soon. I'm worried about going bald again.
I'm using Nioxin shampoo/conditioner and taking 3000 mgs of Biotin and Biosil to offset the hair loss.
I saw my MO today and spoke to him about the side effects so far - the hip/joint pain is much better, the headaches less frequent but the hair loss was new since the last time I saw him.
He didn't seem too concerned (complimented me on my hair actually) but did suggest switching to another AI if it became too much for me.
I see him again in March so I'm going to try and stick with the Anastrozole until then.0 -
My wife stopped taking Arimidex after 44 months (originally prescribed 60 months.) She had my full support in this decision due to the intense muscle pain in her neck, shoulders, and upper back. She also cannot lay for very long on a bed or couch due to back and hip pain. All this correlated directly with beginning the Arimidex and has made her life miserable. She was stage one with a Gen Dx test showing low chance of recurrence. Therefore, we decided the potential benefits did not out weigh the severe detriment of quality of life.
My question is to those who have stopped taking Arimidex due to similar muscle pain side effects. My wife stopped taking it 4 months ago. Although there was some improvement, she still has debilitating neck pain and hip pain when laying. How long does it take for such SE's to subside after stopping the AI's?0 -
I don''t know the answer but your question scares me. The pains are so strong that I have a hard time believing that they will just disappear when I stop taking the pills. The onco assures me they will but it just makes no sense to me, It feels like damage. But if she's improving, that's a good sign, I sure hope she gets back to normal! Keep us posted,0 -
If you quit and still have severe pain, then it is not the Arimidex that caused it, something else is going on. Go to a doctor (and I would start with my GP, not my oncologist)..
Marie, it took about 6 months for everything to settle into place, so as long as you feel the SEs diminishing, I would give it that long anyway before thinking about switching.
0 -
I agree about checking for the source of pain as outside of the med. I started a dif statin med at the same time as I started my first AL, I of course, blamed the AL and only accidentially found out that the statin was the cause. Switched statin, no more pain (mine was in my left leg)
look for dif sources of the pain
0 -
Martessa- the pharmacist I talked to when I began my AI last spring told me breast pain is a common SE of taking the drug. None of my doctors ever said that though. It did not last for me, and I do have occaisonal pains in the surgical areas, which are likely the nerves continuing to grow back. That can take years. I would say if the pain is really bad and persistents, do get checked out!0 -
The hair loss can be very fast and very extreme. It is a se of Arimidex. I have done biotin, special shampoos, laser comb, minoxidil.....the whole thing. Unless a new miracle arises, I expect to be totally bald before I finish this drug. As it is I can no longer cover my scalp at all. I hate this.0 -
I will never stop thanking God for this website. On 12/4/13 I drove myself to ER because the pain was still there, not as extreme but still made it difficult for me to breath normally. The ER Dr. ordered urine test, blood work, chest x-ray and abdominal x-ray, and a CT Scan of my chest. Thank God everything came back normal. The ER Dr. suggested I visit my PS thinking that it could be the expander. Once at the PS his nurse confirmed with me, yes it was the expander, she told me that it is the main complain from other patients. Since the pain was so bad, the PS postpone another expansion until next week. Though I spent most of the day at ER, I am greatful that all these tests were done....I am alive...it was not a pulmonary embolism...had one a few years back0 -
Good for you martessa for getting checked out. Always better to be safe than to be sorry later. I do hope you experience some relief from the pain. Keep us posted, k?
0 -
I had my first diagnostic mammogram this week ..well, first since all this happened last year and all the treatments are completed.. and guess what? Clear -everything is clear.. no signs of any cancer left... thank God and I am happy.
0 -
Awesome news, Nancy!
Very glad you got it checked out martessa & that you got an answer.
0 -
Great news Nancy! I'm so happy for you - what are you going to do to celebrate?
0 -
Sounds like 'retail therapy' and a dinner out would be in order
.0 -
Wonderful Nancy! What others take for granted we really appreciate! Celebrate for sure!0 -
Congrats Nancy!!!!0 -
I hope the best for all of us! Every day is a celebration, right, ladies??
0 -
yeap that first mamo is a great feeling, do celebrate this one and may you have many clear mamos to come
0 -
Nancy,
That is great news. I am not due for mammogram until April and already wonder how I will handle the worry waiting for results. Let's all follow your lead and get clear results!0 -
As far as how long does it take for the Anastrozole SEs to go away , I would say that by the end of the second month of my drug vacation from Anastrozole, most of my SEs had diminished quite a bit or had become manageable.
The thing that took the longest, and made switching to Letrozole (Femara) difficult was the fact that my severe back pain returned so suddenly despite an increase in exercise and activity.0 -
DebDylan-I am surprised they had you start the meds so soon after chemo .. I would have thought they would give you a week or two to feel a little better from chemo and then start you on the meds.. anyway, not everyone gets all the SEs and probably some get very little SEs. hoping the best for you.
0 -
DebDylan Where are you purchasing your anastrozole? Are you in the US? I found that Costo is the least expensive. Not sure about the price at Walmart though. Don't worry about the SE till you get them. I had no SE till the 3rd month and they were not horrible. Mostly stiffness that got better in a year. Well except for the osteoporosis (grrrrr). My onc likes to start us out on these drugs 4-5 weeks post chemo. Mainly so we can feel better from chemo before we start but I don't think you have to wait.0 -
When they used to have 'Ask the Expert' conferences (which I wish they still did), I asked about the timing of starting anti-hormonals (I wanted to wait until after rads) & it seems it is totally at the doctor's discretion. There wasn't a right or wrong answer.
0 -
I agree with lago - my onc told me Costco was the cheapest place around our area for anastrozole. I paid $22.95 for a 30 day supply.0 -
i take the generic... Anastrozole0 -
is very common, so I'm not sure either. I also vaguely remember reading about a website for the noon generic for $40a Knuth. Maybe Someone can remember. I get my generic at Walgreen's, $200 -
Ive been on generic Anastrazole and asked my dr for a prescription for Arrimidex. I called my insurance and they said I could get Arrimidex for something like $20/month with a drs prescription. So we went though the whole rigamarole, the drs nurse waited an hour on the phone to talk to them, and they say they mailed out the Arrimidex Oct 4 and I have still not received it. I spent over an hour this week trying to contact my insurance company and guess what? I couldn't get through! My pharmacy filled the Arrimidex script for $2oo and I returned it. So now I'm in insurance limbo. I really think it's a scam. They say you are covered but just try and get it. They stonewall and delay and lie and make you go through a million phone prompts and hang on until you want to scream.
0 -
"So why are some post menopausal women on Tamoxifen and others on anastrozole? Why are others on femara?"
There are so many reasons. At one time all women got Tamoxifen because there were not AIs. Most post-menopausal women start with AI's because they work a little better. Which one can be up to the onc although many have to try different ones due to SE. I have heard that older women that have been in menopause for a whild (over 60 YO) might do slightly better with Femera but not sure. Some women go into chemopause. They usually start with Tamoxifen then switch to AI after of few years of not getting their cycles back. Some post menopausal women may go on Tamoxifen if they have major osteoporosis since Tamoxifen isn't as hard on the bones. I'm sure there are a bunch of other reasons too. Your onc would be able to answer this better.
Timbuktu The problem also might be your onc didn't write the request up properly. You need to find out the reason why they turned you down. Call and demand to get the reason. If they say you need to try the generic first then there's your answer. Your onc must defend the issues you are having with generic. It could take a couple tries. Insurance incentives have employees turning all requests down hoping that you will except this the first time. If you keep challenging it many times does go through. I know sad. A friend of mine with mets (every where including brain) was recommended by on to go on Avastin since she really has no other options other than 2nd round of radiation. Insurance turned her down 2X already but the gal next to her in the chemo room, same insurance company is getting it. Basically they are hoping she will die before they have to approve it. Good news though… she got in a trail at another treatment center and is now getting it.0
