For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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My PCP knows I'm on Arimidex and wants me to get the shingles shot.
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thanks, Lago, good to know. My immune system must be down, i am experiencing colitis, from a possible virus, the MD says...never before had that problem. So, if my immune system is weak, concerned I will get shingles from the shot:( or even the flu shot, I am getting that one tomorrow.
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Yup, I got the shingles shot on Arimidex.
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okay, I feel better about getting it, thanks, Ruth!
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Stage1 - that was the day I was initially diagnosed with BC. We didn't know then if I would need rads or chemo. I was pretty much convinced I would be having a BMX, but after that, it was a crapshoot as to what they would find. When the doc referred to "treatment" I think he was referring to chemo.
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blessings, thanks for clarifying:)
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ruthbru--nice picture
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Thanks, I always have to re-teach myself how to do it when I want to change the avatar!
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I'm 42 and started amrimdex maybe 6 weeks ago. I'm getting a monthly Zoladex shot to shut down the ovaries, too. My side effects seem ok. I was pretty achey initially but seem better now. Hard to know if it was arimidex, Zoladex or getting rear ended in a car accident! I'm pretty wiped out from treatment and trying hard to get more movement in. The stretching certainly helps. I'm starting the 21 day sugar detox tomorrow. I eat pretty decently....except for sugar. My body feels less achey and bloated when I don't eat wheat, so I do that already (caved during the holiday). I'm hoping the 21DSD will also help me get back on track with meal planning and cooking for the family. Husband relies on Tuna Helper and the stuff makes me cringe! Anywho, I do feel like my body is older after this round of treatment compared to the first. (Technically it is!).
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Lago - thanks for posting that walk video. I like to walk outside after work but in the winter it's difficult due to getting dark early and the foot + of snow we just got and the bitter temperatures. The plan is to get a treadmill but the basement isn't quite finished and it would be in the way of my workers right now.
My MO also didn't want me starting Arimidex until my rads were done because she didn't want me to think any side effects from rads were due to the meds and then not want to take it. So I started January 1 - the start of a new year seemed a good time. My concern is that I already have achey joints starting last fall after final chemo. Very afraid it's going to get worse on the Arimidex. I've been a very active person till now, even through the chemo. I know I need to keep moving.
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My MO asked me to wait one week between rads & starting arimidex. I started August 20th.
Paula
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Those of you with neuropathy, are you taking Glutamine? I took it through taxol and had no residual problems. See links. I simply bought a can of it at GNC, and drank it in water. 5 grams 3x a day. Apparently taking it after the fact can repair problems left from taxol as well...google it and see.
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Claireinaz, thank-you for the info. I will definitely try it.
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Holeinone - I was on 900mg of gabapentin a day for several months after BMX for nerve pain. It was a true God-send for me and the only SE I ever experienced was a little dizziness after just the very first dose.
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<rant>
Aetna sucks. Now they won't cover Teva brand for Anastrozole anymore. Need to purchase the brand from India. WTF they get to choose which generic now. As it is I pay for my LE sleeves because the nearest place to be fitted, that carries my brand isn't close… granted who knows if they cover that brand anymore. So I pay $50 or $9. Why do I even bother with insurance? They don't seem to cover much anymore. Only catastrophic stuff. I'm on a PPO too.
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Hi all...just started my HT woo hoo 2 days down and no se's
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Lago, can you get your doc to try for a "medically necessary" over ride? Appeal their decision. Agree Aetna sucks, so bad my employer dropped them.
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Blue Shield isn't much better. They will only cover the generic from India. Even if the MO writes brand name necessary, you get the India generic. When I asked the pharmacy to check into the Teva generic, they said the copay would be $80.00! That's why I went to Arimidex direct, only $40.00/month. Oh, and we just found out that even though we like our health plan (even with it's prescription shortcomings), we can't keep it after all. When it is up in April, we have to figure something else out
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Bren where are you getting your Anastrozole? At Costco it's $50 a month if you don't use your insurance.
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I'm guessing that brand name Arimidex might soon be made in India if it is not already being done so. I'm in Canada and just noticed that the latest batch of the generic Taro-Anastrozole (made in India) I received from the hospital pharmacy here in British Columbia has "ANASTROZOLE 1 MG TAB (by ASTZEN)" on the printed label. Anyone else using anastrozole from Taro Pharmceuticals?
BTW I couldn't tell any difference in the feel or taste of the pills when I switched from Arimidex to the generic last year ( I can't swallow pills so have to chew them).
Kathy
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Lago, here is the link. You have to enroll and your MO has to send the script to them, then it is a max of $40.00/month depending on your insurance.
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Because we had just lost our major medical and all I had was Medicare, AstraZeneca mailed brand arimidex to me for a year. I still have 6 months worth left. They told me to contact them if at the end of that time I still need help. The social worker at my Breast Cancer Center orchestrated that for me.
Paula
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Hi LizzyinMI, Hope you are surviving the bitter cold. I lived in Michigan for a bit so consider it my second home and still have friends living there. Keep up posted on the Arimidex. I found it took 7 days for the SE's to kick in. My MO had me start 4 weeks after radiation therapy. After 7 weeks I switched to Femara and it's been a bit easier on the joints. Some women report no problems and I will hold good thoughts that you are one of them. I'm active too and hope to be able to stay that way. Hope the basement construction goes quickly for you.
Take care and all of you stay warm!
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OK called the insurance today and Aetna says the Costco must be high (my words not theirs). They saw that they ran both companies (Teva and the brand from India) and both times it said $9 copay till I reach my deductible. WTF! Will be calling costco when the pharmacy opens. also found out if I order through CVS I can get a 3 month supply and it will be $3 cheaper. Not a huge savings ($12 a year) but CVS is a lot closer to home. I'll wait till I get the new script in April to do that though.
Update:
Costco says that because the insurance only reimburses at a certain amount they will not give me TEVA at the $9 copay. CVS will so the script is being transferred to CVS.Ironically the 1st CVS pharmacist wouldn't even look up the price without me giving her an actually prescription. So I called another CVS and he would. Guess who's getting my prescription. First place is .5 miles away. The other is .6 miles away. For an extra .1 mile I will go for the better customer service. I'm usually shopping in that direction anyway.
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Thats awesome!
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DebDylan & SweetandSpec....thank- you for the tip on gabapentin . I will keep that it mind, hoping to ride the weird systems out without meds..I'd like to give my body a break ( except rads ) before I start Arimidex.
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I have Value Care with Blue Cross. They made me get my Anastrozole from Walgreens Specialty pharmacy. However it is under $6 per month and they ship it for free. No complaints here. Sorry a lot of you are having problems.
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CVS is $15 copay here in Philly 'burbs (BC/BS) fpr tje TEVA generic. Saw a news analysis of prices of pharmaceuticals at drug stores across country, and CVS was one of the highest, in general. Costco was the lowest....again, in general. A small drug store in Iowa charged the least....literally hundreds less for the major drugs analyzed. Pharmacist/owner said he only needed to make a profit, not a killing.
It's a crap shoot, and we aren't usually coming up with doubles.
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There is a prescription price checker app for iPads. I have never used it, but a woman at work uses it all the time to find the best local prices.
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I must have missed the earlier discussions here regarding where generic anastrazole is produced. Mine is made in India. Have there been some problems specifically with anastrazole made there or is it a general concern about safety and quality control with pharmaceuticals made in India? I know there are currently pharmaceutical patent issues in the courts there, but I sense this is a separate issue???
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