For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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There is a topic here on the forum...most are made in India...or Israel or one in Ireland. Who knew?
I thought mine was made here in Canada by Sandoz. The insert says "Sandoz Canada"...I guess they are just the distributor. Seems they are part of Novartis and they go from there!
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I am definitely going to switch it into my morning batch of pills. I put it with the blood pressure, cholesterol meds at night but switching today . Hopefully this will help with the sleep issues. Thanks!
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One of my dogs takes medication twice a day. When we were working we always got up at 4AM, DH had to get to work very early and I never went back to bed. Murphy got his pill at 4:00 AM and even though my DH retired three years ago, I still wake up about 4:00 every morning and give him his pill. So that has become a good time for me to take my morning meds. I have always been an insomniac so trouble sleeping is not something I can blame the Anastrazole on!
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Hi to all,
Been awhile since I have posted anything but I do keep track of you all frequently. School mom I asked my breast surgeon if the generic arimidex was as effective as she replied yes and it sure is cheaper. She said that is what her mom takes. I pay $25 for 90 pills.
I have been on it a year now and am handling it well though I do feel hot and sweaty all the time but not excessive sweating. Also just in the last month my neck has started to hurt mostly on the left side. Will need to keep track of that but it feels like osteoarthritis more than bone
pain. My last checkup and mammogram was at the end of January and all was well then. I can now go for a year on mammos. I do feel much better when I keep on the move but I live in the far northeast and with the crappy weather I have skipped my daily walks for 2 days and I notice the difference.
Best to each and everyone of you. I agree that it is so nice to have this safe place to come for info and support.0 -
Allagashmaggie, I know what you mean about feeling it when you skip your walks. I usually walk my dog after work, and there are some days I just can't do it after going up and down flights of stairs all day at my school. I guess we just have to keep moving!
I don't know if this has ever been posted, but if any of you are paying out of pocket for Arimidex or even the generic, AstraZeneca has a patient assistance program for Arimidex. It costs $40 for a 30 day supply...
"ARIMIDEX Direct does not require a qualification process, nor is a coupon or savings card needed. The program is open to all patients with a valid prescription for ARIMIDEX or anastrozole who elect to receive and pay for the brand ARIMIDEX on their own. Prescription insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid, cannot be used for any type of reimbursement."
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MizChiz that's still much more expensive then getting the generic Arimidex at Costco. I pay a little over $40 for 3 months supply (90 pills). I don't go through my insurance because 1. I have to meet my high deductible which includes medication, and 2. even once I meet my deductible it's still more expensive through insurance because of the deals they make with the retailers.
I hear it might be even less expensive at Walmart.
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Good suggestions for cheaper alternatives on Arimidex. Just got a shock this past week when my mail-order pharmacy called and said my co-pay for a 90-day supply of Arimidex was $1,147!!!!! Apparently my script had expired, so they called the MO's office, which didn't check the box allowing the generic Anastrozole, which I had been taking, and specified the Arimidex. Last time that will happen!!!
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WaveWhisperer last time I checked, if I was going through my insurance, it was cheaper to purchase it monthly than get it from the mail order pharmacy. Talk about screwed up! My insurance won't let me purchase 3 at a time. (For profit Aetna insurance. Can't stand them).
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I have to pay for my prescriptions out of pocket. I have a high deductible health insurance as I am self employed. When I first filled my arimidex prescription at a pharmacy in a local Hannaford store, it was $80.00. I asked if I could get something cheaper. They told me that was for a 3 month supply. I said well I can handle that then, thinking it would be $80.00 per month instead of every 3 months. 3 months later when I got it refilled, it was $25.00. Again, I said well I wanted a 3 month supply and they said that was for a 3 month supply. When I asked why such a drastic reduction in price and was it as effective, they said yes and that is what happens with generic drugs. I kept that in mind and was sure to ask both my medical oncologist and my breast surgeon. I was assured it was as effective, just had different fillers in it. When my breast surgeon said that was what her mom was taking, I found that reassuring. Like they always say, when a big medical decision needs to be made, ask the doctor what they would do if it was them or someone in their family. It was nice of her to casually mention her mom was dealing with breast cancer too. I think she was trying to reassure me. I absolutely trust my breast surgeon and every time I see her I am so thankful I found her, though not glad I needed to find her.
Now it it time for that walk to work out the kinks. Have a good day all.
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Well, there is no Costco in my area and the out of pocket cost at both WalMart and Sam's Club (same company) for a 30 day supply is just over $100 for the generic. Fortunately my co-pay for generic is $10. Still, if there was someone who had to pay out of pocket in my area for their Rx, it would cost them less through AstraZeneca. Lago, I wish there was a Costco near me! All of my Rx's would be cheaper and you don't have to be a member of Costco to use their pharmacy. I wonder how many people don't know that? I will put it here in bold letters !
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP AT COSTCO TO USE THEIR PHARMACY!
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The drug cost is a little higher at Costco if you are not a member. If it's only 1 medication and nothing else then the membership isn't worth it. But even the gas is cheaper there so it is worth the membership. Large rotisserie chicken $5! I can't even make it myself for that price.
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Well, You won't believe this ladies but Teva actually charges more here in Israel than what you pay. Me it doesn't cost a penny, because by law all cancer patients get those drugs that are on a specific list for free (meaning that there are some treatments that are not covered at all!) In any case, AL is covered so I don't pay a penny but the pharmacist told me that Teva charges the health fund 300 NIS - more than 75$ per month (which the state then pays back ). I guess they can charge more here because there is no competition. Arimidex used to come in, but it's more expensive so most places stock AL. Price aside, I felt like an old lady hobbling along when going for a short walk to the pharmacy. Courtesy of the SEs of AL. Eventually the joints loosened up.
Does anyone have any SEs concerning varicose veins? I have had varicose veins ever since a twin pregnancy more than 30 years ago. The veins used to be painful now and then, usually hormone related, but lately I have found them to be much worse. I wonder if it is related to AL or to LE or maybe to neither.
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I'm surprised and shocked at what you all have to pay for anastrozole. My insurance (Regence/Blue Cross) pays my costs in full--no out of pocket. They do this as they say the medicine is no different than chemo in the treatment of cancer, so it is paid in full--no co pay.
At the very least these and every prescription drug should be priced the same to consumers throughout the country and by all pharmacies. Just another example of how f**ked up the medical industry is in this country.
Wondering if Obamacare will make it better or worse? I have heard that Obamacare in 2014 will cover 100% the genetic testing for those diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm optimistic this will be true as I wish to be tested for the benefit of my two daughters. If I test positive for the gene defect, then they will also test. As it stands now, Regence will not cover the test and my costs would be at a minimum $300 to as high as $1000.
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dassi52 U.S. drugs are cheap in other countries too. That's why many in the U.S. get mail order from Canada. Not sure if that's legal but lots do it especially the elderly on fixed incomes.
sherryh16 My insurance doesn't require meeting the deductible on preventative drugs like diuretics for heart disease etc. For some reason AIs and Tamox are not considered preventative. I guess they rather pay for treatment for recurrence. Don't get me started on how screwed up our system is. Both my husband and I were out of work when I was diagnosed!
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The medical industry... Large corporations making billions of dollars from cancer drugs alone. As far as genetic testing, only one lab does it because they patented the BRAC-1 and BRAC-2 genes, the ones that may or may not come out of OUR bodies. Since they discovered them first, they patented them so there IS no competition. They own them. Out of pocket cost to have genetic testing done is $3200. Here is a video from CBS about it... http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6362525n
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Iago, had to laugh. My insurance is through AEtna as well!!! I have to use mail-order because we're out of the country for as much as 3 months at a time. Aetna won't let me get more than a 30-day supply from the pharmacy a block away.
I'm a few months away from Medicare. Anyone on here happy with a drug plan through Medicare??
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MizChiz in defence of these big pharm companies you have to understand they spend big bucks to research drugs. Many times the research turns up nothing. They need a way to recoup their money as well as make some profit or they would never research new drugs. They would just research their old drugs for new purposes so the patent doesn't run out. This is why we need funding for research that doesn't just come from the pharm companies.
WaveWhisperer we are in the same boat. Walgreens just a few buildings away. I can get them there but the cost of the Anastrozole is so much more than Costco. Granted it's been over 2 years. Maybe I should recheck but I doubt it's the same. Costco price for 3 months started at over $50, now it's just over $40.
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The DNA case is going before the Supreme Court today - according to what I am seeing - most people can't afford the testing - it is a patent on YOUR/OUR DNA - not a drug.
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… but they discovered it. I'm not saying I love the pharm companies but right now the only way we actually get most of our new drugs and testing is by allowing them to have a patent, which is not for ever. If they lose this (and wouldn't be surprised if they do) then we might miss out on future genetic tests. We know there is more than just the BRCA genes.
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Dear C-squared, I think the general onco establishment knows that people would be scared to hire or other wise include breast cancer survivors if they knew the risks of 5 or 10 year survival or the debilitating side effects. I have such anxiety and sadness on anastrozole, yet apparently that is a rareish side effect. My blood sugar is also edging up since I have been on it (3 months). I am thinking of switching to Femara if my doc will agree, since my cholesterol is good and lowish and the side effect for femara is to increase cholesterol. I dont see any reports on blood sugar and anastrozole but I have not been looking long. I just know I was not prediabetic before chemo and now I have to be very vigilant. On Tamoxifen it was very possible to keep it in check but now its getting scary. Also, I learned that the chemo creates an imbalence in the probiotics of the intestines, and I am taking a few strains that are supposed to help blood sugar and mood, but its only been a week or two. They sure helped with the "irregularity" problem I developed in the three months I took anastrozole. God bless us one and all!
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Lago, I fully understand DRUG companies need to make a profit. However, patenting GENES because Myriad Labs discovered them? They didn't invent them; genes come from nature. So, they have a monopoly on the testing for the BRCA 1 & 2 genes and we are at their mercy. We can't even get a 2nd opinion. I don't agree with that.
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Anyone here getting Prolia shots to prevent bone loss from Anastrozole?
Anyone having dental extractions or implants? I just had a tooth pulled and 2 more will go tomorrow because my bridge broke and the teeth went with it
( but now I have to wait 6 months to get the prolia shot and Med Onc recommended no implants because of possible complications, I would have to wait 1.5 years!! Not an option...Anyone with high cholesterol taking Anastrozole?
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5luv, I am on Simvastatin for cholesterol. I am also osteopenic and diabetic. PCP doesn't eat to give me anything for the density loss yet. Even though I dropped as much in one year as I did in the last seven. Oh well i'll just deal.
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I take simvistatin and supposed to take prolia shot every 6 months. I have just been taking arimidex for about 1 month. Side effects have calmed down will have to see how bone tests and blood work go. I am 60 so lots of the aches and pains were there already.
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My PCP just gave me a script for Prolia but I am scared to take it. I am going to talk to my pharmacist about maybe taking Actonel pills either every day or once a week. The once monthly is too much of a risk if it turns out I can't take it.
I feel the twice yearly Prolia is waaay too much med at one time...what if you have a reaction...then what?
I do take Lipitor for high cholesterol as well but just the smallest dose every second day...seems to do the trick.
I am 69 and been taking Arimidex for 14 months...why, I am not sure since I am only 2% ER+
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I am taking Simvastatin 10 mg. With it my cholesterol is fine. I'll be doing blood work end of May, beginning June and then I'll find out if the AL is affecting my cholesterol. I just started a new box of AL and finally read the little booklet that comes with it. Sure enough my numb fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome are mentioned. In the meantime, i just got myself a leftpsde splint for nightime to give the wrist some rest. (I already had the right side and have been sleeping with it for the past 2 weeks or so - on top of the wrap I do for LE) Maybe it's in my mind, but I do think it helps the symptoms somewhat.
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My oncotype DX results show Estrogen score of 11.0 which is in the very high positive range; Progesterone is 7.3 which is in the middle positive range. HER2 is 9.2 which is in the middle negative range. Since SEs have not been bad yet I will move forward with the Prolia and calcium and fosomax with the Arimidex/anastrozole.
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Schoolmom my Oncotype scores are similar to yours, actually all our stats are quite similar but I'm older "65" - My Onc score is 34 so I had chemo and radiation also, other scores: Estrogen 11.3; Progesterone 9.7; Her2 9.6. I started Anastrozole April 5 and also take 1000 mg calcium and 5000 Units D; I am suppose to get the Prolia shot but now have to wait 6 months due to tooth extractions (bones need to heal totally). I had the bad tooth removed because I knew it wouldn't last for the 5 years I will/should be on the meds and Prolia. Once you get the shot you have to be cautious of dental extractions or implants. I am reading where you plan to get the shot and also use Fosomax - I think thats a NoNo - you better check.. I also have high cholesterol so who knows what I'll be on next..
Girls, keep us posted on your progress, have a good night.
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PS: I thought my Estrogen score was >90 so when I read Schoolmoms post I went and read my report - this is why we all need each other - to get our information straight...Thanks everyone
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5LuvBugs, I'm on 80 mg daily of Pravastatin for high cholesterol. I've also been on Arimidex for about a year. My MO warned me that the joint pain usually is worse for women with high cholesterol, for some reason. (I turn 65 soon!). My pain is fairly severe.
Take care.
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