For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Ann my onc tested me for 5 months to be sure I stayed in chemopause. I did but if I didn't I would have had to switch to Tamoxifen. I just switched to Aromasin after 3 years on Anastrozole due to some SE. If the SE are bad my onc will be switching me to Tamoxifen even though I am in menopause. Some women have no SE on Tamoxifen. Also Tamoxifen isn't as hard on your bones.
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Ann - I was on Femara and Arimidex. Horrible SE, great impact on my quality of life. MO switched me to Tamoxifen in December. So far so good. Still some SE, but nothing like before. Got my fingers crossed that the side effects remain minimal and I can do this for the long haul. Good luck with the ultrasound - while not pleasant, it is doable and is over rather quickly with a good doc. Hang in there.
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Hi all,
Just wanted to mention what I said in another thread (I should have posted here in the first place). I've been on Arimidex for 11 months and was having horrible se's (sweating bullets while standing under the a/c vent, mood swings) but since the two weeks that I've been taking Cymbalta 60 mg the se's from Arimidex are gone! Whew! What a relief! I took Tamoxifen for 2 and half years and I got progression to the bones while on it so Arimidex is the drug of choice for the next future.
Cymbalta is expensive and my insurance won't pay for it but I was able to get a 90 day free supply from the manufacturer! Yipee! It was worth the effort and time spent filling the paperwork and running after them. Patient Assistance Programs are available to help with the cost of medication so if any one is uninsured or under-insured like me help is available.
Aurora
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Ann, many postmeno ladies go from AI to Tamox if necessary. Post-meno can take either but pre-meno are not recommended for AI's.
Good information in the 'Breaking News' on Hormonal Therapy posted by BCo, pinned to the top of this thread. I was lukewarm about continuing my Anastrozole (passed 5 year mark in February) but I'm now feeling okay about continuing, especially since I have not had any unmanageable SE's and ILC is a 'sneaky' one.
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Well, for what it's worth, this is what the ASCO article says when talking about options:
"take an aromatase inhibitor for 5 years; right now, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend taking an aromatase inhibitor for 10 years"
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thanks, all, for weighing in! Makes me feel better! Nice to know so many are out there to help!
A.
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Oh what fun I had today! I got to educate my MOs NP about the Teva generic! She said she'd never heard of the differences, and she approved of BCO. I think she's a keeper!
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Well, I took the first one yesterday (anastrazole) and will take the next one tonight--
Who will I be in the morning? Thelma or Louise?
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Thanks this is helpful. What about hot flashes?
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My issues are terrible trigger thumbs in the mornings; my hubby has to help me pour my first cup of coffee sometimes. Bikram yoga regularly helps; I've been taking effexor 37.5 mg daily for hot flashes and have a mild one usually in the early evening, but that's it.
I have noticed mood swings lately. Will stay on it for 5 years at least; I'm committed. My MO just asked me if I take it every day, and I said "without fail". She's a believer in the british study that came out in 2008 that claims that women who have some SE from this drug have a lower recurrence rate. Every time I take that stupid pill and curse it for not letting me lose weight, or joint stiffness, or whatever--I think of that 2008 study.
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Haven't posted in awhile but I do check in often to keep informed. Ruthbru my oncologist told me the same thing 4 months ago when I saw her that the jury is still out on whether it would be beneficial to go beyond 5 years on arimidex. I take the generic version with very few side effects after over 2 years on it. Keeping active sure does help me. My biggest complaint is feeling so hot all the time. My significant other is cold all the time after he went through gastric bypass and lost 85 lbs. He is building wood fire and wearing polar fleece while I am sweating and stripping off cloths. What a pair. My bone density is remaining stable so far. I asked my onco when I got that report a few months ago if that could mean the medicine was not as effective and she responded no. Right now I would not hesitate to go beyond 5 years if it were recommended but first........want to get to 5 years which is still 3 years out for me. I do think it is harder to get the 5 to 8 lbs off that I have put on and I do have my moods but not sure I can lay that to arimidex. Is cymbalta an anti depressant?
Best to all,
Maggie
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Maggie, yes Cymbalta is anti-depressant. It has been shown to help with joint pain. Also in my case it helped with the s e's from Arimidex (mood swings and sweating). If you have other questions about it and I can be help don't hesitate to pm me.
Aurora
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Interesting that they put you on Effexor. I am just starting Brisdelle aka Zoloft (SSRI) Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor for hot flashes. Perhaps this will help when I start the Arimidex.
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Cymbalta is an SNRI and has five indications; one is for major depressive disorder. Go to Cymblata.com for more info. It is now generic (duloxitine).
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Perhaps both Thelma and Louise!
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i tried the generic zoloft and it caused bad weird dreams and wasn't too effective for hot flashes, which is why I took it . switched to effexor which is better. Just upped the dose so figuring out when best to take it.
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If you aren't exercising, make sure to add it to the mix. Exercise is a natural mood enhancer, plus it helps with the creaks, aches etc. that can go along with anti-hormonals....plus, plus, it helps protect the bones.
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I agree - for me, exercise is the key to surviving this. I do best by doing something every day, even if it's just a 30 minute walk. I try to mix it up by walking, yoga, elliptical, etc. Something different every day. If I don't do enough the ever-present stiffness gets much worse, but if I do too much of the wrong thing my joints (knees and shoulders) pay the price.
It takes a while to find the right balance and I realize it's different for everyone, but for me exercise has made a huge difference in my pain levels.
I'm so fortunate that I'm not dealing with hot flashes in addition to my other SEs. My MO always asks about it so I know it's a major issue for many taking AIs.
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Check out the 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise' thread on the fitness forum if you want to hang out with some other exercising ladies!
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Soooo-- I wasn't Thelma or Louise, just same old me... 3 down, a little stiff, but yesterday it was rainy and I didn't get my walk in, so who knows.....probably not the medication. I am trying to walk 2 miles around the lake (1 mile equals one trip around) every day. . Didn't get there today before it got hot, so once around at 1pm was enough. Meant to try to go back this evening, but the fatigue wasn't cooperating with me. Think its still from my Rads. Had lost less than a lb today at Weight watchers, and the staff thought I was still good, but I told them I still had 1/2 of my "bonus points" plus 28 exercise points I hadn't used. She asked me if I was exercising---of course. then she said--do your muscles or joints hurt, and I said yes, and she said, well they hold onto fluid when they hurt......and I about exploded and said, well my Arimidex will make my joints hurt for 5 years...... OH HELL NO!
I chant as I go around the lake I am Killing cancer cells, I am growing bone mass......
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Anybody have trouble waking up with Arimidex? I've been on it for almost a year now and maybe 2 mornings a month I turn off my alarm clock and cell phone alarms without even being aware of it. It's like I'm taking Ambien or something (which I'm not). I'm starting to get in trouble at work, but I don't even know I'm turning the alarm(s) off. Kind of like sleep walking...
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when do you take it? You might want to try a different time of day.
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Ruth, I take it at night. Think I should try taking it in the morning? I'm seriously annoyed by this and so is my boss...
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It sure wouldn't hurt to try & it might really make a difference.
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Pbrain I took mine in the morning. Never had the problem. I was told to take it in the morning to avoid sleep issues.
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Thanks Ruth, is that what you do? Lago, did they tell you there are sleep issues with Arimidex? I have to go look up the product insert. I'm normally sleepy by 11, in bed by 12, up at 7. Now I'm wide awake until I force myself into bed at 12, toss and turn a bit, and sleep through my alarm. At first I thought it might just be a mild case of the blues, but this turning alarms off without even knowing it is giving me the creeps.
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I always took it in the morning just because it fit into my schedule better. It didn't seem to affect my sleep one way or the other, but for many ladies the timing really does make a difference.
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IamNancy, I was having all kind of SE with the anastrozole--hot flashes, sweats, joint and bone pain, extreme exhaustion, mental fog, depression. After about 9 months of this ,finally, my MO allowed me to take a 3 week break while I sought an orthopedic for the joint pain and was given several other test. Although, I was found to have osteoarthritis of the knees and osteopenia; I was a changed woman at the end of the three week break. Depression lifted, my libido came back. I felt like someone coming out of a deep sleep. I wanted to go out and have fun. However, the MO said I had to go back on an AL. I had the opportunity to try another med or go back on the anastrozole. I chose to stick to something I knew-anaszole- but did start taking it at night. I am still tired but not as much, my night sweats and flashes are less and- my lack of effect--depression (my PCP says) is back--but I am living with it. I guess I was just surprise at what effects the AL have on our bodies. I am counting down the years--four more to go. Hope you find one that works for you or that you can live with.
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Hi Ladies, do feel for you , taking this medication, i took it for 4.5 years 6mths short of 5 yrs.......it was a struggle side effects were so bad, kept going as i thought of my children every time i took it , i had to stay well, it got to a point at 4.5 years i had enough quality of life was important to me......
I dont know how i kept myself going holding down a stressful job, had to write everything down couldnt remember a thing low mood the fatique .
I have been off it now for 3mths, feeling much better,
People just do not understand ....comments like you are tired all the time, or you seem vague, they just dont get it
HUGS TO ALL, we are the important ones
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