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 |
| 3 | Breast Cancer | muscle spasms in arm, decreased strength in hand, joint pain in elbows, shoulder, back,legs and feet. Memory loss, difficulty with words and thoughts, depressed, easy to cry and rash when out in sun. Hot flashes and night sweats. I have asked my Oncologist if the drug has anything to do with this and the answer has been no. I have seen neurologist and orthopedic for the arm problems and have had no success in a diagnosis. | I have been on Tamoxifen for 2.5 years and had most of these same symptoms. Have been taking Arimidex for 3 months and symptoms seem to be increasing. | F | 47 | 90 days | 4/29/2008 | 3 | BC; HER2 neg; node neg; | Most dramatic side effect is bilateral wrist tendonitis which has been in existance since October, 2007. Tried all sort of therapy and exercises to now avail. Went off Armidex for 3 weeks to see if symtoms decreased, which they did. Became concerned about not taking the drug and went back on it with almost immediate increase is severity of pain in wrists. Am scheduled with orthopedic surgeon for steroid injections Bottom of one foot is very tender, and generalized aches and pains in joints and muscles which are tolerable. Lost weight when off the drug for that short time, but started gaining again when back on it despite being on Weight Watchers. | Am convinced that the drug is a life line considering that the genotype was 30 (25& of recurrence in body w/i 10 years.) Can tolerate the present side effects if the tendoinitis improves. Activies of daily living as presently impaired due to extreme wrist discomtort which is worse than the post-op pain from two total knee replacements!! | F | 66 | 18 months | 5/21/2008 | 3 | BC stage II-III 4 lymph nodes | Mild muscle pain, sleep disturbances due to hot flashes, increasingly more painful joint pain in the right ankle with sudden onset of shin pain. I have energy, no weight gain (I'm being very careful with portion control) and I'm calmer since I started a low dose anti-depressant. | I have mixed feelings about taking this drug since I'm thinking that I'm taking it out of fear of recurrence rather than a deep conviction that I need it. I successfully endured intense chemo and did 6 weeks of radiation following a bilateral mastectomy and from which I feel completely recovered. I have a hard time walking for any length of time due to pain so I'm not engaged in any routine exercise regimen. I'm trying not to overdo it with NSAIDs because they can interact with the anti depressant and thin the blood. I think the connection between almost complete absence of estrogen and depression is poorly understood and I resisted taking an anti depressant for a while, I'm grateful for it now and living my life in the "now" as I'm am, with gratitude. | F | 60 | 8 months | 4/6/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | 1st 10 days: unbearable pain, entire body including head, couldn't sleep. Next 30 days, moderate pain, helped by maximum ibuprofen daily plus 2 very hot soaks in tub. next 12 months, minimum side effects. Then started having severe hip pain for 9 months. Then started having severe low back pain 6 weeks ago, headaches started 3 weeks ago. Have been on Arimidex 2 years. | Until the last 6 weeks, I thought it was worth it, to gain 20% survival rate. Now my quality of life is marginal, can barely get out of chair or bed, have trouble going to sleep, pain walking. Not sure if it is worth it now. Also gained 15 pounds, blood pressure increased from 110/70 to 142/90, cholestrol increased 20 pts, liver function panel getting worse. | F | 58 | 2 years | 11/28/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | severe bone pain, especially in joints, muscles, no sex drive, cough, tired all the time, fingers and hands tingle, pain can wake me up at night, hard time getting up and moving...the bottom of my feet hurt really bad (heels)....beginning to wonder what is going on with me and then found this website.....I'm so glad to know everybody else is going thru this too.....have had bone loss.... | just want to try to stay on as long as I can to try to not have a reoccurence of breast cancer....was on tamoxifen for five years, then was put on this a year ago | F | 53 | 1 years | 3/30/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer stage 1 | Developed severe joint and muscle pain over 41/2 years on this drug particularly in knees and hands. Became frustrated with pain and no medication appeared to relieve the pain. Also had mood swings and depression. | Have been off all Arimidex for 5 months now and my body has slowly been returning to managable pain although there is permanent damage to my bones and joints. I have been amazed at how little Drs acknowledge the side effects of Arimidex and have found that there are very few people to talk to in the Cancer Councils or support organisations. The only good thing is that I have not had a re-occurrence of breast Cancer and hope that will continue. | F | 60 | | 11/10/2008 | 3 | Breast cancer, stage 2, HER2+ | Fatigue, headache, lethargy | Have only been taking Arimidex for 1 month and if side effects get no worse, will continue as directed by my oncologist. Tried chemo 1 session with life-threatening results (2 trips to ER, one by ambulance, 7 days in hospital.) After stopping the chemo, I have had 2 treatments of Herceptin and some of the symptoms I have may be related to that chemical. Reading the comments of others it seems that we respond very differently to these various treatments, perhaps age-related, also. We all need to make our own decisions about whether to continue treatments, based on quality of life issues. I've also changed my eating and drinking habits to optimize my chances of living a long and healthy life; lots of fruits and veggies and no meat combined with vitamins and minerals, plenty of sunshine and fresh air, and no alcohol or caffeine. Any other suggestions would be welcomed! | F | 71 | 1 months | 4/12/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | pretty much all of them over the past 5 and 1/2 years...just lately headaches are bad you can't laugh or talk loud you will suffer with a headache next day..arm numbness in shoulder's arms and hands..alot of aches and pain to much to mention ,sore throat,pain in left side especially around lung had fluid around 10 months ago.. | Is any one out their on it longer then 6 years or should i say still alive taking it... | F | 52 | 6 years | 2/4/2009 | 3 | Breast cancer | Joint pain, especially my hands, hips, and knees. Mouth is sore and have increased sensitivity to certain foods. Have to follow a bland diet. Headaches. Very very tired. | The reason I keep taking it is because I am afraid not to. What else can I do? | F | 55 | 2 years | 2/18/2009 | 3 | Stage II to III ductal carcinoma | Hair thinning, skin thinning, bone pain and muscle pain especially in the feet and hands, dental problems, headaches, depression and insomnia, struggle to keep weight off, intense hot flashes | Everyday I ask myself why I'm taking it. It's fear based really. I take extra Calcium, Vit D 2000 IU, 2000 mg MSM for bone pain, Zoloft for depression and Ibuprofen as needed. I exercise 5 times a week and I constantly monitor my food intake to prevent weight gain and try really hard to stay positive | F | 61 | 16 months | 1/25/2009 | 3 | breast cancer | adding a new comment....For thos who havnt tried Aromasin as an alternate to Arimidex, give it a shot if at all possibe. | i took arimidex for 6 months.... i hurt and was in so much joint pain, my oncologist put me on Aromasin. If you took Tamoxafin (sp) you will like Aromasin... My joint pain is so much better. My tingling in my fingers is going away. For those out there with ER+ taking hormone creams should double check.. thats why some of us are taking this stuff (takes away the estrogen so our cancer wont feed off it.... research girls... | F | 43 | 6 days | 11/25/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | At first experienced the difficulty in concentrating, memory loss and headaches, but that went away pretty much. I already have joint pain, but it is a little worse. That might have happened anyway. Can't rate more than a 3, haven't taken it long enough... | I stopped taking hormone replacement just before my surgery, so the minor hot flashes I get now are probably normal. I have been having trouble sleeping (started a new business, so again, the anxiety is probably normal) but started taking the drug in the morning instead of at night. Will see how that goes. | F | 59 | 5 months | 3/18/2009 | 3 | breast cancer grade 2 | exacerbates my osteo arthritis very much, initially almost crippled me. After one year changed to Tamoxifen - after 2 months of that had a minor heart attack. Went back on Arimidex. I am trying to perservere with it. | F | 75 | 2 years | 3/28/2009 | 3 | ER pos. node involved breast cancer | Joint pain, tiredness, stiffness, severe weight gain | I posted a comment on this site over a year ago and would just like to add some more. At the time I found that massage and reflexology helped somewhat. Now I have found that the side effects have improved a lot. I swim a lot and do some cycling also. Walking is still difficult. This may have something to do with the weight gain, which does not seem to respond to the excercise and I still have a degree of stiffness in my joints. But overall the symptoms have definitely improved with time and my quality of life is very good. I wish you all very well and hope we all live long and happy lives. Be positive. | F | 50 | 2.5 years | 3/24/2009 | 3 | Stage IIB ER+ Breast Cancer | Fatigue, pain/weakness in upper arm resembling the symptoms of "Frozen Shoulder", leg cramps at night, pain on top outer side of foot, face wrinkles that appeared quickly after starting the medication. | I'm keeping a close watch on symptoms. I'm also not sure how to rate a product when I can't predict if I will be diagnosed with cancer again at some time in the future - so I gave it a 3 and I'm assuming it's doing it's job and "helped somewhat". I'm adding vitamin D3 to see if it helps with foot pain. Arm pain mysteriously disappeared after a weekend of painting! I'm cutting back on all soy and flaxseed products in my diet after reading that they add estrogen to your system (exactly what the Arimidex is supposed to delete from your system!). Wish I could still have some estrogen for my skin's sake! The fatigue comes and goes so maybe its a biorhythm thing? I don't understand some posts here that are from women who have only been on Arimidex for a few days. That's not enough time to make a judgement. And I also don't understand why anyone would be on Arimidex for more than the recommended 5 year limit. My experience with Arimidex side effects has been mild so far, but I will continue observing and trying to be "my own best doctor". Blessings, Namaste. | F | 59 | 18 months | 3/26/2009 | 3 | Breast CA I lumpectomy/chemo/radiat | Severe carpal tunnel in right hand one week after starting Arimidex. Joint pains, swelling and stiffness in both hands and wrists. Tendinits in left middle finger with morning locking and severe pain. Had an injection in my left hand which helped for four months but syptoms are coming back in the left middle finger as before. In first few months pain in major joints. I felt like an 80 year old. Rheumatologists put me on two Sulindac per day, strong arthritis medicine with Protonix to protect my stomach. After on meds for one year have experienced depression and severe fatigue with periods of anxiety. Also my face has aged five to ten years in the past few months with many lines and wrinkles, especially in my forehead. Dry vagina, which never was a problem before. Decreased sex drive. Gyn put me on Vagfem but stopped for several months because it caused cystic acne at prescribed dosage. I now use twice a month. Am having loss of memory and loss of focus but was told it was due to | F | 55 | 26 months | 1/29/2009 | 3 | Breast cancer, Stage 1b | Nov 2008 begin 1 mg and no side effects-I am optimistic. Three months later-not optimistic: bursitis/tendonitis left hip/leg and pain in shoulders. Depression but figure due to adapting to life changes: cancer, drop in hormones, death of parent, empty nest syndrome, bad economy... Fast aging signs in face most remarkable. Dryness everywhere. Vitamin E vaginal supp help with symptoms of urethritis. | Close management of thyroid gland performance and vitamin D blood levels. I am deficient in D and have not obtained optimum level for one with cancer risk. I believe cancer cells can take 5-10 years to be detectable with today's technology (not a pleasant thought). Need to increase exercise/eat less simple carbs to then have less fat cells that produce estrogen. Prior to Arimedex I had salivary hormone testing. After three months on Arimedex have had another evaluation for comparison. Don't know results yet. If same I can argue why take this drug with the potential for more negative side effects. | F | 57 | 3 months | 3/1/2009 | 3 | Stage 1 Left Breast Cancer | I was diagnosed in April, 2008 and had a complete left breast mastectomy May 28, 2008. I started Arimidex in July, 2008. Everything was going pretty good until lately. Now I have no appetite, I have to make myself eat and nothing even sounds good to want to eat. Also, during the past two weeks, I have started having depression and mood swings. I took Premarin for years and every time I would get off, I got these same feelings. I get very angry and I feel a rage in myself for no reason. I work full time and it is all I can do to keep from blowing everyone off. Help! | F | 69 | 6 months | 2/26/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Diagnosed at 53, had a bi-lateral mastectomy & chemo. On Arimidex for 15 months. Have had a series of joint aches, carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, and other symptoms that could be attributed to Arimidex but may just have to do with being 55. But the most frustrating side effect has been the effect on my weight - and I KNOW that's the Arimidex. Two years before I was diagnosed, I lost 55 pounds through diet and exercise. I know that the level of fitness I had reached helped me bounce back from surgery and through chemo. Now, on Arimidex, my body seems primed to gain. I can lose if I drastically reduce calories and up the exercise, but as soon as anything interrupts that regimen, I start gaining again. There is no stasis - I'm either dieting frantically or gaining. | Does anyone else see the irony in a breast cancer treatment that increases weight, but increased weight is a risk factor for re-occurence? Despite the side effects, I will continue on the drug as my mother died of breast cancer and I have treated mine as agressively as possible. | F | 55 | 15 months | 2/23/2009 | 3 | Rt Breast cancer stage 3a | Usual.Bone pain,arthralgia,insomnia | Been on it now 2.5 years. It is hard but can be managed over time. | F | 67 | 2.5 days | 6/28/2008 |