For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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mommacain - Glad your MO office is stepping up. Stopping all drugs and adding them back one at a time is the classic way of trying to figure out what is causing the reaction. If you still have problems with the itching after stopping all meds, then examine what food dyes and food additives you eat. These can also cause hives, itching, and other skin issues. I've had problems with meds that have food dye in them. I think my latest bout with hives, right now, is caused by chocolate
, if not I'll have to do what you're doing to find the problem. Sorry your patience is escaping you. Hopefully you'll find the culprit soon and won't need so much.
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I have been taking Arimedex for almost 4 months. First 2 months, no problem at all. Last month, so achey and stiff all night, poor sleep, stiff when I wake up as if I were 109 years o,d. My onc wants me to not take it for 1-2 weeks and see if I feel better. Could be my old bed? Not stretching enough? My mutiple vitamin not enough? Or Arimedex ....kind of scared to not take it, but doc says there are others if this one is funky for me. Anyone else go through this?
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lisa I am very stiff in the morning. I'm still a bit stiff during the day but not like the morning. The trick it to keep moving though out the day. Try to get up every so often to stretch things out for a few minutes. I also exercise every day which really helps. It is not uncommon to switch to another AI. Some women do better on different AI. What you are going through is not uncommon at all but some of us don't have it as bad as others.
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I was so stiff I had to get off the Arimidex, stiff during the day after setting at my desk, stiff getting out of the car and really stiff after walking for more than 10 minutes.
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Hwranch, what did you switch to? And does anyone find mood issues?
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Lisa2012 - I've had mood issues since starting the anastrozole in August. Have also started with a right hip ache, and the arthirits at the base of my right thumb. Onc gave me a prescription for a drug to help with the moods, but when I got it and saw the nasty side effects, I just put it away and will not take it.
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What did he give you for moods? And what about hip soreness etc? I see my onc in two weeks.
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He gave me venlafaxine er. Like I said, se's were scarry!! The hip soreness just recently started, so will just keep track of it for now. Don't see onc until January, but if things get worse I will call and see what he says. I'm hoping that the se's will just get better. Keep me posted on your onc visit. Blessings
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My oncologist changed me to tamoxifin.
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hmm, I am post-menopausal and oopharectomy. Think I cannot take tamoxifen. I am now off arimedex for a week to see if I feel better. Not sure WHAT i should do. Feeling like I am not in my body and I don't actually care what happens.
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lisa you can take Tamoxifen if you are post menopausal/ooph unless you have a medical condition that prevents you (like blood clot issues). Before the AIs everyone got Tamoxifen. Its just premenos that can't take the AIs
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Ah good to know. Day 3 without Arimedex. So far no change but pretty short time. I see onc in 2 weeks.
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I have been on Arimidex for one year now. I have terrible joint pain. When I get up in the morning I am so sore and stiff I can barely walk. It gets somewhat easier during the day, but it is never good. I am going to PT now for my neck. My doctor thought my neck pain was a result of being in the collar so long. This was my third week of PT and this week was miserable. My neck pain was so bad it hurt to have massage so they changed that. They also took me off the weight training and now I just do resistance exercises. The last time I saw my MO was August. He asked about joint pain and then just blew off my concerns by telling me that joint pain is a common SE of Arimidex and there is nothing they can do. Really? I go again on the 15th and I want him to HEAR me. This is crazy to be in this level of pain. My right hip and lower back hurt and well as both knees, my neck and shoulder, and often my hands. I walk my dogs and try to stay busy....but it is a challenge.
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justmeganis ask if you can try a different AI. Some women find others are not as bad
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Just finished my five years on Arimidex. It makes me very scared.
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GracieM some of us are very jealous.
Seriously go live your life. You did your time and some super strong chemo on top of the Arimidex.Just be sure to continue to see your onc. I do believe there is a study that will be presented at the San Antonio conference this year that discusses 5 VS 10 years on hormone therapy. That's next month I believe.
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Justmejanis that is just crazy. I was only on it for 7 months and my oncologist changed me. I wasn't near as bad as you are but again my oncologist believes that being able to exercise and stay fit and healthy is a very important part of treatment. I am way better already on Tamoxifin and it's only been about 45 days.
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justmejanis...hate to sound like a broken record but have you been taking Claritin?
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Would some one share what the Claritin is about?
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Claritin supposedly reduces the SE (bone pain) you get with Nuelasta. I was already on Zyrtec so I stuck with that. The first shot I had terrible bone pain in my back, to the point I couldn't stand up straight. After that not as bad (took Aleve with my oncs blessing). The first shot is always the worst. For some reason subsequent shots not as bad.
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thanks for the insight!
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Galsal...many of us that were taking Neulasta during chemo, found that taking a daily Claritin (the 24 hour one with ONLY an antihistamine and NOT the one with the decongestant) really helped keeping any joint and bone pain from happening.
Figuring perhaps the same thing with Arimidex, we tried it again and most of us found the same thing. I took a daily pill for the first 3 months and then I had no pain so quit taking it.
My MO didn't advise it but he actually decided to suggest it for Neulasta patients now. Bout time!! He didn't think it would work for Arimidex but many of us found it does.
In any case, please check with your MO before taking it!!
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Ok, been on A three months now. Joint pain is a big thing for me,.but I have arthritis pretty bad to begin with. I need knee replacements before all of the bc stuff, so I am used to living with pain. Most days I hurt a lot when I get up and it is better during the day, although I can't stand, sit or walk for long. I am doing what I can and I am in chemo rehab, otherwise known as physical therapy, lite! LOL but here is my question. Last week,.I had pain in all joints so bad, it was on a scale.of a 10. I live with a 3 on a daily basis. It was horrible. I almost took my leftover Oxy pills. haven't had it as bad since. So, was it the weather? Yes it coincided with Sandy. And no, its been a pretty normal pain pattern since then. Opinions?
Ps, it was comparable to the first Nuelasta shot pain!0 -
Thanks, Schatzi. My oncotype was definitively in the low zone (a 12) so no chemo needed for me. No wonder I'd not heard about this, no need to have paid attention. I'm glad though it's an option for those who need it!
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Ok question - I have been on Anastrozole for 1 month. The first month I could hardly get out of a chair. It was horrible and pain was severe. It would lessen as I walked it out, but was still there. Plus, I was still having residual chemo pain, so it was like double.
For 4 days it has gotten 60% better. I've not done anything differently nor have I taken any other pills. I am kind of in shock it has improved so much. Does this happen as your body gets used to it? Here's hoping!!!
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Just wondering, on an average when do the S/E really manifest themselves? At the beginning, in the middle or anytime during the 5 yrs?
Mena
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Denise I bet it's your chemo SE going away. For me my chemo SE stiffness started to get better 5 weeks PFC.
I had no SE on Anastrozole till 3 months. My NP said that they won't get any worse. I'm not convinced of that but so far I'm only a little stiffer. been on for 20 months
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I had no side effects until 2 months. Then I was stiff and sore. My onc took me off for 2 weeks. It's been 9 days and I am definitely less sore and achey. I don't know if he'll put be back on Arimedex or switch me to Femara. Anyone done that?
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Mena... I'm a year into taking it and have not had the horrific se's that many seem to experience. No hair thinning, no severe pain. I have had a couple of achey weeks--mostly a left ankle issue, then knees, then right hand--but none were so severe that I considered quitting taking it. Usually a hot bath and curling up for a while helped. But now, I'm pretty much myself on a day to day basis. I do watch my weight more vigorously. Reading about the 30 lb possible gain scared me, and then all the media coverage of keeping weight down after bc diagnosis helped lessen rerun potential... I read far too much online and was almost convinced of gloom and doom, and then found many kindred spirits who are not having severe se issues. Good luck to you. Hope Sandy was kind to you and yours.
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I read that SEs on AIs often kick in around 8 weeks. I am so pissed, I was really not expecting any problems. Now I feel the aches, the pains, the gloom, was from it. And boy, there are lots of other possible problems. Damn!! I wasn't setting myself up, as I've said my sister only had achey hands now and then during her 5 yrs.
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