For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Yes Pbrain I was told some people do have sleep issues with it and to take it in the morning. Also had lunch with a friend of mine (met on these boards) who also had trouble falling asleep. She takes Melatonin 5mg (fast dissolving kind). She takes 2 a night but I would start with the recommended amount of 1. She gets hers at costco. And of course check with your MDs and pharmacist to be sure it doesn't interact with any of your other meds.
dwill I had many of the same SE as you this past year on anastrozole especially the depression. Just switched last week to Exemestane (Aromasin). First few days the depression seemed to be back but now it's gone. Also back & neck pain are still gone. No longer have sleep issues. So far even the stiffness I had in the morning is gone. No more duck walk to the bathroom. Granted it took 3 months for SE for Anastrazole to kick in for me so we'll see but I'm hopeful. You might consider giving it a try.
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dwill:
I see you started taking anastrozole on 5/2/13. How soon after that did the SEs start for you?
I started taking it three weeks ago.
Janett
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I would say that the back problem is a separate issue, particularly since you've been dealing with it for a long time.
At any rate; when any sort of concern arises, get it checked out, don't automatically assume that it is being caused by Arimidex.
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Lago-thanks for the tune--- it does have a nice beat.
I just started my Arimidex on Monday-but I do take it at night. Hadn't really thought about sleep issues, but I haven't felt real rested. I take a trazadone at bedtime to help me sleep as I am a bad insomniac-have been since I was in my 30's. I didn't want to take it in the am. as I take synthroid and have to wait an hour before I eat or anything and I knew I'd forget to take it...
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Not to beat a dead horse but....Cymbalta!!! It worked for me to lift the depression and the hot flashes and the joint pain! It's expensive but I got free samples from the pharmaceutical company (Lilly). It may not work for everyone but I would look into some kind of anti-depressant. I know exercise helps but never was an active person plus I still use a cane so no walking for me but we'll see if I can get back to Phys. Therapy if my new insurance will pay for it. Good luck you all.
Aurora
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Redheaded1, I love your lake chant....
I take mine at night; tried the a.m. and it caused more hot flashes.
I have noticed that my SE come and go. Sometimes I'm stiff, my hands are swollen and sore at times. Sometimes not so much on other days. Interesting about the cymbalta....what are the SE from it, I wonder?
Does anyone else think of armidex as ongoing chemotherapy?
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BosumBlues, I'm told the latest "word" is that arimidex and its friend do not make our joint issues worse. What they do is alter our perception of joint pain. Feels worse, but ain't, if that makes sense.0 -
Brookside, I must disagree but very kindly. :-)
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claireinaz, Arimidex (Anastrozole), is known as a chemo drug.
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Hi Brookside,
Is the implication, then, that Arimidex and its buddies aren't creating permanent joint damage? Do most people find that the pain disappears once they are off the AI's?
It would be a significant relief to know that I'm not going to be as crippled as I am now permanently.
By the way, do you have a link to the source of "the word"?
TIA, Kathy
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I stopped the pill May 1. By May 3 I was completely pain free. Was a lovely month. Now started again June 1. So far, so good.
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Hi, Kathy. My onc told me this (increased pain perception) is the latest from the orthopedic researchers. Right now, I'm about 10 days into a two-week arimidex holiday, and my pain already dropped considerably. The half life of the pill is 50 hours, so I guess by the time my vaca is up, I'll have just a tad of the stuff still in my system, and will, hopefully, feel even better. Then, of course, once I'm back on the stuff, worse. Suspicious type that I am, I wangled a hip xray (knew I had some arthritis there) before I started the pill so I'd have a baseline. Now, if the pain gets too bad, I can have another portrait taken and see what changes took place. Frankly, I have no idea whether they can really separate out normal aging from arimidex-caused deterioration, but I'm hoping to manage another four-ish years of this stuff without compromising my mobility.
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BosumBlues Anastrozole did not cause my back/neck issue. It just seemed to make it much worse as I approached year 3.
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BosumBlues the price of an MRI can vary quite a bit but going cheap isn't always best. Your MRI is only as good at the radiologist viewing it. So if you go to an inexpensive place you might want to consider a 2nd opinion. I too have the high deductible. It's killing us. Went up another $5000 on the individual this year. Family stayed the same. Problem is they have family or single, no single with spouse. So we have the same family deductible as a family with kids. I don't mind paying my fair share but this stinks.
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BosumBlues I ran into issues with blood tests being covered back on a different insurance (BCBS) The issue might be how it's coded. If coded as "routine" then they may not cover. Seriously for 5 months when the tested my esterdiol levels the covered the test but not the blood draw because of the coding… and every month I had to yell at the billing department that they used the wrong code.
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Bosum---do you have a Catholic Hospital? Asking because they sometimes are good with "charity" issues. All I know about MRI's is we have a trailer that comes to the practice my PCP is at, and my nuerologist told me she didn't care if I shopped around, but to stear clear of mobile units....l know my insurance is high, and I hate paying the premiums, but this year, it kinda paid me back. By the time I had my surgery, and completed Rads, I had reached my out of pocket maximum. However, I am not sure it will net me much, as I will probably only have co-pays and very few labs for the remainder of the year. Go figure. But looking at the full cost of what I had---I am at about 86,000 if I was uninsured----before my insurance stepped in, discounted what it oculd because of provider contracts for in network, and then paid their share. My out of pocket max is 5000.00 excluding drugs, premiums,
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Bosum--I have BCBs IL insurance. I just looked up the pricing in my area for MRI of SPINE with or without contrast. I t ranged from 658-950 in clinic type settings up to 2500 at the Hospital. That would be inside my network of providers, and it being the insurance share of it. Pricing appears to vary greatly as to where it is being performed and what you are having it done with. (upper extremity, brain, spine upper, spine lower, whole spine, etc.)
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When are these damn people not taking the drug to begin with gonna stop trying to tell us it's in our heads-----I'm about to show wthem what a second menopause is capable of!!!!!!
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Redheaded1, that's funny! 2nd menopause.... That's what's happening with me. My DH has seen that monster a few times and she ain't pretty!
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I never had a real menopause. Chemo-pause for me.
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Janet, SE from anastrozole started for me about a month in. It has been downhill every since. The hot flashes and sweats were the first and was awful but aren't as bad now, but the exhaustion, depression joint pain, arthritis and osteopenia are more pronounced now.
Lago, Gosh, I hate changing meds---always afraid of more or a different set of SEs. If I get to the point where I can't do it any longer I will think about a change.
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Dwill I feel the same but now I'm glad I did… so far. I let myself suffer way too long.
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I am wondering if anyone has any advice or suggestions for a ?? I have... My feet ache and burn at night after going to bed and most times I have to take some xs tylenol or advil.. dont like to take this stuff too often but cant sleep either. Could this be anyway related to arimidex? It doesnt matter if I am sitting all day or on them all day... same thing happens. I have been handling arimidex pretty well so far, think a trigger finger was a result tho but not sure as I had one several years ago too..some fatquie but maybe I am just getting old!!
Greeting to everyone, I read this board everyday, thanks for everyone.
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ND, see my post in Insomniacs
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ND, see my post in future flat sister
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my feet ache all the time, not sure when it began but they still hurt and I am off my AL now for 6 months
times I think I have broken a bone but ortho guy say no it is arthritis
I take tylonel when it is really bad
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Yup ache feet on Anastrozole. Jury still out on generic Aromasin. It only been 1.5 weeks.
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NDgirl my foot pain was related to chemo, but I also could not sleep for months without ibuprofen. i was taking it every night, but then my MO said that wasn't a good idea, so she gave me a script for gabapentin and I sleep so well now. I love it! My feet don't even hurt much anymore but I hope I can continue taking it for the great sleep I get! I don't know if it helps for AI induced pain, but its worth asking about.
ClaireinAZ, I'm catching up and saw you mentioned Bikram yoga for your trigger finger. How does that help? Is it specific exercises/stretches or you mean just the overall yoga helps? I also have trigger finger. Pain is going away but I still have mobility issues.
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Thanks gals, Spookie, saw the other post, thanks, Twohobbies, never heard of gabapentin but will sure ask about it, I could use some good sleep as well, I have not slept well for many years before bc. Thanks again, just have a feeling it is from arimidex, but if it keeps cancer at bay guess I can put up with sore feet.
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I'm not sure this taking it in the a.m. is the best idea for me because I forget a lot. I take all my meds at p.m. I have to change my routine maybe.
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