For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Stage I do agree manufacturers count because they use different ingredients but that doesn't mean they are bad. Teva brand Tamoxifen just doesn't work for you.
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yea, that's what I mean....each brand and each person has to find the right fit. But I think there are benefits to trying to stay on something to combat this nasty disease.
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I'm on the Teva brand from Israel. Have just been on since Sunday but am having far fewer hot flashes than on my Tamoxifen. Not sure that's a good thing. Hope it is working.
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Golden01 I know one of my friends found the SE from Tamoxifen much more intense than Anastrozole. The fact that you are having some SE means it's doing what it's supposed to do. (Granted if you don't have SE doesn't mean it's not blocking the estrogen but having SE you know it is)
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Vadre,
glad to hear of your good report...0 -
one of my SEs was itching. Like an allergy. So, I am thinking that might have been a filler. But who knows....
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So I picked up my prescription for anastrozole this am - from walgreens - the version from Israel - teva. I will not start taking it until I see my MO next when i have my next herceptin as we are waiting to see where my liver enzymes end up before I start another med. For those of you that are on this med and have had the non-generic version - arimidix - did you have lesser SE's than on the generics. I know everyone is different but just curious on those that have had both. I did go to the Armidix website and see that I can get it for $30 direct from them without going through the insurance. My generic copay amount is $20 so if there is any compelling reason to get the real thing versus the generic - I would opt for that and pay the extra $10.
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Hi Linda, I took the generic for 3 weeks before I got it home delivered from the Arimidex website.
Not long enough for me to tell the difference. I feel better getting the real deal. My dx of stage 3, with lots of cancer in the nodes makes me paranoid, so it's worth the extra $. Intellectually, I really do not think it matters, emotionally it does..
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Hole in one, if it makes you feel better, then it is the right thing for you!
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Hi, Linda,
I was diagnosed stage IV from the start with bone mets. I used Arimidex for about two-and-a-half years before there was a switch to the generic. Initially the generic was from Teva. At some point I realized that the generic might be from one of three different places: Teva or two different manufacturers in India. I had paid closer attention because of some changes in SEs. The pain I was having felt different to me, often much worse. I was also having new issues with heartburn. Most of the symptoms weren't really worse, just different. This alarmed me. At my appointment just before my quarterly scans I expressed this concern to my MO. She suggested we wait till we got the scans back before making any changes. When we got my scan reports back they showed some new activity in my abdominal wall. This is the first activity I have had since my initial diagnosis.
As you might imagine, I freaked out, in a calm & controlled way! ; ) We discussed the possible changes we might make to my meds, including a possibly study. One of the possibilities we talked about was returning to Arimidex, making sure I was taking the name brand. Because the new activity was in a rather benign spot (not a vital organ) and because I had been doing so well with Arimidex I decided to give the name brand a try. With help from a couple ladies on BCO I found Arimidex Direct so that I wasn't paying $400+ a month.
I took name brand Arimidex for almost four months when I had my scans last week. I made no other changes in my routine. During that time my SE returned to the ones I had been familiar with, no better or worse. When I saw my MO yesterday she told me that scans came back with NO NEW ACTIVITY except that the new area of activity found on the last scans was about 20% smaller!!
This is all the data I need to know that the brand name is much better for me than the generic. My MO is looking into sending a report to the FDA so that they have the info. I don't know what it means for the whole world, but for me it means that I will take Arimidex as long as I possibly can! It continues to be my friend!
I'm sorry I can't give you definitive info. Making all these big decisions is so tough! Especially when the doctor (and everyone) are saying "Oh yes! This works really well! Except for some people. For them that one works much better!" The best you can do is follow your gut and then listen to your body! What your body is telling you, combined with test results will give you the answers you need! Good luck.
Virginia
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I am so happy for your good news Virginia!!!
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Thank you so much for the info Virginia - that does help just hearing someones experience! and CONGRATS on your great news!! I guess I will give this generic a try and see how it goes but I like the idea of knowing that I can get the non-generic for $10 more - that gives me comfort.
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Congratulations on your good scans, Virginia. I love hearing your story and you should shout it from the rooftops. Also interesting story on the brand vs generic. I know you are only one person, but that does make you wonder, doesn't it.
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that is good news Virginia! I'm a little worried though that I took the Teva brand of Arimidex for 2.5 years and if it wasn't really doing what the brand name Arimidex does. I've switched over to Femara to see if I have less bone pain....but it's made by Teva too.
Oops, correction, the bottle I've got now says it's made in Canada by Apotex. I think my pharmacy changes brands depending on the market prices. 0 -
I'm going to tell my MO your story. I'm paying $10 a month at Target for Breckenridge generic, but I haven't checked on insurance coverage for Arimidex. Will be making phone calls tomorrow. Thanks, Virginia.0 -
Virginia, so happy for your good news!!
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Virginia, wonderful news!
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I get my anastrozole $10 at Walgreens. Am not happy with them considering leaving the country for tax purposes but dont have the energy right now to switch all the prescriptions elsewhere.
Anyway, Ive been gaining alot of weight. Started the anastrazole last Sept. Started effexor about 5 months ago. Have gained 12 pounds in the last 6 months. Admittedly, am not eating as well as I was or running like I was, but jeez!!! Am getting pretty bummed about how fast the weight is going on. I had lost 35 lb the year before I was dx, so its a double bummer.
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Me too it is a bummer I want to be 123lbs again. Working hard on it.0 -
my weight is constant but not the number I want it to be, I gained at the start and struggle to loose it now
course I did buy a scale at walmart, lost 4 pounds over night~!~~~yeah right
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I calculated my new larger boobie prizes added almost 2lbs. So I deduct that. I'm more than I was a diagnosis but less than I was 5 years ago. Granted my shape has changed due to chemo-pause but I really can't complain
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Hello Ladies! Although I have not been posting lately, I still read many of the posts every chance I get.
I was wondering if I could get feed back on an issue that is really causing me a lot of anxiety.
It all comes down to what came first, the chicken or the egg!
I can't sleep, therefore my body does not get a chance to rest, and as a consequence when I get up and throughout the day I am in pain. Back pain, leg pain, knee pain, hand pain...etc. I have been noticing that when I give in and take a sleeping pill, the next day I feel like a new person! I still do have some pain, but very nominal and my brain feels clear and sharp.
So the question is " Are the pains from lack of sleep, or are they SE from the pills?"
On tuesday I went to see my new Oncologist and when I told her all about my pains and aches and my insomnia she thought that maybe if I took a different pill my SE would not be as bad. She gave me a new prescription for the generic Aromasin. I see that many on this board have switched from Anastrazole to Aromasin. I also have been reading about the different manufactures and the possibility that the fillers are what is causing some SE. I looked at my pills and I noticed that the ones I have been taking are made by Accord and the new ones I just picked up are made by Teva.
So, do I switch to aromasin, or do I give the anastrazole made by Teva a chance?
I also have a DEXA Scan on Tuesday and as a result if my Osteoporosis is even worse than before I started the anastrazole 2 yrs. ago, the doctor suggested that she may switch me to tamoxifen.
I am so confused!
Filomena
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Filomena, I started Arimidex last Sunday, my doctor's plan for me is exactly like yours. If I have too many aches and pains or other side effects he'll switch me to another AI (he said there were two more to try, if I need them). If I have too many side effects or my bone density goes down (I am already osteopenic), I'll go back on Tamoxifen.
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Golden & MENA1954 I am now in osteoporosis and my onc doesn't want me to switch to Tamoxifen unless I refuse to continue on an AI. I am getting the osteoporosis treated. Granted I am high risk for recurrence. She feels it's easier to treat osteoporosis than it is to treat breast cancer mets.
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MENA, just take the sleeping pills & be glad for them. I took one almost every night (with my doctor's approval) from shortly after I was diagnosed all the way through the 5 years of Arimidex. (Very, very rarely take one now). You have to sleep to be able to function. Things that might seem like minor issues when you are well rested, become major when you are exhausted.
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Ask your doctor if you can take Melatonin. I do at times when sleep is challenged but you must ask your MD because it interacts with certain drugs and a few other side effects
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Lago, do you take melatonin? The reason I ask is I saw this article that came out yesterday and of course I was just at my MO on Wednesday or I could have asked her about it. It talks about tamoxifen not working if your sleep is disrupted by light and so perhaps they will recommend melatonin with tamoxifen or you need to block out all light at night to not disrupt your own tamoxifen. I took notice because I recurred on tamoxifen and I never slept well for a few years before and after BC. I don't know if this would only apply to tamoxifen or if they just studied tamoxifen, but it made me think this is something easy to fix if it does end up applying to the AIs too.
The article title is Night Light Exposure Could Make Breast Cancer Tumors Tamoxifen Resistant
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280194.ph...
I do have ambient light that comes in from the street as my bedroom faces the street lights. I'm concerned enough that I'm going to go buy the complete light blocking shades today, but I'll probably be afraid to take melatonin based on what they say in the article. They always have to do more studies!
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Mena, you may have seen me post this before but I was taking ibuprofen every night for pain and it was the only way I could sleep through the night. My MO said it wasn't good to take every night and prescribed 100 to 200 mg gabapentin before bed and it works for me. I sleep through the night most nights and if I wake up I can usually go back to sleep. I think I'm similar to you. I have pain by evening but in the morning I feel good if I've slept. So the pain is tolerable for me as long as I have my gabapentin!
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TwoHobbies I started to use Melatonin when I was on Anastrozole. Now that I'm on generic Aromasin I've only used it a few times. BUT I have been wearing a sleep mask for 3 years now because of sleep issues on the AI and I live in the city so light is always coming through. It really helps. I wear Blinks. They sell them everywhere. I bought mine at Marshalls but I think Bed Bath Beyond sells them too.
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I failed at the shades today because I couldn't find what I wanted but I did buy a sleep mask and I'll see how that works out. I swear that window related coverings and treatments are the worst thing to have to buy. But that's another story,. .
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