For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
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Dogs
This is an estrogen sucking drug, not a replacement. Just wanted to clarify that.
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i was originally on tamoxifen and had horrible hot flashes. when he switched me to anastrozole they continued, and got worse, for a couple of weeks and now i rarely get them. it's the weight gain i'm upset about. i also have some aches in my neck and shoulder. almost feels like i worked it too hard (but that's not the case) or slept on it wrong.
perhaps the weight gain is from menopause and not the drug? this just sucks, doesn't it!!
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I can't wait for my sentence to be over. Living with SE is draining but I guess if it is really doing the job I'm happy.
It is a comfort to be able to complain to people that understand.
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Dogsneverlie- I started mine on June 9th---the first week I felt kind of "hurly" but never hurled". that stopped. I have had a couple of very light hot flashes (compared to the ones I had after a total hysterectomy n 2006). those have stopped. I've felt some muscle soreness, especially in my right big toe. Had a pedicure today, and my regular tech wasn't there, so a guy did it----He rotated my toe around pretty hard and fast as part of the massage ( I yelped) and it hasn't hurt since this a.m. So far, and I am not yet a month in, I can tolerate it.
You and I can compare notes from time to time--you started about 1.5 weeks after me.
Although, I shared all this with my surgeon today, and he said, if you don't want to take it, skip it..... COULD NOT BELIEVE IT--He is Buddys with my MO. I'm sticking with my MO---cause I am scared shitless that this could happen again.
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Redheaded1 and Dogsneverlie, I started Arimidex on May 29, so it hasn't even been a month. My only SE so far has been one mild hot flash (haven't had one in 3-4 years). Red, of all the SEs my MO told me about, nausea was not one of them. In fact he said that nausea and diarrhea are not SEs for this drug. Now we all know that docs and pharmacists can be wrong (duh!), but could it be that you coincidentally had an unrelated mild stomach virus?
I am worried about gaining weight as I am working hard to lose a few pounds, and weight gain is one of the SEs he did mention!
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mcgis the first 1.5-2 years on Anastrozole I didn't gain weight. I was actually thin. Then it came on. I do believe a lot of it is menopause/age but a friend of mine who stopped Anastrozole after 3 years (stage 1) said she lost 5lbs when she got of it.
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The other SE I am worried about is thinning hair because I was already dealing with that with a dermatologist starting about a year before my BC diagnosis.
Those of you who have been on Arimidex for awhile: thinning hair?
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No thinning hair for me.
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Mine was receding but it was doing that before diagnosis. I use women's Minoxidil once a day. My hair line has receded a little since chemo but is better than it was before chemo… rest of my head if full of thick hair. My eyelashes and eyebrows also thinned on Anastrozole. I started to paint my eyebrows with the Minoxidil once a day too. When I went off it for 5 weeks my lashes got fuller and longer, and some of the other stuff improved too. Waiting to see if Aromasin will do the same… I'm expecting eventually it will.
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For a couple of months, I shed like crazy, then it stopped. This spring, it ramped up a bit for a while, now back to normal.
Lago, I'm also switching to aromasin. I'd absolutely love it if my hair and eyebrows thickened!
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ruthbru, so you doubled your d3 and calcium intake? I may start to do that. What's the difference really, from IV fusion of calcium to double/triple calcium pill intake. Anyone switch to Fareston?
Lago, how is the aromasin switch? Feel any difference?
Sorry for the late reply.. I have been in school less hell for the past week. Lol
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BrooksideVT my hair always seems to shed more in the spring. My eyebrows thickened a little but it was during the time I was taking the "vacation" from the ESD.
B123 so far the switch seems better. Don't seem to have sleep issues, back, neck, shoulder pain. My feet are stiff in the morning and a bit sore at times again. Emotional crap is coming back a little but not constant. It's still only 2.5 weeks so I think we need to give it time. I had no SE on Anastrozole till 3 months.
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Hello ladies, I am new to this thread. I started Anastozole in March 2013 so it has been over a year. I was already finished with chemo and rads. I already went through menopause and I am now 61. My hair shedding stopped about 6 wks after chemo which was before taking A. I have not had any hair thinning with the pill. I had osteopenia already and take fosomax weekly and caltrate with D. No significant changes in bone density over the years. Not improving and not getting worse....I had parathyroide issues which caused the osteopenia about 6 or 7 years ago. Aches and pains....soreness. I am able to walk 20-45 min a couple times a week. My discomfort is more in the morning or when I have been sitting a long time. At night I have hip and thigh pain which causes me to shift sleeping positions all night. I guess I have been lucky with the SEs so far....
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I have one more week of rads and then am supposed to take anastrazole. However my bone density scan showed significant bone loss and I'm afraid my onc will want me to take tamoxifen instead. I wanted to take an AI because it's supposed to be more effective against recurrence. I'll be talking to the doc next week.
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AKJ I was osteopenic before chemo. I was put on Anastrozole. 6 months PFC/5 months on Anastrozole I got another scan. Still osteopenic but I did have a bid drop. at 2.5 years on Anastrozole I now have osteoporosis. I am not being treated with that (Tamoxifen). My onc doesn't want me to go on Tamoxifen unless I refuse to take one of the AIs. Don't assume your onc will say tamoxifen.You can be treated for the bone loss or at least stop the bone loss with other meds.
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B123, the thought of IV infusions of anything makes me feel queasy....so I would rather eat/swallow things if that is a choice!
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me too, IVs not my choice. I have started eating plain greek yogurt and my Calcium and D levels are dandy now I make my own greek yogurt and use a big T of it on anything I think of instead of cream cheese or mayo or sourcream
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Thanks Lago. I want to take the most effective thing. At my very first onc visit they said something about Zometa if the bone loss is bad. Of course, at that point I was a bit overwhelmed and not absorbing everything. I'll be asking about that next week.
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They usually put you on pills before they go with the injectibles unless you have issues with gerd. I tried Fosamax and got gerd. We are looking at Prolia for me since I won't let them IV my arms. Prolia is a shot. Waiting for my appointment
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proudtospin, how do you make your own Greek yogurt?
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for those of you increasing your calcium intake, your body can only absorb about 600 milligrams, so spread it out over the course of the day. And also, watch when you take it. It can impact the effectiveness of your other meds. I downloaded an app called Mango Health, and set up times to take my pills and supplements. Up popped all the interactions and notes about spreading out the time between taking certain things.
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Lago, what's gerd?
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Not Lago
GastroEsophagusRefluxDisease
When the stomach acid backs up in your throat, into mouth
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Also know as Acid Reflux. Many of us got it on chemo. I've had issues in the past with it including on chemo.
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my onc did not even suggest pill form? She said its just another thing to pay for ea month and to take. Plus she said most people suffer GERD. She insists on IV fusion which I'm not to thrilled with?!
The body only absorbs 600mg calcium? I thought you can double it? I was told by the bone density tech that most women should double it..
I still question though, doesn't this counteract with the AI in ways of bone loss and trying to gain bone density?
Ruthbru, seems like it worked well for you! That is great to hear and very hopeful to me!! Thank you
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also has anyone heard of or taken manuka honey to help with GERD and bones plus all the anti cancer benefits?? I'm really interested to try it!!
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I take a calcium chew in the morning, one in the afternoon & one at night. I very happily don't take any other medications so they would have nothing to interact badly with.
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Oh yeah, Gerd. My mom had that on fosamax. Well we'll see what the doc says. I'm not afraid of IV infusions. I have good veins.
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B123-usually you take 1200 of Calcium, but it needs to be staggered because of absorption, although there is a slow release Citrical with D product which I take at bedtime.
As far as I know, the Arimidex(anastrazole) can be taken with other meds, correct? I don't take anything within 2 hours of my thyroid pill. (that's my only other med).
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Janet,
My neighbor had hair loss she blamed on Anastrozole I had no hair loss.
She has been off AIs since 2010 and her hair loss has not improved so I don't think the medicine was to blame.
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