For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Anyone feel like they are a bit more emotional? I'm not talking about mood swings because I never had those before, well may I did have one. It just seems like certain topics get my all tearing although in my mind I'm fine. It's driving me a little batty. I feel like I it's a little like PMS but at least I don't have to deal with tampons a week later
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lago, mee too. I'm trying not to think of those topics that start me crying, but am not all that successful...I agree, it's not mood swings.
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Lago, Susan, more emotional is what I am. I mean I cried at Kleenex commercials back in the 80s when they were meant to do that. But I find myself tearing up over tv shows and even books that I read before and know how it ends! LOL so silly. But my emotions are closer to the surface, and they don't swing without explanation, so definetly not mood swings. Oh well, I guess its just my new normal, at least for now. Much love
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Well at least I know I'm not crazy
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Lago, I didn't say THAT! LOL
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IN THE SAME MODE, TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAST TWO POSTS IN THE FEB 2012 CHEMO BOARD. Sorry for shouting but I am not retyping! LOL
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Lago~ I am on an emotional roller coaster lately.., losing my eyelashes a 2nd time, the pain from Arimidex, my birthday last week, the anticipation of meeting with the onc this coming Monday to tell him I conducted an experiment on myself (stopping Arimidex for 2 weeks), and experiencing the memories of what was happening last year at this time while I was in the diagnostics stage (confirmed 11/30/2011). I cried and cried and cried until treatment began (Jan 2012) and then I kept STRONG.., for months and months. Now I feel like a good cry might do me some good! So, to all of us.., cry, mourn, be moody, be emotional, and LIVE!!! I KNOW we all deserve it!
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C-squared this is not normal for me. I'm coming up on 2 years PFC in January and well past thinking about the journey/diagnosis. These Anastrotears are unacceptable
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Thanks ladies. I don't see onc until end of December, but will definitely discuss heartburn with him--maybe before if it becomes intolerable. Bone loss is a definite concern.
Anyone suffering from tearing eye. I still have right eye tearing throughout the day. SE of taxotere. Will it ever stop? I have discussed it with eye doc and she will clear tear duct for me if needed. I see her again in April and will have it done, but was hoping it would clear by itself.
And, when will hair grow back. Been over two and a half months since last chemo treatment and yet only have very scant fuzz, no real hair growth. Desparate to be rid of my wig. And would be nice to have eyelashes and eyebrows again.
Thanks!
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My hair is about an inch long and a bit thin I stopped Herceptin in Sept. It is what it is, I go without a scarf unless my head is cold. And my head is cold a lot, LOL. As for the tearing, I don't tear up much anymore. Except when one of the new eyelash hairs grows and irritates my eye. I can usually straighten it out so it doesn't usually hurt. But if I can't, I have to pull it out.
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I've been on Arimidex for 6 weeks. My knees and ankles ache, I'm losing my eyelashes, i have terrible heartburn and mood swings. I had a DEXA scan at the end of October and my oncologist says I'm osteopenic. She put me on Boniva, which has its own crazy list of side effects. Some days I feel like I'm going crazy. I can't seem to remember things. I've nearly had a car accident at least four times this week from not paying attention! Will this stop???
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Susielovett my onc & PCP don't treat osteopenia. I've been osteopenic since before chemo. After Chemo, chemo-pause and 5 months of Anastrozole there was a drop but still osteopenic. My spine density is -2.3 which does worry me but even the report says I'm not a candidate, yet. Possibly in 2 years if this continues. I'm in no rush to add medications. All your SE are SE of this drug. Have you discussed this with your onc?
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I am going my my 5-month anniversary of being in anastrazole. Lago: I am still emotional (ie. tears come easy, but not as bad as when on chemo), but I don't know if that's a s/e of just having BC. It did something weird to my emotions. I am stronger emotionally every day, but the tears can come with a drop of a pin. As far as non-emotional tears, yes, I still get these occasionally, but don't know if it's a residual effect of the taxotere.
I am particulary achey in the morning when I first get up. I need to get moving more, more weight-bearing exercise. It does make me feel better. Just gotta get through my busy season (ends 12/7), then I can start making my exercise a priority as I am only doing it 2 x's a week, plus hot yoga once a week.
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I am so -2.3. My onc felt like I needed to be on something because of the effects of Arimidex on the bones. I take my second one weekly Boniva today. It scares me a little. My job requires a lot of attention to detail and I feel like I'm slipping.
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Susie: I was prescribed a semi-annual injection: Prolia. I was achey the first day (last Friday), but otherwise, just your usual AI aches and pains. I didn't want to do Boniva or Foxamax. They tried Zometa, but couldn't get a vein and the thought of another infusion freaked me out too.
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I'm actually past osteopenia, now I have full blown osteoporosis !
I got this way from being on Nexium for more years than I care to remember . My Oncologist is aware of this , but she believes that exercise should be tried as a remedy before resorting to regular treatment such as in my case the yearly Reclast!
Mena0 -
I'm having a lot of gi issues, and medication for it doesn't help too much. I'm just 6weeks into Aromasin, and have heard that things get better, gi wise, after 6 months. Has anyone else found this to be true with any of the antihormonals you're taking? Otherwise I'm habdling the other side effects well now.
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Two and a half months on Anastrozole, and no GI SEs, thank goodness.
I take mine in the morning, after breakfast. I used to take Prilosec on a regular basis, but when I started the Optifast program they took me off ALL prescription meds, except for my thyroid. Now I take two regularly - Anastrozole and Synthroid, plus the fish oil, calcium, Vitamin D, magnesium, and Biotin, and the occasional Norco or Valium for back pain.
I've upped my Biotin intake to 1000 mg to see if that has any effect on hair loss. And I think I'll up my Vitamin D as well...I used to take 4,000 IU a day; now I'm down to 1500.
I did have a thought about that "losing my mind" feeling. When I started going through perimenopause at age 47, the most significant SE I had was memory loss. It got so bad I couldn't finish sentences because I couldn't think of the right word.
(I was also having hot flashes every 20 minutes and night sweats every 45 minutes.)
As soon as the doc put me on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) all those SEs went away. I stayed on the HRT for years, then gradually weaned off to see if I'd made it through menopause. I had. I've been post-menopausal for years now, plus I had a complete hysterectomy 15 years ago.
So for those of you who are dealing with those issues of memory loss and confusion, I wonder if it isn't more of a case of sudden, drastically lowered estrogen, than a true SE of the AI.
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I think so too...also the lack of estrogen can cause all sorts of problems ie: hair thinning...rapid onset of arthritis, bone loss and a myriad of other things. Oh Joy!!!
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Thanks y'all ( yes I'm from the south) I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking the Anastrozole. I see him Monday and he will check my hormone levels. Looks like my chemopause is over. I'm still having a light period. I hate this!! I want a total hysterectomy now. I have been off Anastrozole for 4 days and can move without pain and stiffness. Amazing!!
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HI ladies, Started on Arimidex on Weds..and notice now a metallic taste in mouth. I know that many have this durning chemo, but I did not have chemo. Have not seen this as a S/E listed. Tried sucking peppermints..helps a bit but does not take it away. Not even a week in yet....oh joy!
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Saw my hair stylist today for the standard cut and highlights. She knows about all my BC and what has happened. Told her about the possible hair thing with Arimidex. So she carefully and meticulously went through my head of hair as a benchmark and for a comparison of when she last did my hair in July. Another did it at Labor Day there since she was booked up.
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hi all, I'm just catching up with this thread again. I've switched my armidex to the morning to see if I can sleep better.
Mena, do you find the morning time better for you now too?
lago, I've been on arimi about as long as you and YES the emotional effects of it seem worse now for me than when I first started taking it. I'm not ready to add any more meds so I'm hoping this will pass. I'm really tired of getting upset over stupid stuff that never would have bothered me before.
next week I get my Dexa scan, wish me good results. I was osteopenic last year and I'm really hoping my t-scores haven't dipped into osteoporosis. I've been trying to exercise more.
hair...sigh...I hate to wash it because so much ends up in the drain. I've been trying not to worry about it but is so much thinner.
Aruba, what brand arimidex? Maybe if you switch to a different one you won't have the metallic taste. Mine is manufactured by Teva but there's quite a few different ones out there.
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Lee7, never thought of that. How do I check manufacturer or do I need to ask pharmacist? Thanks
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The manufacturer is on my label and on my pill. Mine says A10 on one side and the other side says Teva. I realized the different makers have different codes on the pills when I got one of my arimidex Rx and the pill had different markings. I thought that they gave me the wrong pills. The pharm explained they get arimidex from different places, and if I wanted to stay with the Teva one they would order it for me. So that's what I did.
I really don't know if it makes a difference...but I've been told manufacturers can use different fillers.
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Mine says Teva too. Lee: good luck with your dexa.
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thanks kjiberty
. Of all the SE's, the bone loss is what I worry most about.0 -
Well, my onc switched me to Aromasin since I was so creaky and achey on Arimedex.I went off it for 2 weeks- actually didn't feel much better aches and pains wise. However, he says that if you react to that, you are likely to do OK on Aromasin since it is a different kind of AI.
Been one day. looks like it has similar possible SEs. I am sick of side effects. Now, don't get me wrong, I am working at my demanding/interesting job (school principal) brain seems totally in place. But if my hair falls out from this AI I will seriously reconsider. I still have almost no eyebrows, my hair is maybe 1" long. My fingernails are mostly long enough to pick things up. Well, 7 of them are. I'm pissed. It's been 5 months since my last chemo. Sorry to be down.
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Lee Anastrozole is made by an Israeli company (TEVA) or a this other company in India. I have the TEVA ordered for me from Costco. I stay away from drug companies in India. Thanks for letting me know you too are having the emotional weirdness as well. Unless I start thinking about jumping off my building I'm not adding any more drugs either.
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Aruba, I have been on Arimidex for 14 months and have the metallic bad taste in my mouth. I was stage IV at diagnosis, and the Arimidex has me in remission so I am sucking on sugarless mints and making the best of it. I also suck on Tums Fresheners, as that adds calcium and gets rid of the bad taste. Good luck!
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