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 |
| 2 | breast cancer | Have experienced general aches and pains, severe headaches and muscular pain along with the most terrible hot flushes and a real sense of fatigue and lethargy thats making me feel old before my time plus I've gained nearly 2 stones in weight that I just can't shift however hard I try. I also suffer from palpatations and have been experiencing the most severe depression I've ever had. I'm so stressed and irritable all the time and my memory has become so poor that it's really effecting my work and my relationships. My oncologist says is probably not the arimidex causing these symptoms......all I know is I didn't have them before and although part of me feels I should be grateful that thed drug is keeping my cancer at bay another part of me longs for the day when I can stop taking them and get my life back. Good luck to all of you fellow arimidex users out there x | F | 49 | 18 months 1mg 1X day | 1/18/2011 | 2 | breast cancer | severe stiff neck, affecting sleep and mobility. Having regular physio but keeps reoccuring. | No other symptoms except lots of hot flushes which were helped by accupunture. Not sure if these were due to drug or ovary removal. Anyone else had severe neck pain? | F | 50 | 6 months 1mg 1X day | 1/18/2011 | 2 | BrCA St 2 Progesterone & estrogen + | Hand and finger pain from onset. Continued hair thinning now moderate to severe. | Told to go off arimidex for three months. Oncologist checked ANA (antinuclear antibodies) which was positive. ANAs could signal the body to begin attacking itself which can lead to autoimmune diseases, including lupus. Possibly have drug induced lupus. More tests next week. Will definitely report this to the FDA. | F | 72 | 21 months 1 mg 1X day | 9/30/2011 | 2 | Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer, | Joint pain, brain fog, enzymes, vaginal dryness, no libido recently, increasing joint pain, Brain Fog, Insomnia | In the last 3-4 months the pain in my hips has been increasing. Last year the Oncologist ordered an MRI to determine if there was cancer in my bones. Now on oxycodone for the pain, and ambien for sleep. not good if you want to be a pilot. So, I get to put my dreams on hold for another 4 years. I also have many of the side effects that are mentioned here.Abdominal weight gain. I had gastric bypass for obesity 4 years ago, gained about 15 with chemo and kept it on due to anastrozole.. now wondering if the generic is partly to blame for the liver enzymes elevated. | F | 51 | 2 years 1MG 1X day | 10/3/2011 | 2 | er+, st2(3cm), 0/n | severe joint pain last 2 weeks. couldn't stand from sitting. poor QOL. mild before that; mental fog, memory problem, etc. | Decided to stop arimidex 1st sign serious SE's. A dr.-johns hopkins site says- it's unknown how arimidex causes joint pain. Another dr on web states: 'I have fear about someone not having estrogen in the brain for 5 years'. Up to everyone to decide what the risk/benefit ratio is and make informed decisions based on all available data. Statistics do not necessarily indicate your individual situation regarding risk of recurrence. I choose to put my faith in God or however you choose to define that. There are amazing natural remedies that Nature provides to help us survive; substances which people have claimed-and been proven- as potent for destroying cancer cells and conducive to healing and recovery. More than 2 years of toxic treatments I feel is enough(tc x4, rad, ai). Goal: aid my immune system in what it does well-defense against toxins,support for life. Check out important supplements. Lose weight, if necessary. Plants, herbs like green tea and essiac. Do not be sedentary (cancer hates oxygen)- get adequate exercise, manage stress and anger, enough sleep, and importantly- focus on food; becoming more conscious of i.e.- raw garlic and jalapeno peppers. Buy organic as much as possible. Let's work to change this toxic environment (pesticides,etc) which contributes to our misery. And medical/pharma system. More work needs to be done. | F | 61 | 19 months 1 mg 1X day | 6/1/2012 | 2 | hot flashes achy joints pain in back of head and right side of neck for over a year | F | 65 | 3 years 1mg 1X day | 11/28/2011 | 2 | stage 2 breast cancer | All of them except weight loss. (ironic) | After reading some of these comments I am once again rethinking about how much time this drug "buys" us and if it is worth it given the quality of life, if you can call it that, that it leaves you with. I want to be one of you who just says no but I am scared, just as the entire cancer 'business" is counting on. One big money maker isn't it?..I think I was almost getting used to the joint pain and the soaking sweats but recently my hair has started falling out AGAIN and I cry way too much. I hate to admit it but sometimes I just think this isn't worth it, at all. Very depressed. Not a shred of dignity left. I am a bloated balding fat cow with a botched implant job...and a very very bad attitude! My heart goes out to all of you and hope you all beat this crap called cancer. | F | 55 | 20 months 1mg. 1X day | 5/28/2012 | 2 | Breast cancer | Severe peripheral edema and severe joint pain | F | 50 | 7 weeks 10 1X day | 8/22/2013 | 2 | infiltrating ductal br ca Stage 1 | after 1st month had severe burning shooting pain from hip to knee. told my oncologist but was told it wasn't the arimidex. Over the next 3 yrs I had increasing pain in knee, saw an orthopedic MD, went thru 3 orthovisc injections, 3 steroid injections with no help. Then this yr pain became worse, developing back pain, dexa scan showed I had developed osteopenia over the past 2 yrs, increasing osteoarthritis and DJD of knees and spine along with 4 bulging discs. The oncologist still is saying it's not the drug. My quality of life has gone from active to barely able to move, using a cane, and after a 10hr work day going home in tears because of the pain. Have used hydrocodone, ultram, aleve, flexeril, with no improvement. I'm 60 but feel like I'm over 80. | I decided to stop the med for a couple of days to see what would happen. After only 1 day I am walking without a cane and feeling sooooo much better. I WILL be meeting with my oncologist about either stopping it, reducing the dose, or changing to aromasin although it has the same side effects. All I know is I am not going to continue the next 16 months to complete the 5 yrs of treatment in as much pain as I've been experiencing. I've seen other comments that it's quality of life that's more important and I am now a firm believer. I am a nurse so I did an extensive investigation of the drug and I will be sending my comments to the drug company to add to their list of side effects. | F | 60 | 44 months 1 mg 1X day | 8/5/2011 | 2 | breast cancer | Extreme joint and muscle pain, short term memory loss and confusion, severe depression (anxiety/panic attacks), tired, weak............. | Is there a study of how long people have lived and or their quality of life post five year treatment of Arimidex? | F | 55 | 3 years 1mg 1X day | 9/13/2011 | 2 | Joint pain - hands, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows. I have been in remission from RA for years and feel like I am back to the beginning with the pain. Going on an Arimidex vacation with the hope that the SEs subside. This is not the way I want to live my life and hopefully it can be reversed. | F | 54 | 10 1X day | 9/12/2011 | 2 | Bil triple+ IDC Stage 1,clear nodes | Constant joint pain and stiffness, muscle weakness and pain, numbness, tingling and muscle spasms in hands and feet. Brain fog, apathy, depression. Loss of balance and falls. Escalating/abnormal liver enzyme values. Weight gain in abdomen. Brittle nails. Zero energy, constant fatigue. Insomnia. For me, it was as bad or even harder then being on chemo, especially in view of the long term (5yr) recommendation for taking the drug. No end. Chemo at least felt finite. | I had bilateral mastectomies and sentinel node biopsies (stage 1, clear nodes) followed by chemo: Taxotere and Carboplatin x's 6 and Herceptin for a year. I stayed with the Arimidex for a year and nine months and quit due to the symptoms, especially the escalating liver enzymes and increasing brain fog. I started to feel better within a week, liver enzymes were back to normal within 3 weeks. I still have residual pain and stiffness in joints, especially hands and knees but much better than it was before. I should mention that my oncologists referred to my cancer as "curable" (early catch, not in nodes, ER+, PR+, HER2+) and treatment was aggressive. I also had a total hyst (no ovaries) years ago so - already reduced estrogen production. Stopping Arimidex was a quality of life decision for me which I feel comfortable with in view of my particular history. I'm an RN, this was a well considered decision. I am not advocating for or against the drug, simply sharing my experience. | F | 53 | 17 months 1mg 1X day | 7/28/2011 | 2 | Invasive lobular bc/ stage 1 | Joint pain, frequent headaches, constipation. (Not sure if the constipation is a side effect, but it seemed to start soon after I started the anastrazole. As for the headaches, the oncologist said it's possible as estrogen affects the vascular system) | The first few months were fine, but I'm now having increase in joint pain. Never had pain in my knees and elbows before till now. Sitting for 15 minutes causes the kind of stiffness you feel when you've been sitting in a car for 4 hours. I'm hoping it doesn't get much worse than this because it's pushing my tolerance limits. I really do feel much, much older than my chronological age. | F | 60 | 8 months 1X day | 5/8/2011 | 2 | stage 1 lobular breast cancer | This is a follow up to my 3/2/11 posting. I went on generic Arimidex in late October, 2010 and stopped in early March, 2011 because of the many side effects that were affecting my life. I feel back to normal now after 4 months off the drug. PLEASE REPORT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA BY CALLING 1-800-FDA-1088. If side effects aren't reported, they have no idea how many people are having negative reactions. FDA told me when I reported mine that they review all reports, then report any previously unreported side effects to the drug manufacturers. However, if side effects are reported by patients directly to the manufacturer, they are bound by law to send that information to the FDA. Having our voices heard by telling our stories is the only way to let the drug companies and the FDA know that we are having problems with their products. | When my doctor brushed off my reports of side effects, I asked one of my other doctors whom I respect for a referral to another oncologist. I appreciated the new doctor's attitude, and when I told him about my side effects, he agreed, that there are people who simply cannot tolerate these medicines, but it's uncertain as to why that is. He has laid out a course of action to determine which way is best for me to proceed (possibly Tamoxifen). In the past few years, I have decided that I am no longer going to stay with any doctor that does not follow through or seems disinterested in my concerns. I am seldom ever sick, but obviously breast cancer is something that needs close monitoring. I want a doctor who is my advocate, is willing to listen to my experiences with treatment. I have researched countries that have a better health care track record than the US (UK and Canada, for instance) and learned that both countries have had side effect reporting systems in place for nearly 50 years, prompted by the thalidomide tragedy. The UK has the Yellow Card System, with cards in pharmacies, doctor's offices and other medical sites where people can fill out the card and then submit it to the UK's equivalent to the FDA. Canada has a user-friendly form to fill out and both country's websites are easy to navigate and are very informative. If we can be pro-active and insist on being respected rather than ignored, it may encourage others to do the same. | F | 66 | 4 months 1 mg 1X day | 5/19/2011 | 2 | breast cancer stage 1 | trigger thumbs stiff joint knees worst like a 90 year old woman thinning skin especially around anus skin tears hair loss mood swings tired teeth loss of enamel appear see through sensitive positive rheumatoid arthritis nodules on finger joints finger nails look like peanut shells little concave marks no sex drive dry vagina | a horrible medication and if the would at least admit to some of the side effete you might not feel so bad as you would be prepare to fel them sited they tell you you will need advil as you will have stiff joint so I felt like a complainer because of all the things that were changing with my body I quit after 3.5 years an all but the thinning of skin teeth and hair are now good | F | 59 | 3.5 years 1mg 1X day | 7/8/2011 | 2 | bc 2a some node involvement | Took generic for 30 days joints made cracking sounds joint pain great hunger and constipation horribly smelly gas weight gain switched to brand name normal appetite still tendency to gain weight joint pain lessened no smelly gas no constipation but no energy my thighs have swollen up and my breasts have gotten smaller i have kept my weight the same by eating like a bird and exercising alot severe foggy brain no memry can not sit still without pain for periods of time wake up tired sleep well at night but never feel rested can not focus can not verbalize words see something say a hammer but do not know what word to use forget where i am when i am driving or in the house why am i standing here at times disoriented | I am not happy with this drug after surgeries and chemo and radiation i felt like me {in excellent health same wt as college} i waited two weeks before starting it i felt great now i dont feel great i am barely existing i want to stop this is not life | F | 54 | 6 days 1mg 1X day | 5/27/2011 | 2 | Breast Cancer stage 2 | I have a lot of Body aches,back pain, shoulder pain,feet pain which my podiatrist said it is neuropathy. My fingers are stiff and hard to bend and i also have wrist pain. it seems like any side effect of this medicine I have. My doctor told me to take aleve which does not work. I am on pain meds and it helps a little but i can feel when it starts to wear off and have to take more pain meds. I don't want to always take them but it is what helps me thru the day. It seems like every week I have a different side effect. If is frustrating and think if this is worth taking. | I went thru Chemo and radiation. This is worse then going thru chemo and radiation. They should try to have something without such bad side effects. | F | 54 | 7 months 1mg 1X day | 7/15/2016 | 2 | had stage 1 breast cancer w/radiation | Fatigued all the time @ bones ache | want to stop | F | 66 | 1 years 1 MG | 6/20/2016 | 2 | BRCA | Severe hand, finger pain. Pain in feet, especially heels. Pain in knees. Can't sleep Osteopenia. . | I am beginning to think the cure is worse than the disease. Dread lying down at night. | F | 65 | 1.5 years 30mg 1X day | 4/12/2016 | 2 | Breast cancer hr | Like the previous person, I am suffering with arthralgia. In addition, I have myalgia and peripheral neuropathy, insomnia and a whole host of other side effects. My rate of recurrence is low. I have tried all the other meds with no luck. My body does not tolerate meds very well. I do feel this has aged me and can feel my joint pain with every step. I write this in the middle of the night as my foot is "buzzing" incessantly and preventing sleep. Frustrating. | F | 47 | 1 months | 4/29/2016 |