ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ARIMIDEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
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 | Prevent a recurrence of lobluar car | I've been on the drug for a year and have experienced mild side effects: hot flashes, knee joint discomfort, experience stiffness in am. and after sitting for an hour. Some weight gain (5-7 lbos), some loss of libido, and stomach discomfort. Overall, I'm hoping these mild side affects are worth the benefit of my cancer not recurring. | F | 62 | 1 years | 9/8/2009 | 3 | Stage 2 - right breast cancer | Terrible joint pain. Hip and knee pain. Heart palpitations. Soreness in my right arm. Some days I can barely walk. Hands are sore. Hot flashes. Lack of sex drive. | What happens after? Do you joints feel better? I am thinking of going to see an orthopedic surgeon. I am scared not to take arimidex because of worry of cancer returning. | F | 61 | 3 years | 11/16/2009 | 3 | BR Cancer - Stage 1 | Fairly severe back, neck, finger & foot joint pain/stiffness. Minor weight gain. Finger& foot pain/stiffness improve with use of the joints - most troublesome first thing in the morning or after sitting for a while. Back/shoulder pain is like arthritis & never resolves. Also, vaginal dryness & fingernails have become very fragile - always peeling! | Vagifem suppository has been somewhat helpful in easing vaginal dryness - oncologist & GYN docs agreed the small local dosage presents minor estrogen risk (use no more than twice a week). Motrin 24/7 may help the back & shoulder pain, but do not want to subject my body to that either. Will continue for the full 5 years if symptoms do not get worse. | F | 51 | 13 months | 1/4/2010 | 3 | Breast Cancer | I need to correct a mistake I made yesterday on my posting. It was at the end of my day and I had a brain burp. "Vitamin D" is the supplement that most people need - 4,000 iu per day to protect against cancer. "D" is the vitamin that protects against cell damage. Your doc can check your blood levels of "D" with a simple blood test. Sorry!!! | Fish oil suppplements are continuing to help with the dryness of eyes and skin. | F | 66 | 6 months | 1/5/2010 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Lumpetomy in right breast with 6 weeks radiation. Since Arimidex, terrible joint pain everywhere, especially hips, legs and feet. Also some arm aches and pains. Hot flashes (taking Effexor to help) fatigue, sleeping 9 to 11 hrs per night. Weight gain (from a 12 to an 18. Walk everyday even though it hurts but does not seem to help yet. | F | 64 | 6 months | 12/9/2009 | 3 | Bil. Br Ca, Stage 2 with lymph inv. | Severe joint pain, L knee, unable to walk. Have had HA foggy, weakness, hot flashes, cold, Had cortisone shot. will research synovis? | Have not had IV Chemo, Radiation or surgery. Seems to have shrunk my tumors. Going in for a 6 mo. check up next week. | F | 79 | 6 months | 12/13/2009 | 3 | Breast CA II to III 4 Lymph nodes | bone pain feet, fingers, shins, headaches, weight gain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hair thinning. I miss my estrogen..... | According to the data, the side effects are not that common. I wonder how many people were in the research group because from what I gather, side effects can be intense and very prevalent. I go the gym 3x week, I've gone back to work but it's hard to remember stuff and concentrate, and not sleeping doesn't help. I ask myself every day if I should stay with it or not. | F | 62 | 3 years | 12/7/2009 | 3 | Stage 2, 1 node, ER+ & HER2+ | Joint aches in knees, hips, feet, lower back & wrists. 6 mo. ago diagnosed with severe arthritis in hands and wrists and was put on NSAID. Also have medium case of carpal tunnel, headaches, vaginal dryness, no libido, thinning hair, and most recent, high blood pressure. | In Feb. it will be 6 years since my lumpectomy, followed by 6 chemo treatments, radiation, and then Tamoxifin. I tolerated that 20 mo.'s before needing a D&C for bleeding. Was switched to Femara, which is like an amplified Arimidex. After complaining about constant pain, my Oncologist switched me to Arimidex. Felt better in comparison to Femara, but still hate living this way with joint pain. Some days it is hard to get down stairs or hold a coffee mug. Now my blood pressure, which was always normal, has begun to creep up. Dr. of Internal Med. denied it could be medication related and just insists I lose weight. I am slightly overwieght and know that might help but I actually weigh less than I did b-4 starting Arimidex and my pressure was good, so I suspect the drug. Now I read high blood pressure can be a side effect of Arimidex. I need to show that info to the doc at my next appointment and see what he has to say. I suppose the answer will be to put me on a B.P. lowering med. much like I am on an arthritis drug, both, which I am sure, are a result of taking Arimidex. Staying on for another 1.5 years and having out of control B.P. along with all the other problems is making me think it might be time to quit and take my chances. | F | 60 | 3.5 years | 12/10/2009 | 3 | BC Stage 2A | Terrible shooting pains, both knees were incapicated could not walk without pain that traveled...grating over the knee cap pain to inner miniscus pain to outer pain. Pain in calves on both legs. Swollen knees and hip pain virtually intolerable. all the weight bearing joints were effected although according to bone density tests all ok. | On Arimidex 3.5 years and no side effects at all walked 3-4 miles per day and then over a short time of three months unable to do any walking without horrendous pain. I have taken a 30 day drug holiday to see if I would recover the use of my legs. I am happy to say that slowly over the period of time I am almost back to where I consider normal and will begin exercising again shortly. I am due to see the oncologist on Tues and what I hope to do is to go back on the drug with an alternate treatment say every two or three days because I believe it works but cannot live with the everyday dosage. The brain is sharper also, however, that was not why I withdrew on 11/27. The pain was so unbearable I wasn't sure I could continue with life that way. All of my friends in the support group have experience these symptoms to some degree but most before 3 years. So I should consider myself lucky, I guess. I will hang in there on my terms and resume taking it although I think that it did do me good to know I would return to a normal state and would not have an altered existence from this drug for life. I hope this helps. Oh, by the way, I did go to an orthepedist to check out my hips and knees and had an mri that assured me all was ok in that department so I know that these effects were from the Arimidex. Good luck ladies and listen to your body and remember that not everyone needs this drug in exactly the same dosage. Talk to your doctor and most of all know your body. | F | 58 | 3.5 years | 12/18/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage II | Gastrointestinal distress, vaginal dryness, dry skin, hair, nails | F | 71 | 9 months | 12/29/2009 | 3 | breast cancer -- lumpectomy & radia | hot flashes, vaginal dryness, emotional problems, a few aches just now beginning | I take my pill at bedtime, and right after breakfast run/walk as hard as I can for 35 to 45 min. Then I try to lift weights 3 times a week. I don't always reach my goals. I've been an exerciser and a huge milk drinker (so my bones are good) for years, so this may be why I can continue to do this now. As long as I'm exercising hard, I have very few hot flashes, and they are brief. Neither do I ache. I guess the exercise helps the emotional thing. I don't know. It seems pretty bad to me -- more like I was as a teen, saying hateful things and crying a lot. The vaginal dryness isn't good. Replens is a product that contains no estrogen and can be used as much as you like (more than the directions say). It helps with the dryness although it tends to drain out so I try to use it at night. I would have given this a 4 rating except for the dryness and emotional thing. I guess it's doing it s job. I'm alive, and that's great! Now after having been on Arimidex 2 years, I hope to stick with it for the full 5 if I can and continue exercising hard, eating right, and using Replens. | F | 56 | 2 years | 4/6/2009 | 3 | BRAC2 Her2+ ERPR+ 16+ Nodes Stag3 | I had left mast May 07, 16 of 28 nodes pos. Pre & Post Chemo & Rad 07 No problems with any of it. Now - Severe hot flashes with aching (like the flu), bone pain & muscle aching that move around, hand pain & tingling & falling asleep, trigger fingers ,joint stiffness, mouth sores,constipation, vaginal dryness & pain,(absolutely no sexual desire), wrinkles & dry skin, fatigue, I feel 103+ It's hard on my family. I used to be healthy now BP is going up every visit. Oh not to mention this med absolutely does make you gain weight! I've never been heavy, I've steadily gained, 30+ since starting this! That can't be good for health. | Thank God I found this site! I thought I was crazy too. I have high pain tolerance but this med is difficult- I just hurt. I gave it 3 because who knows if it's working. Obviously the alternative is too scarey to stop taking this, but even then I'm finding it very hard to continue. It would help greatly if I knew the symptoms would go away when, if ever, I can stop this med. Seeing Onco Fri. Has anyone stopped this med? Do the side effects go away eventually, or am I stuck like this? But if it keeps the cancer away then I guess it's worth it! | F | 50 | 1 years | 4/7/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer survivor | Joint pain especially in the knees and fingers, weight gain, vision problems, thinning hair (also from curly to straight hair). Vaginal dryness,and decrease in libido. | I hung in there for five years as recommended by my doctor and encouraged by my family (they wanted me to increase my survival rate). Tomorrow I take the LAST pill. I feel that I have done my best in following all the treatment (lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and arimidex). I will let you know if/when the side effects go away. | F | 47 | 5 years | 4/19/2009 | 3 | 5 yr plan after breast cancer surg | horrible joint pain. every few weeks it lets up and i think i can handle this...then WHAM it comes back with a vengeance in another place. this time in my back and neck. I understand it will hit your weakest joints first. Initially I spent 3 mo. in physical therapy for my arm and shoulder. They said it was very near a frozen state. I excercise regularly (yoga, pilates and taichi) It has kept me going as well as anything. I do not like taking it any better than the rest of you, but 10 years from now I hope it will have been worth it. Anyone experiencing hair loss? My Dr. said to try folic acid....we'll see if that works. He has been very interested in side effcts and has had me try several options (Aleve or Advil) I found that arthritis strength tylenol works somewhat, at least better than the others. I am very cautious about taking it because all those can cause long term liver damage. I now have a hernia but don't know if that is a related problem. That will just have | F | 65 | 1 years | 5/1/2009 | 3 | BC stage 2, nodes neg | Joint pain, numb palms, stiffness. I started yoga 3 times a week and walking. It has helped so much. The exercise is hard to get started but I feel so much better. I started HRT hormone replacement therapy and only have the testosterone implant. It has helped with my energy level and my mental swings. Big difference. If you take this drug then one must exercise or the pain will take over the body. Do something in the way of exercise daily and you will feel better. | F | 57 | 35 days | 4/21/2009 | 3 | Breast cancer ER+ | Many side effects. Hot flashes, body aches and pains, terrible headaches for a while (but those seemed to have eased off), some days a very foggy head,(so bad I am scared to drive), can't seem to think straight, sore throat almost everyday, can't sleep at night, can't get up in the morning, am exhausted all the time, my energy level is so bad that is is an effort to do anything, feel old and decrepit. When I first get up in morn, I can hardly walk, same when I have been sitting for awhile. After I move around for a bit, it gets better. I just feel like I've lost all zest for life. | I was on tamoxifen for 2 years, but had a reoccurence, so they changed me to Arimidex. Not a very nice drug. But doctors have said it gives a better chance of survival. So I just try and look at it like another part of cancer treatment that I have to get thru. But at times it is hard not to get really down when you feel so bad. Hopefully it doesn't get much worse. I have at least another 3 years to go. I sure hope I feel normal again after this treatment is over. | F | 53 | 2 years | 4/22/2009 | 3 | Prevent breast cancer recurrence | Feet very sore when I first get up in AM, and after sitting for prolonged period, though it does go away after a few minutes. Now, my knees are also stiff and sore after sitting. Exercise is more difficult. Can no longer sit cross-legged! Hands painful when gripping objects, even just a coffee cupm and prior carpal tunnel is worse. Prior post-menopausal symptoms are worse--vaginal dryness, loss of libido, hot flashes. Some memory loss, especially noticeable at my college reunion! Dry eyes. I guess if there's no recurrence of BC, then I'll say it was worth it, but time will tell. | When I first told my doctor about sore feet, he said it's probably my age! The next time I told him about my sore feet, he agreed it's the Arimidex! A friend who was on it at age 48 stayed on it for 8 months, went off the drug because of pain in feet and knees. She said it took 6-8 months to feel all better, but at least the pain is gone! | F | 52 | 8 months | 6/8/2009 | 3 | Stage IIB ER+ Breast Cancer | See my earlier post on 3/26/2009 | I stopped taking Arimidex 3/28/2009. It is now a little over 7 weeks since stopping the med and I feel soooooooo much better! All aches and pains are gone and I have energy again! Hallelujah! | F | 59 | 18 months | 6/17/2009 | 3 | 2nd X BC ER+ R2- Node - | Extreme fatigue. No other side affects. | I give it a 3 since I can't know whether it is "working" or not. | F | 45 | 64 days | 6/18/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage 2 | nausea, weight gain, tired, hot flashes | I have been on the drug 7 months and have gained about 8 lbs. I exercise almost everyday but it is very difficult to lose weight. I have not had joint problems and overall feel good. I would just like to see better results from the exercising. | F | 40 | 7 months | 5/12/2009 |