For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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I told both my MO and PCP that prunes were the reason my DEXA now shows I'm back "up" to osteopenia from the osteoporosis the Arimidex threw me in to, and neither of them told me I was crazy...always a good sign I think. Of course, the MO probably thinks it was the Prolia he had me on, but I believe otherwise!
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Thanks to both ruthbru and lago for the answers regarding prunes. I'm getting started on them and hoping for great results.
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I have been eating prunes too. I usually eat 6 a day. I was off Arimidex about a month, I just started back up Sunday. I needed a break. Hoping this time around I tolerate it a little better.
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I need prunes. But I am prone to the big D. (Still) anyone have issues with that many prunes a day?
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Moonflwr912 prunes make me bloated and gassy. I'm slowly trying to do it but I may not be able to.
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Would spreading them out throughout the day help at all?
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That's what I'm trying to do. I don't think I could eat 8-9 prunes at once anyway.
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I wonder if there's any difference eating them stewed (and hence really well hydrated) versus straight out of the package? I like them both ways, but I wonder if one is more easily tolerated.
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I suppose I could try a bit every day to see.
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Prunes really spike by blood sugar.
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I am getting ready to switch from tamoxifen to arimidex. I just had a hysterectomy taking my ovaries due to the SE of tamoxifen. I was only on the tamoxifen for about 6 months and had alot of changes in my uterus. So my gyno onco decided this was best option. So now I am worried about what the arimidex is going to cause problems with. I really didnt think the issues with tamoxifen would have been that bad but I havent got the best luck or odds with all this bc crap! Ugh!! Is it better to take in the morning or afternoon, with or without food? ((((((hugs))))))
Robin
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I could not stop crying on Arrimidex. I am not a crier so it was very strange. The minute I went into the drs office and teared up, she told me "it's the Arrimidex" and wrote a script for anti-depressants. I didnm't take them but switched to Aromasin.
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Timbuktu, other than the crying, any other differences between Arimdex and Aromasin??? I've been off Arimidex for four weeks, at MO's suggestion, to see whether I got relief from my joint painand stiffness. My option is to switch to Aromasin. Tomorrow's the day I' m supposed to decide and switch or stay on Arimidex. I have both pills with me. My joint pain is a little better, but not the relief I had expected or wanted. I'm a little worried about new SE with Aromasin...
What has your experience been?
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gonzard222 I've been on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) for 2+ years now. Other than a little stiffness I'm fine. My onc started me on that right away instead of putting my on Tamoxifen. A friend of mine went from Tamoxifen to Anastrozole. She said the Anastrozole was much better. Much fewer hot flashes. I found the 2nd year the stiffness was much much less than the first year.
Don't assume the worst. Most women do fairly well on Arimidex. If the SE are severe they will switch you to one of the others.
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The Arrimidex caused a lot of joint pain with me. My hands were like claws. I had trigger fingers.
Most of it disappeared when I went off. The Aromisin was a relief at first. Then my legs were in such pain I could barely walk. I went off of it for two months and now I'm going back on the Arrimidex. My onco tells me that some people have to get through the 5 years this way, taking vacations and switching meds over and over again.
My Sloan onco suggested Tamoxifin. I'm afraid of it because there are strokes in my family, it doesn't work as well as the AI's and can cause uterine cancer. My local onco said he didn't like Tamoxifin for me.
The Ai's are really new meds. I don't think they know what the long term effects will be. But I want to do what I can to prevent recurrence. Good luck!
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All these drugs are confusing. Now my MO says I shouldn't be on Tamoxifen and should be on Arimidex. I really have no SE'S on Tamoxifen maybe because I'm menopause since 10'2010. I'm more afraid of Arimidex because that drug removes Estrogen from my entire body and Tamoxifen only stops it in the breasts. I'm waiting for my blood test results, to determine what to do. I'm 51 and already have osteopenia in my left hip and degenerative disc disease in my back with 2 bulging discs, I don't need anymore pain...UGH.
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LorAll,
Once you are post-menopausal, your ovaries are essentially no longer making estrogen, and only a little bit of estrogen is synthesized in your body by an enzyme called aromatase. It makes sense to switch from tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor (AI), such as anastrozole. This is because an AI, unlike tamoxifen, will block the ability of aromatase to synthesize any additional estrogen. Tamoxifen prevents estrogen from binding to the estrogen receptors in your cells, and if you have so little estrogen in your body, it is more efficient to use an AI to knock out estrogen production rather than block estrogen binding.
By the way, the tamoxifen was not only protecting cells in your breasts from the effects of estrogen, it was protecting all cells in your body from the effects of estrogen. An AI will continue to do this by preventing your body from making any more estrogen.
If you have osteopenia, you should do all you can to improve your bones. Take Vitamin D, eat lots of green leafy veggies and yogurt, and do some weight bearing exercise. Maybe your doctor can advise on exercises that you can do with you hip and back problems.
Feel better.
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I can't recall how Tamoxifin works but i do know it can cause uterine cancer and that is a result of more estrogen, isn't it? I think Tamoxifin binds with estrogen somehow while Ai's prevent estrogen from forming. If Tamoxifin protects all of the cells in the body from estrogen then why would it increase uterine cancer and I think it also helps strengthen bones, which also requires estrogen. Sorry my mind is so fuzzy on this...chemo brain?
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Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM). It is structurally similar to the estrogen molecule and binds to the estrogen receptor. At a high enough dose (the dose given clinically) it essentially prevents estrogen from docking with the ER, thus preventing estrogen-triggered events in the cell, in particular preventing cell growth and division of ER-positive breast cancer cells that might still be in your body. The relationship between tamoxifen and increased uterine cancer is that tamoxifen can have an estrogen-like effect on epithelial cells in the uterus; driving cell growth and division rather than blocking it.
AIs do not have an associated risk of uterine cancer.
Estrogen does strengthen bones. Precisely one of the reasons that as we age and our estrogen decreases naturally through menopause, our bone density begins to decline and we need to be careful of fractures. Unfortunately, we breast cancer survivors with ER-positive cancers need to accept a bit more risk of fracture as a trade off for preventing a recurrence of the cancer.
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LorAll I was osteopenic at age 49 before I even started chemo and went into chemopause. Of course I dropped that first year with the combo of chemo and chemopause. But since then my bone density has been stable and still osteopenic. I do exercise 6-7 days a week. Studies have shown that eating 8-9 prunes a day can build bone. I need to try to do that again but prunes make me bloated & gassy. BUT there are bone building drugs to give you if there is a problem. I was actually more scared of Tamoxifen since there is a family history of blood clots (a SE of Tamox) as well as some of the uterine issues. Ever drug has SE. To me the bone thing can be controlled a lot better than some of the SE of Tamox if you get them.
I don't believe Tamox strengthen bones I believe because it doesn't remove the estrogen from your system it doesn't effect your bones in a negative way that the AIs do.
So if you are on an AI exercise at least 30 minutes a day and eat 8-9 prunes. Stay away from diet soda and smoking. It eats your bones
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Gonzard, I was on Tamoxifen for almost a year before the appearence of a few, new, small bone mets. My onc. then switched me to Arimidex and Faslodex. I was so afraid to switch as others in a support group I attend had many problems with Arimidex. I found the side effects to be much lighter than those I was dealing with on Tamoxifen. Less hot flashes, less leg cramps, and "bonus" I sleep a lot better at night. I take it on an empty stomach before bed. I do walk 5 days a week and use a stationary bike on the weekend to keep everything moving. I feel that it helps keep away the joint pain some experience. Good luck with your switch.
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Phillybird...Thanks for the info. I know the nurse navigator told me that estrogen is also produced by the adrenal glands. Does anastrozole take care of that estrogen too.?? Right now I ride an exercise bike that has moveable bars for arm exercise while pedaling, helps alittle. I know I need to start lifting some weight. I'm 5'9 167lbs, probably should lose about 17lbs. I take motrin for my back and leg pain. Thanks for your concern.
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lago---I have aneurysms in my family, my dad and his brother aortic aneurysms and their grandmother brain aneurysm. I was alittle worried about taking Tamoxifen also. So far no problem, but I think I will be starting Arimidex (generic) on June 12th if I can find out how much it will cost me. I don't have prescription coverage. Where do you ladies buy yours???
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LorAll it is actually cheaper for me to purchase my Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) through Costco than to go through my insurance because I have to meet the yearly deductible first. I pay under $44 for 3 month supply. I order the Teva brand (from Israel not India). They have the India stuff in stock but I feel safer not using an company from India… more open to scams there IMO.
I recently did see something about Costco being the cheapest place to buy generics. Not sure of the price at Walmart. You'll need to check with your local Costco because the prices will differ from state to state.
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I also was afraid to take arimidex because of se and also the cost of it,.. but was pleasantly surprised at the cost.. I do have insurance and drug coverage but a 90 day supply cost me $15.47! as I have said before that made it alot easier to swallow. And so far I have had no side effects but it has only been one month.
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Lago and Chickydee!! Thanks so much for the info. I didnt expect to have such problems so soon after starting the Tamoxifen. I really didnt want to take the tamo but kept being told that was my only option. Now that I have my ovaries removed I think the arimidex sounds better for me. Although I guess I am still nervous about having to take anything. Hope yall have a great weekend!! ((((hugs)))))
Thanks,
Robin
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As I understand it, the AI drugs keep the adrenal glands from converting testosterone (yup, we girls have that, too) into estrogen. Body fat also produces some estrogen, so getting rid of excess body fat also helps in this battle. (Personally, I am making excruciatingly slow progress on the weight loss, but at least it's creeping downward instead of upward!)
I've done well with about the first 4 or 5 months on anastrozole, but I'm now dealing with a lot of fatigue, which may (or may not) be a side effect. It doesn't help that I broke a bone in my foot and have been advised not to exercise while it's healing.... I'll see my MO in 2 weeks for my quarterly check-in, so I'll discuss it with her at that point.
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Wavewhisperer, I was on arimidex for about 6 mo, then off for 2, and then onto aromasin now for 6 months. I went off arimidex for eye SEs which returned, but are managed now. When on arimidex, my pain was mainly in my hands. It was getting bad enough to start causing serious problems, some neurological. All went away on the break between drugs. On aromasin, I've mostly had pain in the large joints of the ankles and knees. My hands have mostly been spared. Right now any pain is completely controlled by a dose or two or aspirin a day. I'm experimenting with going gluten free and I think this has helped too.
I think switching amongst the AIs is a good idea. If we have to live with pain, we can choose our own bitter pill. For me I'd rather have ankle and knee pain than in my hands, so even if it wasn't well controlled, I'd choose aromasin over arimidex. Someone else might prefer to live with hand pain over the other and make a different choice.
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Doxie, my SE's are exactly like yours. I think I prefer being able to walk! Just re-starteded the Arrimidex. I'll see how I feel in 3 months!
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I had a host of SEs with all of the AI's. But yes - one of them was ever increasing ankle and foot pain. I felt like I was truly disabled. I got up out of a chair after an hour once last month and almost fell down because I was so stiff particularly in my lower extremities, esp. my feet. People moved to catch me. I have been following this thread and based on the discussion have decided to try Tamoxifen. I took a pill last night. I did try it once for two days and did not sleep for one entire night so we'll see how it goes. I'm hoping I can tolerate it. I have had a total of 13 mos. on AIs over about 1 1/2 yrs. I have tried all three = 4 attempts in total. I have had a full hysterectomy so Tamox. is not the drug of choice but perhaps will be better than nothing, at least until I can get farther out.
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