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 |
| 1 | 2.2 cm T, lumpectomy, 33 rad, | I am in the agreement with others and their effects, I feel I am not well mentally or physically. Pains everywhere, weakness, tired all the time, trouble up and now stairs, sitting. Morning is my worst. Swollen hands and stiffness in hands and feet. Some days feel so blue for no reason. Tire for lack of sleeplessness. I could go on and on I guess. | I was an active 59 yr, Bike 20 miles, ski, tennis. Now I feel I can't function for lack of sleep, mood swings, just the overall aches in the body. I am considering going off of it and put in God's hands. Drug companies paint a pretty picture for marketing purposes. I worked for one for 25 yrs. and I am not impress with this drug at all. Tamoxifen may be a better choice. They 20 years of data on it and Arimidex is the new kid on the block. 7-8 yrs of data. Not enough for me with the way I feel. I did well getting through all of my chemo and radiation. I have side effect still from the Taxol in my hands and feet. I don't need more to deal with. Do the oncologists know how many of us are going through this. I wonder. I am a very positive person so this has knocked me for a loop. I do not wish to discourage others but I do wish to let them know my experience. The choice is an individual's based of taking a drug or not taking a drug. Five years of hell to hope | F | 60 | 7 weeks | 7/5/2007 | 3 | IVL | Hot flashes, night and day sweats, tireness, difficulty sleeping, constipation | I suffer from IVL - an extremely rare form of benign tumors that act malignant - and have been taking the medication for a month now. HAving had a hysteroctomy I was already expeirencing the hotflashes; they've just become more noticable. My doctor has recommended that I take caltrate and vitamin D since the drug's main side effect is osteoporosis. | F | 33 | 1 months | 7/4/2007 | 2 | breast cancer | hotflashes, night sweats, weight gain, memory loss, joint pain | F | 58 | 5 months | 7/2/2007 | 2 | Breast Cancer | The pain was incredible. I could not get up after sitting for one minute. I ached everywhere and was just miserable. I was miserably depressed and there were days that I just sat and cried. No sex drive and just not a pleasant person to be around. | I discussed my side affects with my doctor and have stopped taking the Arimidex. OMG the difference in the way I feel is amazing. I have been off the medication for almost 3 weeks and I have energy and MUCH less pain - sometimes none. I actually got up from the couch like a "normal" person. I even found myself somewhat dancing while ironing squares for a quilt. I have started listening to music again and am signing (not that good, but I enjoy it). My partner completely notices the change in my attitude and so does everyone else around me. I feel happy and am enjoying my life once more. I am suppose to start taking Tamoxifen after being off the Arimidex for 30 days, but I am not sure I am going to take anything. I am not sure the side affects on the Tamoxifen are much better. Perhaps I will take my chances with cancer - the first time around was nothing compared to the side affects of the Arimidex! It is a horrible drug and for the small percentage gained from taking i | F | 60 | 10 months | 6/29/2007 | 5 | Breast Cancer | The side effect, general achiness started about 6 months after starting arimidex. Docs nurse suggested I take 1 calcium supplement. I tried that and it worked very well. Around the 1 1/2 yr. mark, I began having alot of soreness and minor joint pain in most of my joints. What really bothered me was the neck and back pain I had every day. I thought it was maybe my mattress. Recently I discovered this site and the lady who added her rating on 1/19/2007 suggested taking omega 3. I had heard of that, so did a little internet research, and then bought some omega 3. I noticed the difference the next day. Thank goodness for sites like these. | In case there is anyone out there that does not realize, arimidex depletes your system of calcium, that's why you need to replenish it with calcium, plus Vitamin D. I asked a pharmacist about how much calcium and D was safe to take without toxic effect. I am now taking that max with my regular daily vitamin and omega 3, and feel soooooo much better. Now I just think I have the normal aches associated sometimes with my age, and the physical strain of daily living. There is an organization I used a few years ago when I was having trouble financially and needed help to pay for my trips to the doc, which at that time was about 5 hrs away from my hometown. The org is called Avon Care, and is connected witht the American Cancer Society. The email I used for contact was: [email protected]. The phone no. I used was: 201-444-6631, extension 107. The lady I dealt with was Lois Glasser, who is a super friendly and helpful person. | F | 51 | 1 years | 6/27/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer grade 3 | Headaches, headaches and more headaches that last for days. Lower back pain, night tingles. No joint pain (yet). | After being on Tamoxifen for past 5 years without too many side affects, my oncologist prescribed Arimidex.After reading everyones comments, it appears that my headaches are more prevalant than other peoples. | F | 47 | 2 months | 6/26/2007 | 2 | Breast Cancer | Severe joint pain in feet, knees, hands and hips. Constantly tired. | I completed my treatment and stopped taking this drug in December 2006 but still have the joint pains some 6 months later. No one will admit that this is a permanent side effect of the drug. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO STILL HAS JOINT PAIN AFTER STOPPING TAKING THIS DRUG? PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED. | F | 51 | 18 months | 6/25/2007 | 4 | Breast cancer | Aching legs, especially after sitting for awhile. Knee joints ache and my feet, I do feel like I am quite "old" after getting out of a chair. | I was stage 1, no nodes, lumpectomy, 4 chemos and radiation. At least I know it's not just me now. To read that others have the aching joints as I do, makes me feel better. At least now I feel it's better than the alternative of not being here! I even took on a new and more challenging job after all this and love the chance of keeping on with life! | F | 53 | 2 years | 6/23/2007 | 2 | Breast Cancer | Mainly deep depression and joint pain that was killing me. | I stopped taking the Arimidex 12 days ago and OMG can I feel the difference. I am happy and noticed that I actually got up from the couch like a normal person instead of a 90 year old 9 months pregnant woman. I have an overall better spirit and can actually move somewhat freely. Everyone around me notices that I have changed! | F | 60 | 10 months | 6/23/2007 | 1 | breast cancer | I decided not to take arimidex. Oncologist told me it was my decision. I am reducing risk factors by dietary and exercise means. I feel great, became a vegetarian, and walk and stretch, lift light weights etc. Believe me quality of life is everything to me. I wouldn't take this drug if you paid me. | F | 56 | 0 days | 6/23/2007 | 1 | stage 1 breast cancer, hormone + | Within two months severe joint stiffness, especially hands, 15 pound weight gain, and increase in blood pressure by 20 points. Beginning to think I would have to apply for disability. | Was taken off arimidex 2 weeks ago, beginning to feel slight improvement in joint stiffness, was advised to begin Femarra and see how I tolerate it | F | 60 | 4 months | 6/23/2007 | 1 | Breast cancer stage 2 | High blood pressure, nausea, difficulty urinating,achiness all over, hot flashes, severe headaches. All this within 7 days | I have nothing good to say about this drug. I feel oncologists need to be more forthcoming with their patients and let them decide if they want to risk some of the irreversible side effects of this drug. My oncologist treated me like he knows better than I do what to put into my body. I want quality of life not quantity. I don't want a Doctor looking at me and saying "I can keep you alive for years,never mind that your crippled and blind" I am being referred to another oncologist. | F | 67 | 7 days | 6/22/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer | I have aches and pains..no libdo, weight gain,, loss of concentration and one that I don't see mentioned..itching...I have been itching like crazy..I have no rash..at first they thought it was allergies..I'm being tested now..but the itching started shortly after I started taking Arimidex..I had mastectomy with no lympy node involvement..and mine was stage one. I spoke to my oncoligist and she said it would take a month for this drug to be out of my system.. I just don't think that I can continue with it..unless my allergist can treat the systems ..but I wonder what long term effects this will have...and I don't want to go Tamoxafin... | F | 59 | 2 years | 6/20/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Lack of energy, tired and fatigued all the time. Hot flashes 24/7, along with excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping. Extreme depression and modd swings, no sexual desire, plus vaginal dryness and occasional menstrual like cramps. Low motivation & inability to concentrate; along with memory loss. Excruciating pain in all my joints, my knees and ankles are the worst. Muscle weakness. At time shortness of breath and rapid heart beat with occasional dizziness. | I really thought I was going nuts, that no one could be experiencing so many side effects from a medicine, until I found this Web-Site. I would like to thank the lady who mentioned "Cymbalta". I am now taking it and it has helped with the depression. Also, I am taking TAHITIAN NONI JUICE on the recommendation of my Gynaecologist, that has changed my life. It has allowed me to get back to living and has helped to over come the pain. I highly recommend it. If you would like more information, feel free to call me at: 239-466-7286. | F | 55 | 7 months | 6/17/2007 | 2 | Stage 1 breast cancer | All bones and joints ache, hands are always swollen and it is difficult to bend them, especially in the morning when first getting out of bed. It's also hard to stand after sitting (every thing feels frozen). I'm OK after I get going, it's just hard to get started. I have found that it does help to walk as much as possible though. At first your legs feel like dead weights but loosen up after you have walked for about 15-20 minutes. Also try to keep muscles loose by stretching exercises. If I miss 1-2 days of stretching, I can hardly move. I was on Boniva for a few months but went off of it after discovering it aggravated my symptoms. I got to a point that I could hardly climb a flight of stairs. I have improved since getting off that drug. I would not recommend it. | Does anyone have a more in-depth understanding of how Arimidex vs Tamoxifen works? I know that Arimidex is an aromatose inhibitor and prevents our bodies from producing estrogen. Tamoxifen on the other hand, is supposed to block our cells from receiving estrogen. But if we ingest products containg soy which produces estrogen like hormones, I would think the Tamoxifen would be the drug of choice. I've been reading a lot of labels and I was very surprised to find the amount of products containing soy. I'm just wondering if a doctor has explained the difference to anyone. I would not want to have to switch to a different drug later on and endure another round. If I can make the 5 year mark with Arimidex, that will be a small miracle in itself. I will say, that the good Lord has got me through this far and He will see me through the rest of the way. There is always something to be learned when we go through these kind of trials. When we do learn, it somehow makes it easier to go thr | F | 53 | 4 months | 6/17/2007 | 1 | breast cancer | Awful joint pain, difficulty standing after sitting, sore throat, hot flashes and night sweats. Miserable in general. | I was on arimidex for 3 years and the side effects had really subsided but then AstraZeneca removed me from their program as I was trying to get other help with paying for the awful cost 2 months lapsed when I started back on the medication my body didn't remember I had already been on it for 3 and 1/2 years so here come all the dreaded side effects all over again. And this time around I actually think it's worse than the first time. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. After sitting and reading page after page and how bad we all feel I honestly think my arimidex is going in the trash. I had 16 months left on the 5 year program and I think I'm just going to have to trust in God that he won't let the cancer come back. If this drug makes you feel so horrible and we all know it does then what is it really doing to the rest of your body? | F | 57 | 3 years | 6/16/2007 | 2 | stage 11 breast cancer | I've only been on this for 7 days and am already experiencing body aches joint pain and nausea,sleeplessness. | I do not understand why any pharmaceutical company would recommend this drug for treatment of cancer. I'll take my chances with cancer,. The side effects couldn't be as bad as what I'm experiencing with Arimidex | F | 66 | | 6/15/2007 | 3 | breast cancer | Loads, stiff joints especially hands, wrists and kness. Depression, very poor memmory, loss of lbido, exhaustion, headaches, feel disconnected and have a fuzzy head. Cant keep up with the pace of life like i used to. Main side effect is joints, depression, and very poor memory. I tend to repaet myself and cannot retain information. until i read this site i thought i was imagining it. | Grateful for the hopefully long term gains. However, the short term effects really impact on your quality of life. | F | 47 | 4 years | 6/13/2007 | 2 | stage 2 breast caner | Sleeplessness,almost unbearable joint pain beginning in fingers and then spreading throughout my whole body in particular my back from which I have never in the past experienced pain, now can only stand for a very short time (2-3 mins) before I have to sit. Often times I need assistance to stand up from sitting. | I starting taking Arimidex in August last year after having taken Tamoxifen for 3 months and found the side affects most unpleasant. In November I noticed that my fingers were becoming stiff and painful. The oncologist said that joint discomfort was a side effect of the drug. Gradually the joint pain spread throughout all my joints and movement was becoming limited because of the pain. I discussed with my doctor and made the decision to stop taking the drug four weeks ago and advised the oncologist of my decision. He stated that he had seen women in wheelchairs as a result of the drug. My decision was based on quality of life not quantity. If the cancer returns then I will deal with it as I did last year. I retired in March 2006 and and I am hoping that I will shortly return to my previous physical condition. Some of the stiffness and pain is waning but I guess it will take a while for the drug to work it's way out. I am sorry that others are experiencing the same symptons, but thank | F | 64 | 10 months | 6/12/2007 | 3 | Stage 3B Breast Cancer | Most recently, I developed a skin condition that has several doctors stumped. Red spotty rash, mostly on the legs, with some of the larger spots developing into full blown leaking capilliaries. I am wondering if anyone else out there has this?? | As everyone else mentions, I have the weight gain, flashes and joint aches. This most recent condition, which resembles Vasculitis, has really been bothering me. | F | 52 | 2 days | 6/11/2007 |