For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Thanks Hortense, I'll give it a try. Couldn't hurt
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the liquid silica - where do you buy it? do you rub it on the scalp? drink it? thanks!
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Anyone getting blurry vision?
I know my glasses prescription changed slightly last year, but not enough to go out and buy new glasses.
But now it seems like I really struggle with focusing on my computer screen...no matter what size the type is. I have problems with other screents, too, but not so much with books. It's intermittent, though, not all the time.
Even though it hasn't been quite a year since my last eye exam, I think I'll go get one anyway just to see what's going on in there.
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Blessings2011,
I've had problems with severely blurred eyes on two AIs to the point of my MO wanting me off them for fear of permanent vision damage. Thankfully we've finally discovered the problem and solution, just this week! I have severe dry eyes and would wake in the night and morning with severely blurred vision. Eye drops were comforting, but not preventing the problem.
A week ago I started putting an OTC preservative free eye lubricant of white petrolatum and mineral oil in my eyes at night and in a couple of days the vision problems were minimal. I still use preservative free eye drops nearly every hour during the day.
I'd suggest making an appointment with your eye doctor. Time to find an ophthalmologist if you don't have one yet. (We're not getting younger and both AIs and Tamoxifem can cause eye problems.) You might try using eye drops several times a day. The rule of thumb is if you need to use drops more than several times a day, you should go to preservative free ones. Single use are very expensive, but I finally found preservative free in a dropper bottle.
I'm so relieved I can stay on this AI and don't have to switch to Tamoxifen.
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Thank you, Doxie!!!
Glad you found a solution to your issues!!! Tell me though, doesn't your nighttime drop (white petrolatum and mineral oil) cause MORE blurriness? I just think back to eye infections I've had, and had to put some clear salve into my eye... I had to make sure I was going straight to bed because I couldn't see to go anywhere else!!!
Haven't been plagued with dry eye...in fact, just the opposite: the annoying watery eye!!! Of course, it usually happens on those rare occasions when I wear eye makeup, so that should give me a clue....
....duh......But you are right. I've been seeing my Optometrist at Kaiser for all my eye exams, and now I think I will demand an appointment with the Ophthalmologist. I may even contact my MO first, so she can facilitate the referral.
Thanks!
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You are correct. Initially the lubricant makes my eyes really blurred, but then it melts and I can read ok. Still a bit fuzzy though. I tried using in the morning once, but the blurring lingered in the daylight. So only night use for now.
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Blessings.....I have the same eye issues as you do, but I am on Letrozole....my problems started almost as soon as I started Letrozole.
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I switched after 3 mos of Arimidex, couldn't pick up newspaper, get out of bed without groaning, etc. Now I am in month 4 of Aromasin, sorry to say the SEs seems about the same now. Don't know what I will do. I tak advil every night and that helps me some. During the day as needed. Does this seem reasonable? I see MO in April. How will I do 5 years like this? Did someone say that Tamoxifen doesn't give you the "arthralgia" aches and pains of AIs? I am naturally and then surgically postmenopausal.
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Thanx, Doxie...
Scottiee1 - are you talking about the blurred vision or the watery eye thing? I'm pretty convinced my occasional annoying watery eye (and it's usually only ONE eye) is from eye makeup. But the blurry vision persists even when I'm not wearing any eye makeup. What does your doc say about Letrozole causing eye issues?
lisa2012 - how frustrating...to change to another drug only to find it has the same SEs. I've been on Anastrozole for five months, and have had a few really creaky, painful days...almost like the bad old days when my fibromyalgia nearly crippled me. But I don't have that every day, and I think of the SEs I DON'T have from Anastrozole, mainly hot flashes and night sweats. I'm reluctant to tell my MO I want something else, because right now I can live with the SEs I have. It's hard to make a switch, not knowing what you'll get on a new drug. Can't comment on the Tamoxifen....haven't tried it. I think the worst SEs on that, though, are blood clots.
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Anyone have achy ankles and feet on Anastrozole.My heel hurts and ankles in the morning.:( been on it for 2 years this just started happening.
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Blessings....my MO said "not a SE of Letrozole".....yeah right!!!!....my Ophthamologist
Said he has many women with C complaining of blurry vision....I'm fine with my glasses on but I can tell when I take them off that my eyesight has deteriorated and blurry at times!!!0 -
walley that's normal. Stiffness in toes, fingers, feet and hands in the morning. My ankles might be a tad stiff too but it goes away in about 30 seconds after I get up. I'm 2 weeks shy of 2 years myself.
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Thanks lago......Glad it's normal.After I get up it is better but my heel kinda hurts.I go in March for my 2 year check-up will ask her then.Thanks for your reply makes me feel better.I knew I could count on you ladies for an answer:)Have a good night!
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flannelette - Liquid silica is taken by mouth in the form of drops. I get mine, BioSil, from Amazon as I couldn't find it locally. You put five drops in 1/4 cup of juice both morning and evening. I use a strong tasting juice to mask its flavor. It helps with skin and bones as well as hair.
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Well, I moved my computer screen closer to me, and that didn't help, so tomorrow I see the Ophthalmologist.
We'll see if he understands anything about AIs, or just gives me the Deer-In-The-Headlights look...
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Blessings,
Dry eye is one of the possibilities. I found that my glasses made my vision worse when my eyes were blurry because of this. There are a handful of other things that may be the culprit, caused by AIs or not. Let us know what the ophthalmologist says.
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Blessings I think Doxie is onto something. My eye doctor told me the same thing. Simple reading glasses are all I need for the computer, she told me I have dry eyes and to make sure to use drops regularly. She gave me some samples of a prescription, but said it was fine to get some over the counter brands.
Doxie I love the photo in your avatar. I have large dogs, but I love those doxies!
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Since everyone seems to be talking about having some kind of an issue with vision while on Arimidex, so I want to add my 2 cents!
By the time I go to bed at night , my eyes burn so much and no matter what drops I use, I don't feel any improvement. It feels as if I have sand in them.
I had my eyes checked, got new glasses and still having problems with my eyes.
I thought my dry eyes were due to the fact that I am always on the computer, and most of all to the constant use of my iphone, especially during the night when I can't sleep. (that's another issue that is causing much angst) I was so sure the small screen on that damn phone is the cause of my eye problems that I have decided to change it to a Galaxy Note ll, which is almost the size of a tablet.
Now after reading all your posts it makes me wonder....if changing to a phone with a bigger screen will make any difference. I DON"T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, I saw the ophthalmologist today, and had a VERY detailed exam. (I guess when you have "Breast Cancer" in your chart, the docs get real OCD about any possible issues...
He said in his review of Anastrozole, he didn't see any glaring red flags in the side effects except for "blurry vision" which he said was a side effect of nearly every single drug on the market.
He saw absolutely no signs of cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. In fact, he said I had the healthiest eyes of all the patients he had seen today.
He did stick some paper strips in my lower lids and had me close my eyes for five minutes (my eyes were already numb
) to measure tear output, and said it was normal, so no dry eye issue.But he did say that the occasional watery eye could be the eyes way of compensating for dryness.
So he recommended Artificial Tears for occasional dry eye (which I swear I never feel) and Zaditor drops (or a generic) for itchy eyes from allergies or irritation.
UGH - my eyes are STILL dilated - they will be for 24 hours. They're light blue, and I'm wearing sunglasses indoors, and I have my computer screen enlarged by like 1,000%.
SO - good news - normal eyes!!!
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Hi Mena - I also have dry eyes and the drops don't help me, in fact I think it makes them worse. My trick is to take a fine tipped Q-tip and put some night time eye ointment on it and run it along the water line of my lower lid. If I actually put it in my eye then they are so blurry that I can't really focus on anything for an hour or more. Hope this helps because I know how annoying and painful dry eyes can be. Good thoughts.
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I agree that the eye drops don't help that much. Like gentianviolet, I'm finding that an ointment is necessary. I now use an OTC lubricant of white petrolatum and mineral oil at night and my blurred vision into the daylight hours has stopped. Was thinking I needed it during the day also, because eye drops usually burn. I'll try using the tiny amount you suggested. Interestingly I have no blurring regardless of how long I'm awake during a day. My problem is only when I lay down or sleep.
Our eyes are moistened by three layers. Oil, tears, and mucus. Any one of them could be the problem, but I'm thinking mine is oil production. I'm seeing my ophthalmologist next week and will try to get him to pin this down now that this appears to only be a "dry eye" problem rather than neurological. Thank heavens only that!
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Blessings2011 When I went for my last eye appointment they almost gave me glasses because of my left eye. Then they dilated my eyes, tested again and my sight was fine. It was all because my left eye was dry and dilating them helped lubricate. My Ophthalmologist noted that there was a clog of oil in my left eye duct.
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Hey ladies. I am starting anastrozole in a couple of weeks after having my final chemo today. I'm worrying about possible SEs but mostly depression/low mood as I am prone to it and take anti depressants. I'm also due to have a DEXA scan so we have a baseline of what my current bone density is as I have already been post-menopausal for several years. Hoping I do okay as I was really worried when reading about Taxotere months ago but seem to have done really well with that. Fingers crossed...
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People may want to investigate the natural aromatase inhibitor, Chrysin. It is sold by the better vitamin companies.
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This is Notwordly's only/first post. I'm wondering if it's spam?
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Lago - after putting several kinds of drops in my eye, (including numbing drops) and doing all sorts of examinations, the ophthalmologist blotted my eye completely dry. (Thank goodness for the numbing drops!!!)
He then inserted these paper strips inside my lower eyelids - they looked like litmus strips - and had me sit there with my eyes closed for five minutes.
When he pulled the strips out, they were wet about 3/4 of the way up, and he said that the amount of my tear production was normal, as well as the ingredients that made up the tears.
At first, I was glad, then I thought...hmmm....let's stick a strip of paper in YOUR eye and see how much you tear up!!!
SO - I'll be prepared with the drops, both for dry eye and irritation, and I may just use the Artificial Tears anyway to see if it makes a difference.
Did the doc say why you had an oil clog in your left tear duct? Was it from natural causes or from wearing eye makeup?
Funny story... years ago I was shopping at a very nice department store in the cosmetics department. The sales clerk - in her early 20's - was warning me about never taking my eye makeup off with Vaseline or baby oil. She said that oil would build up behind the eyeball, and that once that happened, they had to remove your whole eyeball and clean out behind it!!!
Let's just say that the Store Manager and I had an interesting chat after that.
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No she didn't say why it was clogged but when I see her next month I'll try to remember to ask. Funny thing is she did see brown and gold specs in my eye. Couldn't image what it would be from since my eye make is all greyish and purples. I laughed. It was from my powdered bronzer that I brush on with a big brush (including forehead). Need to keep eyes shut when dusting the forehead.
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Thanks everyone for sharing your info and starting this thread. I was told by my MO that she will be recommending I start on Anastrozle once my radiation is done. I'm a little concerned since I have carpel tunnel, which causes numbness and swelling in my hands from time to time, hoping this is not going to make it tons worse. I have a history of osteprorosis in my family, so I'm a little concerened with that since I already have some joint and knee pain occassionally, but my bone density test is a -1, as of now.
The other fear I have now is a chance of an increase in insomnmia, which I've have been dealing with for sometime now.
I am 57, post menapausel, stopped smoking a month ago, and have changed my diet quite a bit. I'm feeling pretty good 3 weeks out from my lumpectomy. My next hurdle will be the radiation, and then the drugs, but it's nice to be able to do a little research ahead of time.
Thank you all again for sharing your experieinces.
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Welcome MichelleJ - I'm not too familiar with this thread so don't know much about others taking anastrozole, but I've been on Prozac for many years and found that the anastrozole didn't make me depressed - although I do have an friend who had to quit tamoxifen for depression - quite different. I did find I got irritable/cranky at the beginning, llike you do in menopause as your estrogen drops, I guess. Best of luck!
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deseko,
Welcome. Wish it was under different terms, but we are here for you. You'll probably know in about 3-6 months how anastrozole effects your carpal tunnel. Some women here use the same splints to control AI SEs as people with carpel tunnel.
You can discuss with your MO at what point she would consider starting you on a bisphosphonate if your bone density declines further. My MO insisted I start Zometa right away because of serious osteoporois in my family. Some of us don't have problems or are able to manage with Vit D, Calcium and exercise.
Exercise is so important in mangaging many of the SEs. I cannot stress that enough. It will also help with sleep. I've had sleep issues for years. I don't think they got worse on anastrozole. I had to switch to exemestane and now sleep better on it than I have for years. Hard to know what will happen. We are all different. Please let us know how things are going.
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