For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Hi, I have a question about switching. I've been on Arimidex about 3 months, and had to stop the pain and stiffness got so bad. it got to where I couldn't reach up and even had trouble getting dressed. bending my arms back to put on a coat is really hard. Feeling waaaay older than I am. (47). I'm trying to decide whether to give aromasin a shot, or to just switch to tamoxifen. I'm in surgical menopause one year now, with no real meno. symptoms until about a month after I started arimidex. I did not even know what a hot flash was until this drug.
what side effects should I expect from either aromisin or tamoxifen? it took months for me to realize the full side effects of arimidex. do I need to give these other drugs that much time to know what the full effects will be?
Not being able to exercise because of the pain is a really bad thing, i need the exercise for my bones, i'm already osteopenic. any advice is very welcome! thanks ladies!
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I didn't get SE from Anastrozole (Arimidex) till 3 months. First 1.5 years I was stiff but for some reason this year I'm not as stiff. I am doing more strength training so that might be it.
I personally would try aromasin first. I don't like the SE of tamoxifen from what I've read. I too was perimeno and now in chemopause. Also osteopenic even before chemo. My spine has been losing on Anastrozole (-2.4) so I'm getting close but right now my team doesn't treat osteopenia. In about 2 years I may have to go one something. I'm currently 51. 49 at diagnosis/treatment
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I am a little stiff from the anastrazole, but getting used to the S/E's. They are bearable. I have been doing a lot of weight-bearing exercises, which has helped. I have also been doing yoga, too, which I think has helped.
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Hi all, Im on this medication and just starting to have a real hard time, 6 months after starting, The joint pain is incredible, i keep thinking I have metastisis. Every day all the time I feel as though I have mets, i cant go off it because Im only 35 and have high risk of recurrance. It is just nice to share with others who are going through the same.
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You're 35 and on anastrazole?
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Pgjoh if your pain it unilateral meaning in both knees or both hips there's a good chance it's not mets and only a SE from the meds… but any pain that severe or doesn't go away in 2 weeks should be reported to your doctor (PCP or onc).
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jdwench:
I'm in the same boat. But I had Tamox first for 4 years because I was premenopausal then and am surgically postmenopausal now. I couldn't do Femara...another AI that works like Arimadex for the same sypmptoms you had. I just wasn't willing to feel 90 for the inevitable future. (I'm 49). I had incredible hot flashes too. With Tamox, I never had hot flashes. Not one. I didn't even know I was taking it. But it is cumlative and if you have a uterus, dangerous for uterine cancer. My doctor said if I didn't have a blood clot or stroke on it initally, I wouldn't have it now if I want to go back to that from Femara. And with no uterus I have no worries with that side effect. The studies do show the AIs are better at decreasing recurrence for postmen women. But for me that only meant a small amount. I guess everyone has different percentages depending on your initial situation. So for me, I've decided to stop treatment. No more. I feel so much better off Femara, like myself again. I'm not going on another AI. And my brother just died suddenly of vacular issues (like my mom did early) so risking the stroke/clot thing is just too scary. I didn't have it in the nodes, I did a bilat mast, and chemo. Tamox for 4 years. So I decided to live fully now feeling great and make the most of each day vs feeling bad or risking potentially dangerous side effects. I may change my mind and go back on something in the future. But for now I have a peace about this that I haven't felt in a very long time.
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My chemopause didn't last. I started my period back last month. Stopped my Anastrozole and had a complete hysterectomy last week. I can start
the Anastrozole back next week. Does this mean all the hot flashes and body aches are going to start again? It sure has been nice to have a break. Has this happened to anyone else?0 -
Msbelle - I don't think anything is for certain when we're taking these drugs.
If you had a complete hysterectomy, including removal of your ovaries, then yes, estrogen production could be significantly reduced enough to induce hot flashes again.
However, there have also been stories of women taking breaks from Anastrozole (both here, and told to me by my MO) who resume taking the drug and their SEs are minimized the second time around. May this be so for you!
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My hair loss seems to have slowed down considerably, thanks in part to the 1000 mg of Biotin I take every day. But strangely, I find I am still losing NOSE HAIRS!!! There are always one or two in my Kleenex when I blow my nose....
I also started taking a sublingual form of liquid Vitamin B complex (B-2, B-6, B-12, Pantothenic Acid, and Niacin)... the MO said that this combination has been shown to reduce join pain in some cases.
Has anyone found that Anastrozole makes them moody or depressed? Trying to figure out if it's pharmaceutical or situational....
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Blessings I was having that discussion back in November. I started tearing up one day and I was WTF? For some reason I was having these strange emotional issues last month. I seem fine now but I know others have noticed it too. I haven't had weird emotional stuff since PMS (last time 2 weeks before chemo in September of 2010).
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After switching over to Femara, I've only had one headache and one time of ear ache. HOORAY! As for the hands, they never got any better and if any thing have gotten worse. I won't say it's the med caused it, since I'd had the hand problems before starting any meds from Onc. Finally, now the sleeping is starting to even out although I do still need a sleep aid.
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I saw my onc today for my bi-annual visit. I brought her the results of my latest bone-density test that I did a week ago. I don't have too many SEs with Arimidex so she said to watch the osteoporosis carefully and make sure that I take my calcium and Alendronate (=Fosomax). To do a new test after 12 months rather than 24 as I did in the past and show her the results for reevaulation. I'll see her again in half a year, so in the meantime I am staying with Arimidex or AL or whatever the pharmacist gives me.
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dassi52 I'm sure it's the generic Arimidex called Anastrozole. I know I order the Teva brand. Bet that's what you get since they are an Israeli company. I get my bone density every year due to osteopenia getting worse.
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Has anyone switched from Arimidex to Anastrozole after a year? Any SEs? My pharmacy switched me and if I stayed with Arimidex, it would cost me $341 a script. I said I would give it a try.
It is made by Sandoz...in Montreal I believe.
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Susan, you know I'm on Letrozole but the company is the same, Sandoz, and they are indeed out of Montreal
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Christine..good to know...I prefer taking Canadian-made if possible.
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schatzi~ Anastrozole is the generic form of Arimidex.
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I have read a few women here that have made the switch from Arimidex to generic (Anastrozole). Most were fine but a few did get more SE. Don't assume you will.
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I have been on Arimidex since mid-July. I have experienced some joint pain, pparticularly in my left knee and right shoulder. Both sites feel better after stretching and moving about. Hot flashes are bearable and memory loss minimal. I was hoping to stay on this drug for the 5 year duration as my MO believes that this drug will be lifesaving.
However, I believe I might be developing a skin condition related to Arimidex. A few months ago I developed a rash on a patch of radiated skin. Since it looked just like my skin after radiation, I called my RO. He felt that it was caused by the radiation and to treat it with moisturizers. The patch faded for a bit, but then returned in a different area that also was exposed to radiation. Again, RO suggested moisturizing. Last week I noticed that the rash has spread to other areas of my body not within the radiated field. The rash is very itchy and not responding to moisturizing creams. It does respond to antihisimines, which suggests that it is an allergic reaction.
With this in mind, I've carefully looked at anything that might be causing an allergy related skin rash. The only change in my diet or life over the last 6 months is Arimidex. I will call my MO tomorrow. In the meantime I wanted to see if anyone else has developed a skin reaction to Arimidex. Any information or suggestions would be most appreciated!
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Janetanned I would also consider seeing a dermatologist that deals with cancer patients if you get no answers. I know that I kept retaining fluid and my onc nurse told me to see my PCP about that. Sure enough it is a less common SE of anastrozole. My PCP looked it up in the PDR. So there are some less common SE. I take a small amount of diuretic. I can still gain 3-5 lbs in a day if I eat something salty. I get realy bloaty in the middle.
I did have a rash on my legs when I was finishing up Herceptin and on Anastrozole. By the time I was supposed to see the dermatologist it went away (6 weeks). It wasn't itchy. I assumed it was from this powder mix I was drinking. Year later I started drinking it again and no problem. I have no idea what caused it other than maybe it was that powder drink that didn't play well with Herceptin.
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c-squared...yes I know...the problem is the fillers. If you read the ingredients, one filler (Arimidex) is 300 of one ingredient while the anastrozole has 3400 of the same ingredient. It's the fillers that usually cause the SEs. That explains while some do well on one and others on the generic or another type of AI.
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Even though Anastrazole is made here, I actually got Arimidex a few times. It depends on what my health fund pharmacy has in stock. I was told by the pharmacist and my MD that it's exactly the same, and I see no difference in SEs. I even prefer AL because it has 30 pills rather than 28.
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Well the basic drug is the same but the fillers are not! Our gov't won't pay for the Arimidex now that there is a generic. Price wise, there is a difference of $341 a script.
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Schatzi--
AstraZeneca has a program where they will sell you Arimidex direct by mail for $40 per month. If you have trouble with the generic, you can find info on their program at their website. I saw a flyer about it at my MO's office.
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Sorry schatzi.., I've been MIA for a while and had I taken the time to read back I woul've known that you knew the difference between Arimidex (brand) and Anastrozole (generic). All I can offer is that I have switched from Anastrozole to Letrozole (generic Femara) and am so far feeling okay. I feel that I need to give it a full three months (as I did the Anastrozole) before coming to a conclusion but I am SO hopeful that things will remain status quo. It is good to know about the "fillers" and I will remain cognizant of this very helpful information. Thank you!
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virginiab...I also read that but it doesn't apply to us in Canada. Because I am over 65, the provincial government pays for most of our drugs. If there is a generic brand, they will only pay for that one. It paid 100% of the Arimidex until there was a generic brand. I certainly understand that and usually our private insurance will cover the rest but not in this case. In any event my DH is retiring next week so we won't have that extra insurance anyway. It's not a big deal as long as I can tolerate the generic...so far, so good. As a back up I can always pay the extra...it would be a tax deduction for sure.
This is an interesting topic...so many choices. My feeling is...stick to what works! I appreciate the heads up tho.
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c-squared....no need to apologize...I appreciate your info and trying to help. That's why we are all here right? It's so easy to fall behind on the threads...always better to have more info than not enough. Thanks
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Schatzi--
Just a bit of chemo brain on my part. I knew the AstraZeneca offer was for the U.S. only, so I checked your location, and read it as Oakville, Tennessee. Tennessee? Really? Oh, well.
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schatzi, where do you find the info about the fillers? I'd like to compare my Teva generic to the real Arimidex.
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for Teva Anastrozole: linky
For Arimidex: linky
BTW here on the site it says you can purchase Arimidex direct for $40 a month including shipping. Granted I pay less than that for 3 months of generic through Costco. www.arimidex.com
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