For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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I mentioned arimidex increasing UTI's to my gyne and she seemed surprised by the news. I didn't know what to say!
Then I went to the uri-gyne and asked her about it. she said that if there was any effect it was slight.
I'm post-menopausal so theoretically I have little estrogen to begin with, maybe that's the difference?
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Thanks so much for that link, I have so many side effects!
One thing that shocked me was unexplained vaginal bleeding. I had that for a month and it stopped. But now I have to have a D & C!
I've been really worried about it, I hope it's just a side effect!
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Don't go looking for SEs. If you are fine now, there is no reason to think that you won't stay fine.
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it's encouraging to hear some of the good posts about this drug. I 'll be starting it the day after Christmas.
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Remember most people do fine. Naturally it is people who have more difficulties are the ones who post more often about it. Anti-hormonals are the biggest guns in the estrogen positive lady's arsenal, and we are very lucky that there is something we can do after the initial treatments that really reduces the chance that we will ever have to go through this again!
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I don't have any significant problems, but I'm on arimidex brand. I don't know if that makes a difference, but it seems that those of us on brand have less SEs.
Paula
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I was OK on generic.
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If a UTI is the only problem I have, I know it is worth it. After one year I have few issues. I have an autoimmune problem and have been taking Methotrexate for the skin condition. It is hard to tell what is causing what. I just want to stay on top of issues.
I feel so blessed that I had my cancer found early and my one year was good. I try not to look at all the side effects. As I stated in my prior post my mom has continuous problems due to bacteria in the lining of her bladder and she can't take penicillin. I didn't even think about Arimidex causing the UTI; however, the antibiotic I am taking seems to be helping. I will talk to my oncologist about it if it starts again.
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DebDylan my SE didn't show up for 3 months but it was only some stiffness in the morning and if I sat for long periods of time. Now I only have some stiffness when I first get up (that goes away by the time I make it to the bathroom). Oh and I do get some warm flashes when I eat Jalapenos but not the real sweaty kind so I still eat them.
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Enjoy!!!!!!!!
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Hi to all,
I dropped out of the forum for the past six months or so. It was just too time consuming. At that point my onc told me that I no longer needed to take AL after I complained about all the side effects I managed to accumulate within a year.
The good news after 6 months without - almost no sign of carpal tunnel anymore. Very rare as opposed most of the time. Knees good most of the time. Cholesterol, could be lower but that is also me - I haven't been that careful. The doctor had warned me that the SE might stay, but I was fortunate that it really made a huge difference.
I hope that all of you can soon drop this miserable drug or replace it with something equally effective but less damaging to the rest of the system.
Dassy
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Thanks for the hope dassi. Were you on generic or brand name? I have an order of brand name on the way right now.
But I went off of Anastrazole Christmas Eve. I can't walk! I've been depressed. I need a vacation from all of this.
Congratulations for getting your life back!
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Hi Timbuktu,
I had generic most of the time, eg made by Tevah because I live in Israel. Some of these SEs are accumulative I believe. (I forgot, hot flashes also became more common when I took the drug, and now I rarely have them). I am definitely thrilled to not have the almost chronic pain from the knees and carpal. I am not in my prime(will turn 62 in May) and some of the system is definitely showing signs of overuse, without the help of AL. I hope all of you can soon become "ex-users" because you won't need it anymore.
Keep up your spirits,
Dassi
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dassi52 I use Tevah too. I request it. I don't do drugs from India if I can help it. The other company that manufactures generic anastrozole is from India. Tevah is actually one of if not the largest manufacturer of generic drugs. We have lots of their products in the states.
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I am wondering if the side effects of Anastrozole take some time to show up? I started today.
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î have to check mine. Would rather do tevah. Tho maybe I shouldn't change, since I have no se right now.
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Yes, it takes time for the Se's to show up. My dr says they reach their peak at 6 months and then decline but I've never reached the point of decline. The longest I've gone straight was about 7 months. I have stopped taking them for a anywhere from a few weeks to a month and then, each time I return, the side effects are much better. My dr says that I might have to go through the entire 5 years this way, starting and stopping. The strange thing is that each time, the side effects are different. Very strange. The first time my hands were the problem. Trigger fingers, etc. My hands became like claws and it hurt to even turn a page in a book. When I went off and then on again my hands were fine, it was my ankles that killed. Very unpredictable.
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denilynne my SE started 3 months after starting the drug but not so bad. About a year later most of the stiffness was gone except in the morning. Never really had bad hot flashes.
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Thanks for the response. I wish I would have known. I would have started 2 weeks earlier instead of waiting until after Christmas. Anyhow, I guess you just have to work with the SE, if you get any or try a different AI. We'll see as time goes on.
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Gosh, I didn't even have chemo (although they call these chemo pills) and I was real scared to take the first one after everything that I read about it. We have to keep remembering that everyone's case is unique. What happens to one of us may not happen in all of us. Next time I say that, I am going to say it to myself in a mirror.
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denilynne - I didn't know much about arimidex before I started taking it a little over a year ago. I did not have chemo either. After a year I can confirm, at least for me, that my SEs really were very mild compared to some folks here, and they did drop off in intensity or even disappeared after several months. The only SE I have right now that I can solidly blame on arimidex is that my feet get stiff after periods of inactivity, but they loosen back up after several steps. Expect the best but be prepared for some level of SEs to make an appearance. Many ladies report that keeping as active as possible is a good weapon.
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Hi Denilynne et al.
I began anastrozole one week after I finished RT and about 2 months post chemo. Everything was fine until day 7 then I got some stiffness. I exercise quite a bit, which helped a lot, but the bone aches continued to increase and have become pretty debilitating. My MO plans to switch me to femara tomorrow, so we will see if that helps. If not, then likely I will move on to Tamox. I'm only 1% ER+ and PR- so hormones are not likely to be the driver of my BC. More likely my HER2+ status. A lot of women have no or minimal issues, and I hope YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! These are good drugs in the BC arsenal so I feel lucky to have them available. Keep us posted.
Best to all of you---let's make 2014 OUR YEAR---OKAY????
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Actually I was more scared of taking these pills than chemo. If I only knew… Seriously I read so many things on this site and how people were having major issues. And some do have issues but most of us do OK.
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I do agree with Lago, fortunately, I had read only some things so was sort of un informed about SE and while I did blame every ache and pain on the meds......after a time realized that I should not make them the culprit and to consider all other dumb things...
for me that was a side effect of a statin not thy AL
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I'll keep you posted on how nice Anastrozole is treating me. :-)
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Ditto what Lago said!
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DebDylan I was actually nice and thin for quite some time on Anastrozole. But yes I'm getting a little thicker in the middle. Granted I think it's mostly menopause and age but some of it may be Anastrozole. My skin on my body kind of hangs now but seriously I still look fine. I mean I am 52!
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