For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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I've been taking biotin for 2.5 years, ever since chemo ended. I thought it was helping until this spring, when hair started coming out in large amounts. I didn't even want to wash my hair. My dermatologist gave me Viviscal, another supplement, and I'm using Nioxin shampoo. The fallout is less but I'm not seeing regrowth. A bummer after all I went through with chemo. I'm on Aromasin. Still, I'm happy to be alive.
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OvercomingOne I have used minoxidil since before treatment when my hair started to recede (2004). I took it all through chemo too. I recommended it to a friend who started to lose her hair on Anastrozole about a year into it. It helped her as well. It can take 3-6 months to start working. I noticed after 3 months small hairs were growing. At the very least it may help stop or slow the fall out. I have also been taking biotin since before diagnosis for the same reason.
Ruth I never thought I would be able to wear my LE sleeve in the heat. But I got used to it. It can be high humidity in the 80's and I'm still out there powerwalking with my sleeve on. I wear it every day.
LizA17 I forgot. Are you close to Chicago?
Too many meds? Prescription I only take the ESD (estrogen sucking drug) and a diuretic. Eventually I'll be getting Prolia. All the other pills are supplements. I just put them in 2 weekly pill boxes. One for morning and one for night. I have enough boxes for a months worth of pills. It doesn't seem that bad taking only 2x a day.
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Thanks Ruth, I'll check those out. Overcoming, I will ask my doc about minoxidil too. Have a great weekend ladies. Finally feel well enough after rads, that we are having the family over for a BBQ on Monday. Stephanie
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thank you ladies, I am going to try the fosomax tomorrow morning again but with a full glass of water and no food this time. I hope it works!! Lago, no acid reflux this far.. Thank god.. But was very queasy!
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Took my First Fosamax this morning. Just water and went for my walk. No problems!
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WaveWhisperer---what is this Metformin study about that you are in? I see its not diabetic related.
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I have tried all the other AI's & can't take any of them, the SE's have been too severe because I am allergic to the filler lactose. Good luck, BB, I hope that one of the others works better for you than they did for me.
lago, interesting about minoxidil, if the hair loss continues as it is, I will look into it.
Hope everyone is having a relatively pain free day.
Dee
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BosumBlues as I have mentioned I do believe my hair would be a lot worse if it wasn't for Minoxodil. I still have very thick hair and my receding hair line is minimal. I'm on Exemestane but the hair thing is maybe the same although I think my lashes are better.
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Yes I saw that. I actually only use the women's once a day. I started years ago with the men's 2x a day and I noticed hair on my face growing (and I don't mean my forehead). It was still light but it was long. I then switched to women's 1x a day. Hmmm maybe I should try the men's again. I might get a bit more hairline back.
How long have you been using it. Remember it can take 3-6 months to see results. Sadly it doesn't work for all women but many have had good results.
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I did electrolysis for years way before all this BC nonsense, worked great but the tech had the nerve to retire and close her business....dang it all as I could use it now and she was great!
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Redheaded, doctors found that early-stage BC diabetic women on Metformin had lower incidents of BC recurrence than the normal population of BC women, so now researchers are trying it on NON-diabetic women. It's a five-year, double-blind study, so I don't know it I'm on Metformin or the placebo.
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For people with diabetes, it's an excellent med. one of the main side effects is diarrhea. If you seem to be spending more time in the bathroom, good chance you're on it. I couldn't tolerate it when first dx'd with D.
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One of my friends is in that study. She is triple negative, so was glad to be part of something that might give some more options, especially for ladies who don't have anti-hormonals as an option. She thinks she is getting the real thing because she feels queasy in the morning if she doesn't eat right away, something that never happened to her before she started the study.
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I'm pretty sure I'm on rhe placebo because I"ve sensed no changes. For the first siix months, you take 1 pill a day, Then you switch to two, The study clinicians warned that some women had provlems when the dose was doubled, but I felt nothing, Still, worthwhile doing,,,
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For PWD it can help with weight loss, not sure if that would apply to non D people. It's usually the diarrhea that's most noticeable.
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Overcomingone,
I have had to wear a wig during treatment and since that time my hair has been very very thin to point of seeing my scalp at the crown area. I wear a wiglet, a clip on topper piece to cover this area. It is human hair and I've dyed it to match my hair color. It blends in well and I don't believe it can be distinguished from my own hair at the lower ends. It is hot at times when weather is warm and I'm having one of those wringing wet hot flashes, but I deal.
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I started on tamoxifen for a couple of months after chemo and rads but my skin felt as if bugs were crawling under it. Also the hot flashes were really bad. being that I hadn't had a period for a year since the first chemo tx, my onc switched me to arimidex. At first I was thrilled to no longer have itchy skin , and also i was prescribed a low dose of effexor for hot flashes and moodiness. I thought it was all good, now it's been a couple of months on Arimidex and as of the last couple of weeks I have extreme all over joint and muscle pain. Almost as bad as when on nupogen shots. Slowly I am getting worse. I have an apt with the Onc in one week so it will be interesting to see what he will put me on next. Is there any suggestions as what AI's are out there? Thank you
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gailani like you I had my last period 2 weeks before chemo. Given my age (diagnosed at 49, finished chemo 2 weeks before my 50th) and my mom & sister my onc knew I was done. She started me off with Anastrozole and tested my estrodal levels for 5 months. I took Anastrozole for 3 years. Finally this spring I realize that this drug was making me really depressed and having issues with sleeping. Quit it for a month. I also found that my neck/back/shoulder pain disappeared within a few days along with the depression and sleep issues!
I switched to Exemestane (Generic Aromisin). I'm doing great on it. I also lost weight. I would get some night flashes on Anastrozole (and of course on chemo) but only once in a while. I feel now the are a bit warmer but still not bad at all. I also eat lots of spicy food so it's partially my own fault.
But I'm really happy with Exemestane. I do believe it has the same hair issues but I use women's Minoxidil 1X a day for years. Some receding but still not bad.
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Gailani,,,,,, I have been on generic Arimidex,,, Anastrozal for 6 months and my knees hurt so bad, and my thigh muscles hurt at night, I can't get comfortable at night to sleep cause my hip bones hurt,,, they all hurt,,,, saw my OC on August 25' and wanted him to change meds, he has me taking Viactiv, it is calcium and Vit D, tastes like chocolate,for 1 month and if it doesn't get better he will change me,,,,I just know that I cannot do 5 yrs on this, I will be crippled., it is horrible and I know it hasn't been that long but,, I don't feel any improvement,,,, I would love to know what your Doc says,,,,,,, hugz to all ,,,, J
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Gailani, I was also in so much pain with Anastrozole, so went on Tamox, I do well on the Actavis brand, but my skin itched with the Teva brand. I am feeling great now. Hope that helps.
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It's a personal choice, for me any se's are tolerable as long as it keeps the C away! But like a said it's all personal if your quality of life is such that it traumatizes you then by all means switch.
Aurora
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BB, I tried all kinds of different AI's & the joint pain was intolerable. I was doing very well on Tamox but then it wasn't working for me anymore & anastrozole is about the only choice left for me. So I will put up with the hair loss, it's better than the alternative.
Anyone else having serious issues of not sleeping? I go to bed & read til I can't keep my eyes open anymore then shut the light off. Then I lay there eyes wide open for an hour to 1 1/2 hours trying to get to sleep. Then I sleep for maybe an hour. This goes on all night. I take my anastrozole in the morning & am wondering if I changed over to taking it before bed if it would help. I have been taking 6mg of melatonin & it's not really doing a lot for me.
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i am starting anastrozole next week. I know I am supposed to take it at the same time every day, but which is better, am or pm?
also, I see a lot of complaints about joint pain. my docs say that exercise will help with that. I'm a runner - though I've lost some ground with all the treatment and surgery...hoping that gettting out there will balance some of that pain.
also wondering if any of that joint pain is age related.... I'm 47; was pre-meno when dx'd, had a few cycles through AC, finally chemo-pause through Taxol. Now my ovaries are out....
Looking forward to chatting with you all.
jen
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GG27---I take my Anastrazole at 9pm and I have sleep issues too. I take a 150 mg of Trazadone and sometimes I break a .5 mg. Xanax in half. I sleep better that way, but I feel draggy after having Xanax the next am.
Several trusted ladies on here have suggested that if I took it in the a.m my sleep might improve. My sleep did improve when I switched from the generic made by Sun (India) to TEVA (Israel). Teva also makes the brand of Trazadone I get. Because of my schedule and my thyroid meds in the a.m. I know I wouldn't get it taken at the same time every day.
Jenwith4kids---don't let all of what you read here weigh you down. Many take this with few if any side effects. I have started exercising more-walk 2 miles daily early am. and am trying to eat a more Paleo diet. I feel fortunate that So far (4 months in ) I have no hair loss, minor aches and pains (which I had before this) some hot flashes (nothing like after my hysterectomy) . I am more forgetful and I can't sleep well. Some of it is probably due to the stress of waking up everyday and thinking I've had cancer. I wonder if hypnosis could move this thought to the back of my conscious mind instead of the front?????
Bosum--you are a strong empowered woman who has fought the war and won. That is your new Persona
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Thank you, Redheaded1!!
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Jen, I recently ended my 5 years. My way of dealing was to increase the time at my gym! did more stretching and such and highly recommend the exercise!
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GG27,
Your sleep pattern sounds exactly like mine! I am so tired but just can't fall asleep. Will be seeing doctor on Tuesday, hopefully she can suggest something. I switched from taking Anastrazole in the pm to am but it made no difference.
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BB, I started seeing a dermatologist for thinning hair six months before my BC diagnosis. He is now helping me get through the Anastrozole thinning hair issues with an arsenal of prescriptions and supplements. It sounds like the hair thing is really bothering you (I can identify!). If possible, find a dermatologist who deals with hair issues. Yes, it's one more doctor to add to the mix, but it might be worth it.
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I've been on Arimidex about two months and don't have many SE. I work at exercise! I do find if I drink wine though, I seem to get terrible hot flashes that night and into the next day. Does this happen to anyone else?
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GG27 I had sleep issues on Anastrozole. One of my friends (with mets) who is on it told me to try Melatonin. She recommends the kind that dissolve in your mouth. She takes two but I found one works for me. I don't use it often now that I switched to Exemestane. If you decide to try be sure to check with your MDs. Melatonin doesn't mix well with some meds.
BosumBlues I chose to do the Minoxidil. I think my hair might be receding a bit more on the Exemestane but still not bad. Certainly better than all the SE I had on Anastrozole.
Jenwith4kids I had some stiffness the first year when I sat for more than 45 minutes but no joint pain on Anastrozole or Exemestane. This stiffness eventually that went away after the first year except first thing in the morning for about a minute. I would duck walk to the bathroom and then be fine. I don't run but I'm an avid power walker. YES keep moving. It helps. I was told to take it in the AM to avoid sleep issues. What every time you decide you can always change if it isn't working for you.
Golden01 wine and spicy foods can trigger hot flashes… and hot weather and exercise too. I don't drink wine that often and usually don't have the issue but spicy foods, yeah I get some warm flashes. I probably wouldn't get them at all but I eat spicy food all the time. I mean like every day. I think if my flashes were bad I would have to stop. I do like things spicy.
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