ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ARIMIDEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on ARIMIDEX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Stage IV BC w/Bone Metastatsis | I have only been taking Arimidex for about 5 months (this is a recurrance from 2003 & I took Tamoxifen before) and have gained about 5 lbs and my hair (which had started to grow back after taking Taxol & Taxitere)is growing much more slowly and not getting thicker. I do have some aches and pains, especially after sitting or lying down and then getting up to move around or walk, but since I have bone metastatis from the breast cancer, I would probably have some pains anyway. I have been taking an infusion of Aredia once a month since 2003 and my joint pain is quite minimal especially considering my diagnosis. My doctor is pleased with it at this point and my blood work and check ups have been good so far. If the side effects from Arimidex don't significantly increase over time, I am happy with it. The weight gain and thin hair is a small price to pay if the medication does help prevent the cancer from growing again. Of course, that is something that can only be determined ov | F | 60 | 5 months | 2/8/2006 | 4 | Stage 3C Interductal Breast Cancer | Stiffness and difficulty flexing my feet in the morning until I loosen up. | At age 48, after lumpectomy, mastectomy, removal of 44 lymphnodes, of which 32 were positive, six sessions of TAC, three weeks apart, and 25 radiation sessions, I was started on Tamoxefen. When I was determined to be post-menapausal, I switched to Arimidex. I've taken it more than five years and will likely take it the rest of my life. My cancer was aggressive and advanced. I trust my team, who continue to work together to treat and support me, and I will do what's recommended. In addition to the Arimidex, I get PET scans annually and breast MRIs every year, offset by annual mammograms. I love my life, my family, my friends, my pets, my work, my volunteering, etc.; I'll do all I can to maintain this amazing life!! | F | 53 | 5 years 1mg 1X day | 6/11/2013 | 4 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer | Severe depression, trouble sleeping, "twitching" in sleep, fuzzy brain, joint pain in hip, ankles, lower back and shoulder | Asked doctor to put me on anti-depressant (Effexor); reduced pains by 50% but hasn't helped depression or sleep issues. Going to double dosage of anti-depressant. i'm 55 but I intend to do whatever it takes to get through this. | F | 55 | 120 days 1X day | 4/16/2013 | 4 | breast cancer - | so far so good, some swelling in my knees and stiffness. I had problems with my knees before taking Arimidex. . | F | 68 | 6 months 1mg 1X day | 6/7/2013 | 4 | Stage 1 , no lymph node involvment | Hot Flashes intense the first 4 months. Muscle pain increasingly worse since about 4 months to now 9 months. The pain is worse at night my hands are painful to touch, thumb joints are now a trigger thumb( it stays stuck if you bend it) | Worry if this is pemanent damage to my hands and joints. Wonder what my bones are doing and how fragile they are beoming. | F | 54 | 9 months | 11/14/2005 | 4 | stage 1 bc no nodes | stiff joints when I get up in the morning and when I get up from sitting. I also feel VERY tired most of the time. | Once I get up a moving I feel OK. I ride my bike a lot and I run. While I am doing these I feel great. But I pay later with fatigue. If this is all from Arimidex and it is a sign the medicine is working, I will continue. I was worried the fatigue was from something else like new cancer. | F | 49 | 7 months 1 mg 1X day | 7/25/2010 | 4 | Stage 2 HER neg breast cancer 2006 | 2007 first year joint pain and stiffness insonmia vivid dreams fatigue memory was cloudy couldn't remember names of some common items (ex. I wanted a screw driver and knew what I wanted but just couldn't tell my daughter what it was.Needed a stamp but couldn't remember what to call it. I knew what the item was but couldn't give anyone the name of it) 2008 After I "got use to it" stiffness in feet and ankles (I no longer drive because I'm afarid I'll have an accident) Painful knees and generalized aches.Have difficulty with stairs. Hair loss and thinning.Weight gain! sleep only 3 to 5 hours with vivid dreaming.High blood pressure,bone loss and occational depression. I refuse to take any anti depressants. I'm tired of xrays and the like. I'm surprised I'm not glowing in the dark! | I feel like my life got sucked up!*I use to be very active. walked 5 miles a day and managed an apartment building. I can't do that anymore. I want to be me again! After 4 years I want to discontinue the Arimidex. I need to feel normal again but I am afraid of the cancer! I just want to be normal again! | F | 52 | 4 years 1mg 1X day | 7/25/2010 | 4 | breast cancer | Bone pain, and mental cloudiness! I have felt tired most of the day and most of the time. I promised my two adult daughters that I would continue taking arimidex no matter what. So, here I am, which is a good thing. | My quality of life has deteriorated so much. I can have a few good days, and then---physically down and out for several. When I am at work or out with family, friends, I pretty much "lie" now and say, "Oh, I am doing fine and feel well." Surely, they are tired of hearing me complain during the prior months. | F | 55 | 23 months 1mg 1X day | 6/23/2010 | 4 | B C stage 2 nodes 2 | back pain, leg pain, headaches, occ hot flushes, low libido, severe tiredness, depression, weight LOSS..... | originally put on tamoxifen, but had severe cramping, so my oncologist put me on Arimidex. I am trying to tolerate and work around all of these side effects. I just take 1 day at a time. But I seem to be the only one that has experienced weight LOSS since being on this drug. I have gone from a size 12 to a size 6 ( Australian sizeing here )My appetite for most of the time is just non existant.... The only thing that I am concerned about though is the fact that I refused chemotherapy ( although it was recommended ). So I am relying on this drug to keep me cancer free. But of course I did take the radiotherapy. My sister died of B.C. ( only 40 yrs of age ), my father died of brain cancer, and my other sister recently has been through throat cancer. I just pray every day that all will be o.k. Thank god for modern science. Even with the horrid side effects. | F | 55 | 3 days 30mg 1X day | 6/25/2010 | 4 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer | I had complained to my doctor about muscle & joint aches, tiredness, fatigue, weight gain, etc. My doctor took me off of Arimidex for 3 months. I still had all those symptoms so we knew that it wasn't all the Arimidex symptoms but other issues as well. I am back on the Arimidex but feel much better knowing it is other things causing those symptoms. That sounds ridiculous but I do feel better. My doctor also explained that my body has gone through a lot with the radiation therapy so just be kind to myself as much as possible. | F | 64 | 3 years 1MG 1X day | 6/24/2010 | 4 | stage IV breast cancer | creaky, painful joints, particularly the knees and foot including top of foot and achilles heel. Particularly painful in the morning when get up (very difficult to walk down stairs, one stair at a time) or if I have been sitting a while. dry skin and lots of new wrinkles. Vaginal dryness and loss of libido. But what does that matter with all the weight gain in the middle. Soft nails. sometimes painful scalp. | No dispute from supportive oncologist re side effects. Says that is why 30% or more stop taking Arimidex. But since I'm currently NED & I want to stay that way, I'm sticking with Arimidex until something better comes along. When I had a luggage snafu and was without my arimidex for a week, I lost a couple of pounds, got my waistline back because my weight redistributed, and my joints did not hurt as much. Also taking Herceptin every 3 weeks and Zometa every 4 weeks plus thyroid (because of radiation damage to thyroid). So maybe some of the side effects attributable to Herceptin such as the painful scalp. I take stuff which reduces the side effects and helps me live with the side effects: double my omega 3's, 6 grams of vitamin D with natto K-2, zyflamend, boswellia serratta, and glucosamine, chondroitin with MSM | F | 70 | 26 months 1 mg. 1X day | 7/10/2010 | 4 | Stage 2b breast cancer | fatigue and depression, some joint pain, had total knee replacement and shoulder surgery during past five yrs, hair loss, weight gain, various illnesses and general feeling of being old. | Several family members have had breast cancer and not lived five years to tell about it. I have made it the five years, so I would take it again and deal with the side effects. | F | 63 | 5 years 1mg 1X day | 8/24/2010 | 4 | breast cancer | Extreme joint pain especially in the hands and wrist after 26 months of usage. Fatigue has been since the begginning. | Arimidex should add physical therapy when the prescription is prescribed for 3 months to teach the patient about strength and endurance exercises. If I had this in the beginning, it would not be so painful for me to proceed with the necessary exerceises now. Then patients that end up with (or may not after the physical therapy) won't stop taking the drug to enhance the chance of cancer recurring in the future. The company did the tests and knew the consequences. They let us down with their lack of responsibility. | F | 58 | 2.5 years 1 mg 1X day | 9/2/2010 | 4 | Breast cancer / recurrence | Aching joints,inability to sleep,numbness in arms & hands during night,dry skin & eyes.Loss of sex drive :( Weight gain which is still climbing :0 | After first diagnosis I refused meds just had lumpectomy but I had a recurrence in same breast 3 years almost to the day .This time I had lumpectomy + radiation .For the first year on Arimidex I felt very few side effects ,mainly loss of sex drive and loss of quality sleep.Now my arms & hands go numb every night.It takes a while in the morning before I able able to clench my fists.I have had a few days when I am disabled by nausea and head aches.not sure if this is due to Arimidex. I would love to talk with others about their experiences so feel free to email me .I live in Australia. I take Arimidex at night.Its been 2 years now and I just got the all clear after mammo :) I thank God and the hard work of all the researchers that I have a reasonable quality of life | F | 52 | 2 years 1mg 1X day | 9/1/2010 | 4 | BC | extreme joint pain throughout body, fatigue, memory, sore throat, cough | Ladies I have read your comments on the joint pain. This is a new pain for me so after reading all your comments I sought out a solution for the pain and want to share it with you all. Schiff/Move Free Advanced plus MSM. After one week of 6 tablets a day what an improvement! I missed three tablets one day and went back to pain. So I know I must take 6 tablets (3 am and 3 pm) for the pain. I have not needed any OTC pain meds. Plus I will need this due to my age any how, so now I have this to add to the rest of my meds and vitamins. It wasn't until the last month that I have had the bone pain. But hopefully I have found a solution to be more comfortable. So everyone knows I am not a doctor but proactive for quality of life. | F | 58 | 2 years 1 mg 1X day | 9/14/2010 | 4 | breast cancer | i was fine on arimidex until about 4yrs ago then joint pain trouble sleeping cramps weight gain tired at first i put it down to age i am 56 pain in right knee has been so bad no pain killers seem to help have made appointment for clinic as pain so bad | i an sure arimidex is a great drug maybe not everyone will have the side effects | F | 57 | 9 years 1mg 1X day | 4/12/2010 | 4 | 4A bc | Major fatigue, hot flashes, joint pain, weight gain, feeling so tired and dizzy, major mood swings, depression. | Would love to quit Arimidex. Then it's quantity vs quality. I am so tired all the time that I have to make myself go. Then when I make myself go, my body hurts so bad. I am alive though! The weight gain is such a disappointmet though and the fatigue is almost too much!! | F | 57 | 4 years 30 1X day | 4/7/2010 | 4 | BC Stage 3a-7 nodes out of 19 | early joint pain, particularly hip pain, which disappeared after about 1 year. Carpel tunnel surgery after 2 years. Fight high blood pressure with exercise, diet. Hair thinner, but may be the result of high dosage of Taxotere during chemo. I'm convinced that glucosamin-chondrotin, fish oil, and Vitamin D all help. Sleep helped by Benedryl, but all my female friends over 60 have sleep issues. | Thankful to God to be alive, feeling great, working, exercising, and enjoying life, family, and friends. My life is in His hands, and I treasure the gift of each day. | F | 65 | 5 years 1X day | 3/18/2010 | 4 | breast cancer - lumpectomy | Please enter updated side effects | Please enter updated comments | F | 74 | 5 years 1 MG 1X day | 3/29/2010 Patient History | 4 | stage IIIa breast cancer | knee pain, may be some minor headache but not sure | I think so far I am lucky to have very little if any side effects. I still run or at least walk/run several miles a day(finished chemo 1 month ago and have just started radiation), so I am not even sure whether my knee pains are from Arimidex but seem more pronounced now than ever. Still definitely worth it! | F | 59 | 16 days 1 mg 1X day | 3/12/2010 |