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 | 0-1 Breast Cancer | Lobular Cancer R/Breast 0.4cm. 53% positive Estrogen Receptor from the hormone patch, due to a complete hysterectomy 36% Progestrone Her-2 Neg, KI-67 growth rate 3%. No Brac1 or Brac2 Gene. So the reason I am commenting is I feel in my option that I only had a 7% of bc returning in 5-10 years without Arimidex and 6% taking it. For only 1% drop and the awful side effects it has I wasn't will to take my quality of life and toss it down the toilet. I have been taking lots of vitamins, including Cucumin, Restivol, K-12, B-17, 50,000 units V-D2 and D3 and the list continues. I would rather do it that way then use these posionous drugs. I had a lumectomy also and a double mastectomy due to I had A-typia in both breast. Node Negative for meststatic cancer also. No chemo no radiation. I have been blessed and I am grateful that it could have been worse. I feel awful for all you women out there that have to continue the use of this drug or any other. I am going to keep on the homopathy. | F | 53 | 0 days 0 mg 1X day | 6/15/2015 | 4 | breast cancer stage 1 | no major side effects. however the only thing i want to do on the weekend is absolutely nothing. i looked at this site to see if this might be connected. i planned on going zip lining today, but watched TV instead. just went to the onocologist last week, she is very interested in every pain i have - any given pain goes away. then i have another pain that pops up somewhere else. thinking about talking to my doctor about antidepressents. overall - my chance of getting cancer again was 40% now it's 4%. just need to find some zip in my life. i work full time (+) in a stressful job. that might be the reason for fatigue and normal aches and pains | F | 58 | 18 months 1 mg 1X day | 6/13/2015 | 1 | Breast Cancer Stage 1B | I only took Arimidex for 30 days, the side effects got worse by the day - trouble sleeping, when I did sleep didn't feel rested, fast heart beat, anxious, jittery, nervous. The fatigue set in. Felt dizzy and nearly fainted twice (my son caught me before I could fall). Started sleeping 12-14 hours per day, could not stay awake. Dozed off at stop lights while driving. Had to stop driving and got to the point where I couldn't go to work. I had other symptoms like hot flashes but those I could take. Did 2 1/2 years on tamoxifen which was much easier for me. Still had side effects but I could handle them. Had to stop tamoxifen due to irregular vaginal bleeding. My oncologist didn't feel comfortable having me continue. Can't take Arimidex and function at all. My overall health is good, had blood work, thyroid ultrasound, etc. The side effects I experienced was definitely due to Arimidex. Felt great before taking this drug and started to feel better a week after stopping Arimidex | I am just postmenopausal so perhaps this is why the side effects were so severe. | F | 53 | 30 days 10mg 1X day | 6/12/2015 | 1 | stage 1 er+ breast cancer | serious joint pain, particularly in hands and feet, overall stiffness, bone pain, dry mouth, vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, no libido, hot flashes, fatigue | A horrible drug, but I took it for five years. Only way I got through it was with lots of exercise to counteract the stiffness and pain. Let's face it - this drug is chemotherapy. Which is worse - regular chemo where your hair falls out and you feel awful for a relatively short period of time, or arimidex, where the side effects are less dramatic but torture you for FIVE LONG YEARS? I could have tolerated this drug for a few months - but five years of perpetual and serious pain and debilitation was tough. It wrecks your quality of life. And after doing my research, I'm not convinced I needed this drug at all. I had a very low chance of recurrence. Kind of like smashing a fly with a sledgehammer. My takeaway from all this is that doctors are still pretty clueless when it comes to breast cancer and are over-treating way too many patients, causing much unnecessary suffering. Too many mammograms, finding too many "cancers" that wouldn't have hurt you if they'd just been left alone. Just look at the statistics. It's depressing. So glad to be off this nasty probably useless drug. Anastrozole made me feel like a shriveled up old lady. Three weeks off it and I feel so much better. | F | 60 | 5 years 1 mg 1X day | 6/8/2015 | 5 | Prevent breast cancer recurrence | Some joint pain, hot flashes and night sweats | I am so happy there is a drug that is helping save my life. I take my pill at night and can't wait to take it knowing that it is helping prevent BC recurrence. I will take this pill as long as I have to. I owe it to myself and those around me to suck it up and do everything I can to fight this disease. I am very grateful and lucky I have the type of breast ca that is very treatable with Arimidex. There are those who have other types of BC that aren't as lucky. Exercising, eating right and taking stress out of your life will help one tolerate the side effects of the drug. We need to be grateful there is a pill that can help. | F | 51 | 4 months 1 mg 1X day | 5/31/2015 | 5 | BC oestrogen dependant | Thinning hair, weight gain, dry facial skin patches, and diagnosed with glaucoma recently. | I am alive and well so will continue to take it | F | 69 | 8 years 1mg 1X day | 5/27/2015 | 3 | breast cancer | Feeling of being wrapped in pain. Stiff joints with sharp pain. Insomnia. Low energy. I'm glad my oncologist gave me venlafaxine and that minimized my side effects. | F | 54 | 6 months 1 mg 1X day | 5/19/2015 | 1 | Radiation | Did not have any | F | 75 | 1 days 10 | 5/4/2015 | 1 | post breastfeeding cancer treatment | painful knees and ankle. weight gain. heart palpitations. enlarged heart. uncontrolled high blood pressure | F | 53 | 6 months 1mg | 4/26/2015 | 3 | stage 2 invasive lobular breast can | Bone/muscle pain, joint stiffness, hot flushes, heart palpitations, irregular heart rhythm, ectopic heartbeats, eye problems, nausea, thinning hair, fatigue, memory/concentration problems, weight gain, etc, etc............. | The side effects from this drug are very similar to the ones that I can experience with my Hypothyroidism, which I will be checked with blood tests soon. I am convinced the combination of Thyroid meds/Arimidex is responsible for making me feel like the Walking Dead! The worst thing I am struggling with is the heart issues, which I see many others have mentioned in relation to Arimidex, I am at my wits end as I never had any issues regarding the heart before cancer treatment. | F | 54 | 18 months 1mg 1X day | 4/5/2015 | 5 | BC stage 3b hormonal therapy | Depression;aggravated severe chemo permanent side effects(surgery followed by dose dense trial - 6 FEC every 2 weeks/18 weekly taxanes) then radiation. i.e. bone/joint/muscle pain; neuropathy; | Followed prescribed regimen for 8 yrs. (1 mg/day) despite side effects which I managed with pain meds. Quality of life was good (Hey, I was alive,working etc.) Depression was the hardest to manage. In 2010 diagnosed with CML (a major blow). Howeve. I felt as tho I had dodged another bullet as it was discovered early and treatable. However meds for CML had same side effects as arimidex so I discontinued arimidex so I could take CML meds and continue with a decent quality of life. In in 2012-13 CA15 tumor markers start climbing gradually and in Dec 2013 had scans which showed a very tiny spot on lung. Doc put me back on Arimidex and tumor markers immediately started lowering and scans showed tiny spot getting smaller! All due to Arimidex! However Arimidex combined with ongoing CML drugs = disabling. I'm now on reduced dosage of Sprycel (cml), still taking Arimidex and life is manageable. I am very thankful for Arimidex. Even during the initial 8 years I thought of it as my life saver and took it religiously. Cheers for Arimidex! | F | 66 | 9 years 1 mg/day | 4/1/2015 | 1 | breast cancer | had lumpectomy (1cm mass, 2 lymph nodes-negative) Oncologist wanted me to take drug even though I have very low ejection factor (25%). No family history. Had surgery & 4 weeks of radiation therapy. | I conferred with numerous health individuals, hospitals, physicians, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies as well as a lengthy & extensive research. To begin with Arimidex is a form of cancer chemotherapy & it is used to treat chronic conditions. It should not be given to women over the age of 60 as an adverse severe reactions in older people. Some of the side effects which may or not cause are: brittle bones, increase of decreased blood flow to the heart, special concerns regarding cleaning waste (urine, feces, vomit etc.) using rubber gloves & washing hands after removable of gloves. It gives some thought on its toxicity. Also increases high cholesterol. I decided that the "quality of life" was more important at my age. Having had my surgery & radiation therapy, I would go no further. I did see a nutritionist, who guided me to healthy eating habits & diet for losing some weight. It is after all my body and my decision. Just recently my cardiologist call & told me not to take Arimidex! . | F | 71 | 1 days 1 mg 1X day | 3/28/2015 | 3 | Triple Positive Breast Cancer | SEVERE Joint Pain/Muscle Weakness; foot cramps; nails thinning and breaking; blurry vision; TIRED. | I am going to discuss what I can do about the myriad of negative side effects on an upcoming visit in April 2015. | F | 50 | 3 months 1X day | 3/27/2015 | 1 | breast cancer recurrance prevention | Muscle pains, joint pains, irritability, dizziness, fatigue | Stopped taking 2 days ago and pain decreasing....Dr gave Rx for femoral but I am unsure if I will start it...I have had surgery/chemo/radiation and 5 yrs of tamoxifen for stage 2 breast CA with no nodes involved... this feels like over-kill. I want some joy back in my life. | F | 57 | 2 months 1 1X day | 3/26/2015 | 2 | Breast cancer | Within 10 days I had a huge outburst of anger. Now I have a sore tongue, joint pain, foot pain and swelling, worsening of my carpal tunnel syndrome, and I believe it worsens the neuropathy I experience from the chemotherapy. I am now beginning to experience more of the anger I initially experienced. | Arimidex is the coup de grace after the physically devastating chemotherapy. I have come to realize that cancer treatment is still in the stone age. The chemotherapy drugs I received were all over 50 years old. The cyclophosphamide is older than I am. The paclitaxel left me with loss of sensation in my hands and feet. I'd like to know where all the new and innovative cancer drugs and treatments are. | F | 72 | 6 months 1MG 1X day | 3/25/2015 | 3 | Breast Cancer, one node affected | Arthritis in hands has significantly worsened, joint/muscle pain in other areas, no libido, facial hair, some tiredness, surgery site seems to hurt more since starting this drug. Weight gain could be quite normal, as I lost a lot during chemo - have put half of this back but am now watching my diet closely, so no further gain. Had a problem with a trigger thumb for the first 2 months - started taking Mg tabs and it disappeared - not sure if they're related, but I continue to take the Mg. I have joined the gym for cardio and weights, and taken up pilates for stretching and strength, cycle to work - all of these help considerably - try to do some physical activity every day. My biggest problem atm is the arthritis in my hands and the facial hair! Hope I don't become bald as well! | I have been told I will be taking this for 10 years, due to node involvement. I will do whatever it takes, and happy that I have no serious issues atm. Will see how it goes from here - it's early days yet of course ... but I feel positive. | F | 56 | 4 months 1 mg 1X day | 3/21/2015 | 1 | stage 2 lobular breast cancer | depression, uncontrollable temper,aching joints, hair loss, bad taste in mouth, sleeplessness, hot flashes day and night, blurred vision, dry skin. Felt like i was 90 going on 150! | After 10 months of watching my quality of life slowly go downhill until I was no more than a shell of my former self, I have chosen to stop taking anastrozole. It was a very hard decision as I have had 4 rounds of breast cancer before opting for a left breast mastectomy, but for me, it was the right one. I went from a very positive, active, caring individual to someone who sat on the couch for days at a time, living on pain pills and treating my family and friends horribly! If I only have a few years left they will be quality years. I have been off the drug for only 3 weeks and ALL side effects are gone! It is amazing and wonderful to be ME AGAIN! | F | 62 | 10 months 1mg 1X day | 3/3/2015 | 1 | ovarian cancer escalating ca125 | Ca125 started out in 300 range. After 4 wks arimidex jumped 2 1300.6 wks , ca125 jumped again to 1700 range. The only difference in my lifestyle and diets the arimadex. So commonsense tells me it is NOT doing what it is supposed to be doing , lowering my ca125. | F | 58 | 6 weeks 1 MG | 2/24/2015 | 1 | Breast cancer, mastectomy | Joint pain, weight gain, moodiness, depression, general achiness in ankles, hips, back, neck. Left arm/hand tremors, dry eyes, insomnia, sometimes trouble remembering words. | Hate it!! | F | 75 | 2 years 1 1X day | 2/23/2015 | 2 | Stage 1 lobular breast cancer | This is a follow up to my posts on12/5/10 (rated 4) and 3/2/11 (rated 2). I had a lumpectomy and radiation. No chemo. | I am very happy that I stopped taking Arimidex. I also decided not to take any other drug options, after trying one other similar Rx with the same negative side effects. What I basically asked myself was the following question, after experiencing serious, painful side effects: If I had five years to live, how would I like to live it, how would I like to feel and would I have any regrets about whether to take a drug that might (or might not) prevent a cancer recurrence, but that lowered the quality of my life to the point that my daily life made me miserable? I was the only person who could answer that question. For me, I chose to live a more physically and emotionally comfortable life. Life has risks, even just getting into a car every day carries great risk. I have not regretted my choice and gave careful thought to my decision. I support each person's reason for taking or not taking a particular drug. I just wanted to share my own experience here. I feel fine after nearly reaching the 5 year mark and have had no problems. | F | 69 | 4 months 1 MG 1X day | 2/19/2015 |