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 Gender males first. 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 |
| 4 | Breast Cancer | Been on Arimidex for 9 months. Now along with the older symptoms of joint pain, extreme weight gain, sleep disorder, extreme mood swings, I can add swelling in lower legs,(pitting edema) and my hands go to sleep- all of the time to the point that I cant even make them function. I also have a little trouble with getting out what I'm trying to say: it just does not come out right (concentration?).The pain is awful....my mother also is being treated with this drug-we both feel 90 and are exhausted always. I cant wait to show this site to my family and coworkers ..I want them to see what I've been talking about all along. | Would love to see what some of you are doing on a nutritional standpoint to help with the weight gain, water retention and supplement wise. No one has really told either one of us what to do ...and we keep buying supplements and spending money on tons of stuff that I dont think is doing either of us any good. | F | 43 | 9 months | 11/8/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 BC bilat. mast. Chemo | My side effects have been joint pain and stiffness. It's gotten better this last year.I take zoloft to help with mood & sadness. 39 months into taking the drug my hair is falling out. | Hey, I've been bald once - with chemo. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN! Losing the hair is a drag. Sore, stiff & crabby is not fun either. BUT having cancer again...NO THANK YOU! I'll take the dope. | F | 50 | 39 months | 4/8/2008 | 4 | Breast Cancer stage 1 | I had my cancer 6 yrs ago, at first took Tamoxifen. Then postop after a hip revision I had a mild stroke, the Internist had neglected to take me off of it. "T" is known for clotting problems. Then my Oncologist started me on Arimidex which I took for 4 years. No notable side effects until nearing the end of Arimidex except thinning hair. Then my nails started raising from my nail beds. No one willing to blame Arimidex except me. I researched on this site and saw a similar complaint, not many but enough to apply to be taken off. My nails, although poor quality quickly adhered. Between Tamoxifin and Arimidex I was on 5 yrs, max for suggested use in Canada. I have many aging signs that I don't think are necessarily from the drugs. I am satisfied, why not, so far I have not had a reoccurance of Cancer. I know that this site is Anecdotal reporting but I am thankful for it. I reported my case to the Provincial pharmaseutical provider in our Health Care System and of course my Oncol | F | 71 | 4 years | 11/14/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 breast cancer | I too had joint pain in my hands & wrists and almost switched to something else, but then I got braces for my wrists to wear at night, they are for carpal tunnel but they keep my hands & wrists in neutral position at night and I now have very little pain. Over the counter at Walgreens,one for each hand,they are flesh colored with velcro straps to hold them on and a hole for thumb to stick out,they are rigid plastic. If your only pain is in hands try it, this worked for me and it was my only side effect. | I want to stay on this medication if possible, I am glad I found a solution (so far) | F | 59 | 15 months | 11/29/2008 | 4 | breast cancer | joint pain, back pain, hot flashes, memory fuzziness, lack of concentration, lack of sex drive, vaginal dryness | After 4yr 4 months, I give up. I can't live like this anymore. I'm glad I found this site and realize that I'm not crazy or alone. Would love to hear from others if side effects are permanent or not. | F | 50 | 4 years | 12/11/2008 | 4 | stage 2 breast cancer | I have had joint pain in my hips, elbows, wrists,knees and shins. So often you wonder whether this is just normal wear and tear or the effects of the drug. I am also on anti depressant drugs after suffering an extrememely 'blue ' period 2 years ago. My short term memory is pretty poor I think, but again is this normal??? My hot flushes are constant, in fact it is very rare that I feel cold at all. | I am grateful that the medical profession have something that I can take to make my chances of life better. The side effects, if that is what I am experiencing are nothing to having cancer again. Chemotherapy was just awful and hair loss devestating. I plan to live and love life every single day. | F | 54 | 3 years | 4/1/2008 | 4 | stage 1 BC, lumpectomy + radiation | I HAVE SEVERAL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS LISTED HERE BUT I HAD THEM ALL BEFORE STARTING ARIMIDEX 8 MONTHS AGO. i RECENTLY STARTED GETTING HEADACHES AND WONDER IF THERE IS CONNECTION AS i SELDOM HAD BEFORE. HOW CAN WE KNOW IF "MEDICINE IS WORKING"- i GAVE IT THE RATING BECAUSE I AM GRATEFUL FOR FEELING GOOD. | F | 63 | 8 months | 3/16/2008 | 4 | Breast Cancer mastectomy L breast | I've been on arimidex for 3 years and don't really have any side effects but I have changed my way of living and eating. I was wondering if anyone who went into menopause has had periods. My periods quit one month into chemo three years ago. I had a light period nine months ago and am having another now, just wanted to know if anyone else is having this. | F | 47 | 3 years | 3/25/2008 | 4 | Invasive ductal BC with node involv | Joint pain, hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings | To person who posted on 3/25/08 (age 47) re having a period after not having them for several years. The same thing recently happened to me. Went into chemo induced menopause two years ago, and had not had a period since then. Last month, I had a very light one, with "period symptoms". Had a FSH test, which confirmed I am in menopause. During the few days I had the period symptoms, my hot flashes abated. | F | 50 | 2 years | 4/3/2008 | 4 | estrogen receptor positive bc | mostly bone and joint problems, arthritis in lower spine, osteopenia thoracic spine, now my jaw is of concern | bc 2001, 3.5cm, 4/10 positive nodes, A/C 4, taxotere 4, 7 weeks radiation. two years tamoxofin, 3 years arimidex, onconogist wants me on two more years. I'm guessing that they want you on anti-estrogen for 8 years if tumor is more aggressive and node positive versus 5 years for others with smaller tumors and no positive nodes. I see my oncologist in June and am going to discuss these bone problems I am having and may quit this drug. | F | 55 | 3 years | 4/3/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer | After the first couple of months, there were no significant side effects. Now, almost 4 years later, I am finding pain in my thumbs and my right thumb in particular "locks" painfully, especially first thing in the morning. My hands are weak then too, and swollen. Now the locking continues all day, and the pain is there too. Other than occasional foot pain first thing in the morning trying to walk, I can't complain. There has been some bone loss, but I also take Fosomax, and it seems to have slowed that down considerably, and even improved my spine reading over the last two years. | I also take Vitamin D with a multi-vitamin, and try to get more exercise. No problem sleeping, my weight has stayed constant (has my whole life), and my blood pressure remains low (90/60), so I have been blessed with good genes in that regard! | F | 53 | 4 days | 4/16/2008 | 4 | recommended by Consultant | Accumulative hot flushes - now every hour, fatigue, some facial hair, 3 incidents of epilepsy. | Was informed that this was the best option for me following quadrectomy and radiotherapy. Now learned that recurrence of breast cancer can still appear up to 12 years after treatment, although Arimidex seen to decrease probability of recurrence. | F | 61 | 4 years | 7/10/2006 | 4 | Stage II BC, chemo, no nodes | Most symtoms...joint pain, insomnia, fuzzy memory, fatigue, hot flashes...these have gotten much better over time. Vaginal dryness is tolerable with Replens and Vagifem (approved by my oncologist). However, my sex drive is zero which is starting to affect my 25 year relationship. | It seems the doctors don't like to discuss sexual side effects from this drug, maybe because they don't have a good recommendation. I'm open to suggestions. | F | 50 | 2.5 years | 1/21/2007 | 4 | stage 2 BC | I have been on it for about 9 months. I did pretty well at first but gradually began experiencing joint pain, especially in my hips and lower back. I feel like I am 100 when I get out of bed in the morning. I started taking glucosamine w/chondritin about a month ago and I think it may be starting to help. Lately, I have had pain in my shoulders and when I first get up even my feet hurt. I never experienced any of this before. Lately, I have been gaining weight and I am trying to get more active in spite of the fatigue, but I feel like someone is blowing me up with an air hose! My memory definitely is not what it was. I think I may be experiencing some mild depression, due to the drug or the side effects? I also wake up at night more frequently than usual and have red blotches on my face at times. | I am happy to have the drug to fight off 'the beast' but a little sad about feeling prematurely aged. But anything is better than cancer! Keep up the research! | F | 58 | | 1/26/2007 | 4 | earlystage small inv. tub.carcinoma | first 2 months - pain in ankles, vaginal dryness, massive,intensely hot/burning flushes - profuse sweating - sweat running down head and body. Still get the hot flushes but less intense and less tiring. At one stage it was really difficult to do things like the ironing because of the intense internal heat and pouring sweating! | Started May 2006. Now December 2006. Don't know if Arimidex or some kind of delayed reaction to radiation therapy (5 weeks over June and July) but really quite fatigued - not normal for me - eyes very tired and want to sleep much more than usual. Used to be fine with 7 hours sleep a night or even 6 1/2 - but now want at least 8 and often happier with a bit more. I think the side effecs are not that bad, and it is worthing taking a drug that will help to stop reoccurence of breast cancer in the same site, or the emergence of a new breast cancer. | F | 55 | 7 months | 12/2/2006 | 4 | Breast Cancer Stage II, HER2 + | Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, joint and bone pain | Vaginal dryness and hot flashes are tolerable. No joint or bone pain for first 3 years. Now considerable swelling and pain in feet/legs and hands/arms. Overall, side effects were tolerable until just last 2 weeks. I can barely walk now after a full day and I have exercised regularly my whole life. | F | 42 | 3 years | 5/11/2006 | 4 | Breast Cancer Stage II, HER2 + | Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, joint and bone pain | Vaginal dryness and hot flashes are tolerable. No joint or bone pain for first 3 years. Now considerable swelling and pain in feet/legs and hands/arms. Overall, side effects were tolerable until just last 2 weeks. I can barely walk now after a full day and I have exercised regularly my whole life. | F | 42 | 3 years | 5/11/2006 | 4 | Tubular Breast cancer, stage 1, | Some weight gain when not careful about diet. Mild "blues," some bone loss. | No real side effects. If the drug will stave off a recurrence, I feel lucky, but I'd like to discontinue it as soon as possible. | F | 60 | 3 days | 11/25/2006 | 4 | Breastcancer | Hot flashes, night sweats, pain in my joints (hands & shoulders), tiredness, fatigue, waking up every hour during the night, dizziness when I got out of bed, felt like I was a 100 years old. Found the side-affect from Arimidex almost worse than having chemo and definately worse than radiation. | Asked questions about the side-affects and what could be done from every doctor I met. These doctors always responded that nothing could be done. Was already about to ask my oncologist for an alternative drug (if possible). However the last doctor which I met suggested that I should try Cymbalta which is normally described to people who have depressions but she said that women with strong menopause problems usually benefit from using this drug. Now after having used it for a month, the side affects of the Arimidex have been reduced considerably. At the moment I can continue using Arimidex without too much discomfort. The hot flashes, night sweats and the pain in my joints haved almost disappeared totally. I have much more energy, which I need since I started a new job and feel younger again. | F | 42 | 5 months | 4/4/2007 | 4 | Breast cancer stageII 2+lymph | Have been on Arimidex for 5 months and what was nueropathy following chemo, has now progressed to hand pain (much worse in the AM).At this time, I would rate pain in other joints as minor. | This morning decided to see what I could find on internet re: hand pain while on Arimidex and found this site. I could probably live with this for next 4 /12 years if I thought it wouldn't get any worse. I do worry about long term effect of the drug, but, it seems to be the best thing out there at this time. So far I have not experienced weight gain, memory loss, or hot flashes any worse than I had in the past. | F | 67 | 5 months | 2/24/2007 |