Topic: Life on aromasin

May 31, 2012 04:07PM dogsandjogs wrote:

Just found this - am interested due to my severe osteoporosis. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241240.php#top

May 31, 2012 10:42PM MaryNY wrote:

I've only been Aromasin for a week and a half. Two nights recently I've woken up during the night to go to the bathroom and as soon as I moved got the most awful cramp in my lower right leg. I've occasionally gotten cramps in the foot but nothing as painful as these which feel as though they are deep inside the leg muscles. Are cramps a known side effect of Aromasin? Is so, what remedy is there, if any?

Jun 1, 2012 11:19AM dogsandjogs wrote:

My fingers sometimes cramp up when I'm typing or they "freeze" in a curled position and I have to use the other hand to straighten them!  Very odd. Calf cramps occur on and off. Did not have this before being on Aromasin, but since going off the drug I still have the cramps so not sure if Aromasin is to blame..  I think there can be many causes of cramps. 

Jun 1, 2012 05:17PM MaryNY wrote:

I will start eating a banana a day to see if it helps with the cramps.

Dogsandjogs, I see you started a thread back in February on Aromasin and potassium but got no responses. Your fingers cramping up when typing sounds painful. I would hate for that to start happening. 

Jun 1, 2012 08:03PM proudtospin wrote:

I am on aromasin and yeap, cramps big time in legs at night and also in feet when I swim

but if I eat  banana, no cramps.

nurse at my PCD office said there is something about the banana that the potassium goes right to where it should!

got sick of bananas so now making a smoothie with them

Jun 3, 2012 12:00AM stephN wrote:

I started aromasin about a month ago after the side effects of Femara got to be too much.  So far so good.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I do have hot flashes, but I think I would have those anyway since I had my ovaries out in Dec.

Jun 5, 2012 07:53PM - edited Jun 5, 2012 07:54PM by MaryNY

lulubee: I thought you were on Aromasin for some time but looked and see you've only been on it for two weeks (same as me). Are you sure the insomnia is from the Aromasin? I'm just hoping I don't get this side effect. Wondering if the sleeplessness typically strikes this soon.

Jun 5, 2012 11:12PM MaryNY wrote:

Lulubee: Yes, I did notice that you said you took it twice. But I figured that if a double dose kept you awake all night that even a single dose must have some effect on sleep. I've been taking Aromasin at night too as someone up above said it was working better for her that way -- I think less bothersome hot flashes. What I like about Aromasin vs Tamoxifen is the size of the pill. I was taking my 20mg of Tamoxifen as a split dose, 10mg in the morning and 10mg in the evening. At least that was the way it was supposed to be but I often forgot to take one dose and then would need to take the two tablets together the next time around. The tiny little Aromasin tablet is so much easier to take and somehow so far I haven't forgotten to take it as now I only have to remember once a day.

I hope you can get a good night's sleep tonight. 

Jun 6, 2012 11:03AM lulubee wrote:

Mybee, I hear ya... I had one daughter who kept me awake round the clock as a baby, but I never lost one night of sleep over her as a teenager.  The other daughter slept beautifully as a baby, but kept me awake many nights all through her teens.  You catch it on one end or the other, if not both!

Jun 6, 2012 11:47AM mybee333 wrote:

The problem is it's difficult, once started, to stick to that one 5 oz. glass.  Also - I was told no more than a couple a week by my prev. BC team.

Jun 6, 2012 12:37PM dogsandjogs wrote:

I have a constant craving for sugar. Even after stopping Aromasin, I still crave it like crazy and ca't seem to lose the weight I gained despite jogging daily. I just joined a very intense exercise class which includes power-walking while doing arm exercises with weights, sit-ups, push-ups, stomach work etc.  Hope this will work.

Jun 7, 2012 01:33AM fondak wrote:

I keep a thermal cup with ice water by my bed at night and wake up around 3 times during on average with a very dry mouth.  It's not that I'm thirsty it's just the dry mouth.   I have did that with chemo too. 

Also, I dream a lot on aromasin. 

As for joint pain, it's the other problem I've have with aromasin.  My knees, hands, neck, and back all feel like they belong to a very old me.

I had to stop for two weeks with my recent ooph/hysterectomy and after about 5 days I felt so much better with sleep, energy and my joints.  I told the oncologist and she told me that my fatique was most likely from just finishing radiation and the joint pain should be much better after 6 weeks.  If not, she said she would change to something else.

It's strange to go through a surgery like that and feel so much better shortly after than you did the week before the surgery. 

Hopefully I will adjust.

Jun 7, 2012 09:44AM rgiuff wrote:

 I also just started aromasin on June 3.  I took a 4 month break after stopping 3 years of tamoxifen in Feb.  I really don't feel that strongly about taking this medication with my Stage 1 diagnosis, but I told my Oncologist I'd at least try it, so I feel obligated to follow through. 

On tamoxifen, I found that my mouth was often dry and that side effect did finally seem to go away after stopping.  Funny thing is, my hot flashes got worse after stopping it.  I finally got to the point with a little help from black cohosh, where they became minimal again.  Now that I've started the aromasin, I am noticing just a few slightly more intense ones at certain times of the day only.  I also am already noticing a drier vaginal area.  And I've had a rough time the past few nights with falling asleep.  I've had chronic problems since going through menopause with staying asleep, but never really with falling asleep, except when I used some testosterone gel for libido problems. Now I'm also getting that wired feeling again, so it's interesting to think that maybe it's the steroidal nature of aromasin that could be the problem.  I'm open for suggestions about what time of day is best to take it to avoid that problem, because if this becomes chronic, it will be a reason for me to quit.  My sleep is important! 

 I'm also wondering if whatever effects I'm feeling already will get more intense with time, as it's only been 4 doses I've had so far.  Not sure how long it takes to really kick in, but I think it's a lot sooner than tamoxifen.

Jun 7, 2012 11:29AM mybee333 wrote:

Interesting dreams.  All with themes of being left behind or finding things inaccessible.  Being left.

rgiuff- I could not fall asleep with the Aromasin. At the nurse's suggestion i take it the instant before I turn off the light.  It helps usually.  Last night I did have some trouble falling asleep. testosterone can make you feel wired. I've wondered about an increase in it, at least temporarily as there is so little estrogen left. My night sweats have improved with time.  I have been taking it about two months.

Jun 7, 2012 03:59PM dogsandjogs wrote:

Kathy that is wonderful!  And you haven't had any bone loss?