ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ARIMIDEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 |
More on ARIMIDEX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | BC Stage 2 med.grade/mastectomy | increased hot flashes, some achy joints, diarrhea and cramping, and very fatigued but I can live with that compared to the thought of having BC again. God Bless all of you. | Will stay with it for the 5 years. Do not want to have cancer again. | F | 56 | 2 months | 3/13/2008 | 3 | Breast cancer stage 2 no node affe | Joint pain worst in hands, fingers and thumbs. But also in knees and feet. Have had severe carpal Tunnel develope over the past 2 years. had surgery on right hand and will have surgery on left hand in May. Numbness gone from right hand but stiffness and pain continue. Poor sleeping. Poor memory. Exercise difficult. | I was diagnosed on September 2004. I had a lumpectomy and 18 lymph nodes removed which were all clear. I then had radiotherapy but no chemo. I am very happy that this drug will most likely prevent further breast cancer but find the side effects debilitating and am concerned about how much worse these symptoms will become over the next 2 years and whether I will have permanent pain and incapacitation. | F | 55 | 3 days | 3/13/2008 | 5 | invasive lobular, stage 1, grade 1 | Every single one! Struggle with short term memory loss and no one else mentioned it but hearing loss. Don't know if it's related? Still working, Aggression, bitchy, depression almost got myself fired! Exercise helps greatly. | I have been on Arimidex for just over 2 months to shrink tumor prior to surgery. 1st month check up tumor shrank significantly. I'll deal with the symptoms to have this level of progress. Per oncologist I will take this for 5 more years post lumpectomy and radiation. No one knows long term effects of this drug. I started Yoga as well, helps me mentally. Ongoing struggles, loss of libido, fatigue, aggression, depression(offset with exercise)but most people wouldn't know I hide it pretty well. Normally zesty outging, hibernating more now but I will get through this. Moving to a warmer, sunnier climate. I refuse to put my life on hold because of a stupid tumor! Bless you all for your challenges and information. | F | 64 | 2 months | 3/8/2008 | 4 | 2 x survivor breast cancer st 1 | trigger fingers, joint and muscle aches, water retention, hot flashes that have subsided greatly. | This website has been a God send.....thought I was going nuts or that the cancer was back with all the aches and pains. I see the oncologist this week and am printing some pages for him to read. Since this is my second time (10 year interval) with cancer I know I need to take something to prevent it's return. | F | 59 | 16 months | 3/8/2008 | 1 | Breast cancer | Extreme fatigue to the point of feeling like a zombie. Massive weight gain Skin aging over night Headaches Depression Hair loss - a lot | Yesterday I decided I could not live like this and stopped taking Arimidex. I have been taking it for past 6 months. Today I am hopeful that I will begin to enjoy what is left of my life (I am 75) This is one horrible drug. I do not wish it on anyone. Could barely drag myself about the house daily. I think the last straw was the almost overnight baldness. I had to figure that if this drug was doing all this to my body - that I could see - what in the world was it doing to my insides that I could NOT see. Forty years ago I was on Stilbestol and then they found that caused cancer and it was pulled from the market. For my heart attack I was on Baycol for two years before it too was taken off the market as it was found to cause too many deaths. I am not waiting to see what they find out 10 years from now about Arimidex.. What it was doing to me right now was more than enough. | F | 75 | 6 months | 3/5/2008 | 1 | Breast cancer, stage 1A ,1 node | Have not experienced any yet, as I have been researching before taking this medicine. It sounds, from your comments, as if the debilitating effects of this medicine are irreversible. Took Tamoxifen for a year, until the weight gain seemed to offset the benefits. If belly fat is a definite contributor to re-occurence,(because it is the best place for the body to store estrogen), then it would be logical that a medicine causing weight gain, especially around the middle contributes to the problem. | I'm really torn about this issue. I understand that doctors prescribe medications that they believe really work, and that they believe loss of life is a greater threat than loss of quality of life. And I don't understand why they don't also stress the value of eating things that reduce estrogen in your body. Arimadex and similar drugs are aromatase inhibitors. If you search natural aromatase inhibitors, you'll find that there are many foods that provide these naturally. I don't mean to sound like a total health food nut, but I think that losing weight and eating healthy can do as much as a prescibed drug. And you'll have the energy to walk and exercise, and do all the physical work necessary to staying healthy.I've given up beef totally, because of the direct connection with breast cancer ( apparently they pump the cattle with hormones to make the meat softer). I am in my fourth year of good health, just had a clear mamm and have added another exercise class to my regimen. I may be wr | F | 60 | 0 days | 3/4/2008 | 1 | breast CA Stage III a, bilat mast | severe joint pain, stiffness, swelling; difficulty moving, walking; hot flashes/sweats | After my last dose of Taxotere, I had severe joint pains in my hips, knees, and feet; could hardly move or walk. Those symptoms never went away. Started Arimidex about 4 wks after finishing Taxotere and am still having severe pain. First thing in the morning, can hardly get out of bed my hips, knees, and feet hurt so bad and I can't even close my hands -- they hurt and are stiff and swollen. It's been two months and I'm miserable. Can't take NSAIDS because of GERD -- have taken them a few times with no relief anyway. Don't know if it's worth it to be this miserable; I'm working and this is awful. Five years of misery is a long time -- thinking about just taking my chances with the cancer. | F | 52 | 2 months | 3/4/2008 | 4 | BC, Stage 2A, Mastectomy, Chemo | Slight occasional bone pain in different places, primarily hips and ankles; tingling and cramps in feet; lessened mental and physical energy. | Feel the "jury is out" regarding the ratings, but I'm celebrating being in my last of 5 years on this drug. Really can't complain about the side effects because I feel the hope of less chance of recurrence outweighs the discomfort. | F | 67 | 4 years | 3/2/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | so many side effects-it is a quality of life issue. When one is in soooooo much pain; you keep asking yourself if it is worth it.I have terrible heel pain-have been going to the podiatrist for 2 months on a weekly basis. I am now going to an orthopedist starting next week. Trigger finger just started today in left hand. Pins and needles in right hand-just started today. Hot flashes-can be tolerated. Shin pain lasted for 2 weeks then left-thank God. | F | 55 | 3 months | 2/29/2008 | 3 | breast cancer stage 1 (2nd time) | I only rated Arimidex with a 3 because it is in the middle (being neutral) since I have only been taking this pill 4 days. I have not experienced any side effects at this time since I have only been on Arimidex for 4 days. I walk everyday. I have been walking for many years so I am hoping that this will be an advantage for me. | If anyone has any problems with thier bone density or any other problems with their bones due to taking Arimidex please e-mail my niece and let her know. I am worried about this. I am looking for reassurance that I should continue taking this pill instead of just taking the radiation treatments. This is my second time having breat cancer. | F | 74 | 4 days | 2/25/2008 | 2 | breast cancer | hot flashes, thinning bones, stiffness in morning, mood swings, poor sleeping, achy joints | After 2.5 years on tamoxifin, I was switched to arimidex. After 2. 3 years on it, I took myself off. I feel much better--most of the symptoms disappeared within a week. Some of the permanent ones--osteopenia, I will have to live with. | M | 55 | 750 days | 2/23/2008 | 2 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer | achy joints, nausea and very sore throat. My hands swell and are painful. All of this started only thirty days ago when I started Arimidex. I complained and now I have major pain meds and sleeping pills and my blood pressure medication was increased. I see the doctor tuesday and will discuss whether the side effects get better or maybe I should opt for quality of life. | F | 64 | 35 days | 2/22/2008 | 2 | Right breast Cancer / chemo/rd | extrime joint pain/ pain in arms and legs Very difficult walking I have a physical disability (CP) so walking was difficult to begin with but it takes me at least 10 minutes to get balance to walk. Weight gain and difficulty with sleep. No sex drive and painful intercourse. I have had to go on disability because of lack of ability to move and serve pain. Pain has been worse as time has passed | I do not want to continue this med but I do not want the cancer back either. I walk with a limp and a wiggle and now that is very difficult. The muscle pain in my legs are worse I do not know what effect this drug has a person with cerberal palsy | F | 57 | 9 months | 2/21/2008 | 5 | advanced b/c | creaky movement, particularly in the morning. joint pain, which seems to have diminished with time. blood pressure readings have increased slightly (i.e., formerly 100 over 65, now 120 over 69 or so...) | F | 48 | 240 days | 2/20/2008 | 4 | breast cancer 7/06 | Joint pain, muscle pain and blood pressure starting to elevate, cholesteral up a bit. I began taking extra clacium at the start as my doctor and I agreed, also taking triple strength glucosamine sulfate and it took a few months but it has eased the pain to a tolerable level. | I was very lucky tumor 5mm and no where else. I will try to continue this medicine for the 5 years so far 1.5 years | F | 58 | 1.5 years | 2/12/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | pain in the bottom of my feet, joint pain especially in my hip, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, feel like an old woman, have difficulty standing up after sitting, even for just a few minutes | I mentioned these symptoms to my doctor but he never indicated that they could be caused by Arimidex. After reading comments on this site I feel like I'm not crazy! I am going to stop taking this drug immediately and see if I can go back on Tamoxifen. Since I'm not postmenapousal, I have been getting a monthly injection so that I could take Arimidex. Now I won't need to get the injections! (they hurt!) | F | 48 | 18 months | 2/12/2008 | 3 | BC,stg 2 lumpectomy chemo/rad | I am stiff, achy lower back, knees, ankle, thumbs/wrist, stiff neck and symptoms seem to be on a rotation. I have erratic sleep avg 6 hrs a night with a daytime nap that can range from 15 min to 2 hrs. I use to sleep 8-9 solid. Dont know about weight gain since i am overweight already. Stiffness is my worst inconvenience and inability to walk long distances. Feel old. | Dr put me on a multi vitamin, 800units of vita E, & calcium when i started arimidex. I also began a strict regimen of exercise, swimming 30 min of laps, mon thru fri, lifting weights and walking a treadmill 2x a week (1.5mph)for 30 min or until a pain manifests itself. I never do 30 min of walking, usually 15 - 20 min and I cant go much faster or it is hell to pay in a joint somewhere. Swimming is painfree and I do it religiously, sometimes 5x/wk. Only god knows what I'd feel like if I wasn't doing this exercise. I weigh 270lbs so I am no exercise freak! I am devout in monitoring food intake but with no outstanding weight loss. I am approaching my 5 yr anniv from lumpectomy and 4+ years of my post cancer regimen. I take my pills every night. Never have missed. So far no recurrence. I got blood clots, herpes and shingles during chemo so it was halted early. Therefore I feel compelled to do this exercise/med routine as it is the singular fight-back force in my control. Arimidex is t | F | 60 | 4 years | 2/7/2008 | 2 | BC Stage I | A return of hot flashes and night sweats. Lethargy; always tired; pain everywhere. Can't stand for more than a few minutes without severe lower back pain. All joints hurt constantly, especially hips, knees and wrists/fingers. Muscle cramps not only in the calves but in my toes and along the side of my foot; also in my fingers and across my back. And I get this terrific pain under my arm that goes right into my affected breast along the incision line. It feels just like a muscle cramp and comes on so strong and hard it takes my breath away. Doctors have no sympathy; just take more drugs to treat the symptoms. I am considering telling my doctor at my next appointment that I am going to stop taking it. I feel older than Methusela! | F | 61 | 2 years | 2/6/2008 | 3 | bc | my hands tingle quite often especially at night. i have moderate to severe pain in my left wrist and fingers. i feel a little down. this is much better than femara. femara was awful, if felt like i had arthritis and i hurt all the time. i excerise everyday and nothing else really hurts | F | 47 | 3 months | 2/4/2008 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage III b | I have constant pain and stiffness in my feet and can't walk right away in the morning. My hair is about 80% thinner, I have swollen feet and ankles and no sex drive. The latest is extremely high blood pressure and heart palpitations. | I found this site yesterday and stopped taking Arimidex this morning. I was on Tamoxifen for 9 years and had few problems other than severe foot pain. I have been on Arimidex for almost 5 years and see no reason to continue. My side effects and pain have increased dramatically in the last 6 months and the high blood pressure and weight gain are really scaring me. My doctor thought I had lupus, but the rheumatologist he sent me to immediately asked if I was taking Arimidex. My symptoms didn't quite match lupus, but definitely match all your comments. I wish I knew this sooner. I feel like 80 years old. I am now borderline diabetic. | F | 57 | 5 days | 2/1/2008 |