Arimidex

Sure it is, roxy.  The half-life of Arimidex is around 2 days, so once you've been on it for awhile, the blood levels are really stable.  From what I've read, it doesn't make any difference (pharmacologically) what time of day you take it.

Maybe I should try mornings, too.  I'm taking mine at bedtime, and I have noticed that I'm not sleeping as soundly as before.

otter 

I've been on Arimidex for two years. I have always taken it in the morning, right after breakfast. But I've had sleep problems off and on the whole time. Occasionally I would take a small dose of children's liquid Benadryl, and that usually helped. Regular Benadryl was way too much. I didn't have much joint pain until about 6 months ago, and it's not constant, not horrible. But it was starting to bother me at night sometimes also. So now I'm taking a Tylenol PM (which has a small amount of Benadryl) when I go to bed and it really works for me - both the aches and the sleep problems.

Twenty months here on Arimidex.  I take mine in the morning and don't have problems with sleep, Advil PM is my buddy.  Muscle and joint aches are doable, heck I'm 57 so I am used to aches and pains. LOL

ARIMIDEX Offers Women Greater Protection Against HR+ Early Breast Cancer Returning In The 1st 2 Yrs

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142178.php

Hey, I was on tamoxifen for 3 1/2 yrs.  I started having uterine problems with a lot of bleeding and a polyp.  I had severe hot flashes and mood swings for the first yr. and after that everything went really well, until the uterine problems.  My oncologist switched me to Arimidex this past Nov. and I finally had to quit taking it a couple of weeks ago.  My joints ached horribly.  I had to sit with a heating pad almost all the time.  I stayed so tired that I could hardly function.  In fact, I would wake up as tired as I was when I went to bed.  I had been used to going to the gym 4 to 5 times a week, and I was doing great to get there twice a week.  I'm 54 and felt like I was 70. My mother is 77 and has a lot of health issues and she felt better than I did.  My whole family noticed that I just wasn't myself and became worried about me.  So, I've been off the Arimidex a couple of weeks and already feel better.  I go back to my oncologist April 22 to be re-evaluated.  Hopefully, I can go back on the tamoxifen to finish my 5 yr. treatment program.  This was just my experience,  I know that it won't affect everyone like it did me.  Best wishes..I hope you do great on it.

I take mine at night and usually sleep OK. I was told that some women get nausea when they take it so at night I would sleep through it. I have some hot flashes (darn, I was already finished with that) and some joint pain. It is doable so far. I started on Jan 1/09

I just wanted to post my experience this last week with 2nd and 3rd opinions

I was always under the impression that the AI's and Tamox. gave us a huge benefit from possible reocurrance. I had been on Arimidex for 4 1/2 months and I started to have much hip pain, finally figured out it originates in low back lumbar. The Onc's I see 2 of the best in the SW one for TX, and one for the bisphos trial. Both stated they were not worried about bone mets as I was still on Herceptin stage 1, no nodes, blah blah blah. So they said stop the Arimidex and lets see how you do. After a week still no relief, one ONC states it takes 3 - 4 weeks for SE's to subside once stopping the other said I should have had relief. They finally did an xray and shows degeneration of Lumbar sacral joints. ( did not have this on original ct) this could be from many things. I had an MRI on Friday still waiting for results.

To make long story short I sought a third opinion about AI's and they all agreed that they don't know how they affect the body long term, and that in reality they only give a 2-5% benefit against reocurrance. I asked again if that meant BC's with low estrogen receptors and he stated no all estrogen positive BC.

2 out of 3 agreed that I should not try Tamoxifen as I am Her2 positive and it is not as effective for Her 2 gals. I am still pursuing all of this info as my Stepmom had stage 3 cancer 14 years ago and was on tamox for 7 years then AI's just quit this year and has been cancer free. My Aunt was on Tamox. for 5 years, she ended it after 5 year stint and had reocurranc within year of stopping.

Just no easy answers!!

Hi everyone,  I'm new here, but seem to be an "old" Arimidex user compared to many of you.  I started it 3 years and 7 months ago!  I've always taken it in the morning and don't have much sleep disruption.  The good news is that over time the joint pain has pretty much gone away.  What really helped was to start walking more.  At first it seemed impossible b/c it hurt to even walk out of bed in the morning, but it really did get better.  I've had a little bit of an issue with edema - not much but more than before the med.  Heart checked out OK, so who knows....

I'm glad I found you all -

Hi Roxy,

I'm taking Arimidex for 3 years 4 months....always in the morning.  I find that magnesium (pidolate) just before bedtime helps me to sleep relatively well until morning.  I don't take it every night.  It helps muscles to relax so the aches and pains don't disturb me as much.   When I was able to exercise more, I found that too helped me to sleep.

Best wishes always, 

mmm,

why did the onc tell you that tamox is no good for HER2+ women? I have this and was put on Tamox. 

Elizabeth - I had to go off Arimidex as well - tooo much pain all over.  I've been on Armasin for two weeks...pain's not as bad...yet.  And, I think the hot flashes have calmed down, only have a couple a day.

Good to hear from you again.

Susan

Elizabeth - I understand.  I actually spend most of my time in the old ladies forum, where we discuss such things as our belly fat and flatulence! problems!  It hardly seems like a bc forum most of the time. 

I'll be interested to hear your experience with tamox, too.

Susan

Been on Arimidex for three years and three months the 26th of this month..but whos counting? I take it every morning..still have sleep problems, have since the start. bone pain comes and goes, mostly when I sit for a while..fine while moving. many other SE..but am lucky to have a pill to take!  The bone loss is the worst but am starting zometa soom..I am counting the days till I can stop. Good luck with the sleeping, if it gets to be a problem see your Dr and ask for help. I did. I think you can take almost anything except loss of sleep..it wears you down..there are a lot of choices out there so again..check with your Dr..hugsss Sandi

Hi, Annamaria,

I was very happy with my Oncotype of 17, and my oncologist, who had been pushing chemo (due to tumor size and grade) completely backed off of chemo after getting my Oncotype score. So, I feel very confident that I would have benefited very little, if any, from chemo.

So far, I'm doing all right on Arimidex. I have hot flashes, but no serious bone or joint pain, and I generally feel just fine. I, too, am concerned about the long-term effects of osteoporosis. That's great that you exercise so much. I'm not sure whether exercise helps maintain bone strength when taking Arimidex, but most women on Arimidex say that exercise helps with the side effects of stiffness and joint pain.

Tricia

Bluejay

Both Onc's stated that Tamox may not be as effective for Her2 and One even went as far to say that Tamox had some studies that may speed up the process with the Her2 receptors, I have an appt with Head ONC in AZ at U of A he is nationally respected to dicuss in 3 weeks.