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 |
| 1 | It was prescribed for breast cancer | I read extensively on the web about all the horrible side effects this med can cause, and declined it when my oncologist insisted that I take it. A hungry person may accept moldy bread if that is all that is available; it is a shame and abomination that this kind of med is all that doctors can offer to women to prevent cancer recurrence. Living without estrogen is a nightmare. | I already have tiny bones, a metal hip, and arthritis in my knee and hands. I know that bone loss occurs immediately when starting this drug, and I don't want to take bisphosphonates, which are prescribed for bone loss. Also, it is difficult to use my hands after chemo because of trigger fingers, etc., and I didn't want to add to my misery with more joint pain. | F | 69 | 0 days | 8/26/2009 | 1 | Breast cancer | Serious joint pain, swollen liver, bone loss, fingers, hips, feet, elbows,..pain everywhere !!!took for 1 yr. weight gain from size 5 to 9, 18 lbs memory not good, carpul tunnel pain, this is no way of life...oncologist said he wasn't exactly what it does to the body....I DO ....taking pills leads to other problems...not going to anymore. Seek natural remedies..Would not recommend this drug to anyone. So sorry I took it. Quit in April and still living with severe pain. | Should not be on the market as far as I am concerned....I believe all these drugs are pushed because the dr's get a kick back from all companies who make them ....so sad. | F | 50 | 1 years | 8/21/2009 | 1 | Early Breast Cancer -no nodes | severe joint pain, aching all over, general loss of interest in life carpal tunnel leading to surgery | I would rather take my chance without any drugs. Have been clear for two and a half years and now have a good quality of life. | F | 58 | 3 months | 8/24/2009 | 1 | BC IIa | I am in my 4th yr. on Arimidex. I have joint pain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness,no discharge but awful burning. I wear long skirts and leave off panties unless I have to go out.I also have neuropathy in my feet which makes walking almost unbearable. My Oncologist said o.k. to take a two week rest but it really didn't cause any difference. I am 70, discovered my cancer when I was 62. I took Tammoxifin for 4 yrs but developed uterine polyps the last two years so i was switched to Arimidex. My joints are so stiff I feel like I am 85 when I try to get up from a sitting of lying down position. I am now tole this medication can be taken indefinitely. I have a lung problem too and when all the pr0oblems are taken together my life is pretty miserable. I had 4 treatments with cytoxin and adrimycin, I had a reocurrence above my ollarbone after 4 yrs and following surgery took 33 radiation treatments. I don't want to face breast cancer again but I'm not sure I can tolerate this much lon | F | 70 | 4 years | 8/24/2009 | 1 | ILC, Stage 1, ER+ | Severe joint pain and swelling, especially in my hands. Woke up at night with pain, numbness, and tingling in my arms. Hurt to turn over, couldn't walk without pain in the mornings, etc., etc. | Like the person who posted on 7/7, I finally decided that quality of life was more important than quantity. I am 55 and felt like 85. The final straw came when I had to start pulling myself up steps because I didn't have the strength in my knees and hips (I am only 120 pounds!!). After 7 1/2 months on Arimidex, I quit. My oncologist agreed but suggested that I try Aromasin. After 6 weeks on Aromasin and experiencing an increase in the joint swelling and pain in my hands (including a diagnosis of carpal tunnel and trigger thumb to the point I couldn't use it anymore), I quit taking Aromasin. I have now been off any aromatase inhibitor for 6 weeks. Although my thumb is better, I still can't wear my wedding ring because of the joint swelling. The good news is that I no longer wake at night in pain and can now climb stairs easily (no pain in my knees and hips). I encourage others who are experiencing severe side effects to talk to their oncologists about the trade offs (what is the risk of your cancer returning versus the decrease in quality of life due to the aromatase inhibitors). | F | 55 | 7 months | 7/13/2009 | 1 | Breast Cancer stage 3B | My main complaint has been Carpral Tunnel Symptoms the pain is severe and is in both wrists and hands, not sleeping, hot flashes weight gain head aches, exhausted and sleepy all the time. | I hate this medicine been on 3 months now, was not expecting a new health problem! I expected joint pain but have more than that. I am going to Oncologist today I am wanting off of this poison I know she thinks it is my life but I want to live not just survive! I am too tired to enjoy anything. | F | 59 | 3 months | 7/9/2009 | 1 | I refused it | None because to me quality of life outweighed the very small percentage that this drug might or might not, give. | I'm a 4 yr survivor. Stage 1 BC, no lymph nodes involved. Had a lumpectomy and 6 wks radiation. Did much research on Arimidex and discussed it with oncologist. There is no guarantee that this drug will prevent recurrance. Side effects can be very debilitating and in some instances permanent. Everyone needs to research, talk with other survivors and your oncologist. Fortunately I have an oncologist who agrees that this med is not for everyone. I have drastically changed my diet, lost about 35 lbs. and go to the gym 4 days a week. He agreed (off the chart) that by keeping my immune system strong my chances were nearly as good if I took the med. Add to that quality of life and for me it was a no brainer. This was my decision for me - each person needs to make his/her own decision. | F | 66 | 0 days | 6/24/2009 | 1 | Breast Cancer ER+ | Fuzzy Thinking, Joint and Muscle Pain, Weight Gain, Brittle nails and hair, Felt like I was living outside of my body. | I quit taking Arimidex. Quality of life outweighed quantity by a landslide. I felt so bad while taking the medicine that I did not much care if I lived another day. I have been off for 8 weeks and feel like my old self. The weight is coming off, I have ENERGY, the joint and muscle pain is gone, and my thinking is wonderful. I tried to get the oncologist to reduce the dosage but he would not do it. | F | 57 | 2 years | 7/7/2009 | 1 | DCIS | SEVERE Bone Pain! Joint pain, fatigue, increased headache, increased hot flashes, Stomach weight gain and bloating, loss of elasticity in skin, increased depression. | PURE POISON! After going through DCIS, an auto accident and a brain anuerysm, I have been a trooper and tolerated all of my meds over the last 7 years. That is, until Arimidex! After I completed my Tamoxifin without side effects, I began the Arimidex nightmare. After only 2 weeks I began feeling fatigued and noticed that all my bones were sore. As weeks went on, I could barely get out of bed without crying from the pain in all my bones. I tolerated the increase in headaches, hot flashes, joint pain and skin changes, but the bone pain and fatigue increasingly worsened. My life seem to stop as I was bed ridden for 6 months. My doctor finally told me that I was experiencing the worse of the side effects and we agreed I should discontinue use. By the time I stopped taking it, I had gained 20 pounds and all in my stomach. I now resort to putting my health in God's hands and enjoying every bit of an active life with my kids! | F | 42 | 6 months | 7/8/2009 | 1 | Invasive, agrresive breast cancer | Severe bone and joint pain, severe fatigue, memory loss, hair thinning, insomnia and crying spells because the joint pains are unbearable. | I have had breast cancer four times in the past 20 years and never during any of these times have I ever wanted to given up. Arimidex has changed my body and how I feel in such a negative way that I feel like it's time for me to leave as this is no way for any human to live. The Oncologists and the manufacturer's of this pill need to do some serious re-thinking as this drug is too tormenting to the body. It is far worse than any chemo or radiation. I stopped taking this horrifying drug yesterday before it kills me. I am young for my age, petite, thin and very active. Now I am an invalid and in a wheelchair because of this drug. God help us women with cancer. They can do better than this drug! | F | 61 | 7 months | 12/22/2007 | 1 | Breast cancer Stage 1 | Debilitating lower back and joint pain, numbness in hands and fingers, soreness in bottom of feet, significant bone loss, swelling, weight gain, elevated cholesterol level, increased blood pressure,loss of sex drive, memory loss and general decline in mental acuity. | This has been some picnic, but the picnic is now over after about 14 months. I took myself off this drug as of yesterday, and hope some of the damage can be undone. I thank all of you for sharing, because it has helped me to know that all of this is the result of taking Arimidex. My doctors don't seem to really care about the side effects and only offer more drugs to mask the side effects of this one. I am 49 and am tired of feeling like 80. I am opting for quality of life over the statistically small improvement in my odds of preventing reoccurrence. | F | 49 | 14 months | 12/26/2007 | 1 | Breast cancer ,stage 1, node neg. | VERY achy bones, numbness in fingers, difficulty sleeping, and so stiff in morning hard to get out of bed, not limber like I used to be before all of this - chemo, radiation and arimidex | I have only been on this drug for 19 days but already considering stopping it. I had chemo due to taking the oncotypeDX test which put me in the intermediate category and I had 33 radiation treatments. I am not sure what percentage arimidex adds to lessen the chance of recurrence but will ask doctor to do the algorithm during my exam at the end of this month. If slight, and symptoms still occurring, and after prayerful consideration - good chance I will stop taking this drug and put my complete trust in God and let HIs will be done. | F | 51 | 19 days | 1/19/2008 | 1 | Stage 1 lobular invasive bc | pain pain and more pain. everywhere pain. depression. vaginal dryness. feeling old old old. | I rated Arimidex 1-dissatisfied because of the side effects. There was no other rating that fit. Has the Arimidex helped keep cancer at bay? Maybe but, how would one know for sure? I could have rated it 3 if I knew for sure it was working. Don't like taking it but won't stop until doc says so... 2.5 more years? | F | 60 | 2.5 years | 1/2/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | hair, trouble urinating, nausia in morning, ache all over weakness, | befor. taking Arimidex my kidney function was great, until the spring of this year, now I have a steady decline in kidney function. anyone else have a problem with kidney function, please contact me as I will be meeting with DR next week. | F | 74 | 18 days | 11/29/2007 | 1 | Stage 3 BC | Severe pain, insomnia, pain, depression, pain, inability to think clearly. | Some folks will try to scare you or demean you by saying that they are "so tough" that they would crawl if necessary to avoid getting cancer again. They probably don't have small kids or a full time job. They probably have someone to care for them. Obviously the pain is not as bad for them. It's different for every one of us. I couldn't do it. I couldn't crawl out of bed, get my children ready, shower, go to work, do the shopping, cook the dinner and clean my house while taking Arimidex. People can call me a "wuss" or "weak" if they want to, but I disagree. I made a difficult choice. I chose to live now and enjoy my children. I was suicidal while taking Arimidex. Can you imagine being a child with a suicidal mommy? If I get cancer again, at least my kids will have happy memories of me and a good childhood. IF you are being prescribed this medicine, don't be afraid to TRY IT. What happened to me may not happen to you. You may not have any side e | F | 38 | 4 months | 12/4/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | EXCRUCIATING right leg pain (bones burning sensation), hip pain, back pain, severe pain in both hands, numbness and tingling in right leg and up right side to lower back, loss of strength in right leg causing frequent falls, using cane, some hair loss, some bruising. | Previously very active. Took Arimidex for 6 months, stopped taking the Arimidex and the excruciating pain let up within a day or two. It is about two weeks later and right leg still weak but beginning to feel a little stronger, still need the cane and still have numbness and tingling on right side. | F | 70 | 6 months | 12/6/2007 | 1 | Colloid Carcinoma Right Breast | At first I had minor joint pain. What might be considered normal stiff joints on a 49 year old woman. As the months have progressed I have deteriorated to carpal tunnel, excruciating pain in my right thumb, as well as in other joints in my right hand and in my left ankle. My knees and hips are very stiff and I have a constant pinched nerve pain in my left hip. I cannot sleep thru the night without wrist braces because the numbness and tingling wake me. Also the joints on my right thumb and middle right finger began popping out of joint when moved. | I would rather die than continue taking this drug! My tumor has not shurnk and cm since taking this drug. It shunk a cm in length and one is width the month after my hysterectomy but before the drug. My tumor is the second least agressive type of cancer there is so I quit last week because the pain is so severe. To give you a hint of my tolerance for pain... I took no narcotics in the hospital after a complete hysterectomy in May. I was sent home with 30 Darvocet and flushed 29. Besides the 1 Darvocet, all I took at home post-op, were two Ibuprophen and one Tylenol as needed. Last Wednesday the pain in my hands had rendered me to tears. After a long conversation with my husband who was concererned that this drug was crippling me I decided to try an an alternative therapy. I can't wait for my oncologist to drop me like a rock becasue I refuse to take this drug for one more day. As a matter of fact... his office has not returned my call (yesterday) about the pain. I told them I had quit | F | 49 | 6 months | 12/6/2007 | 1 | breast CA Stage III a, bilat mast | severe joint pain, stiffness, swelling; difficulty moving, walking; hot flashes/sweats | After my last dose of Taxotere, I had severe joint pains in my hips, knees, and feet; could hardly move or walk. Those symptoms never went away. Started Arimidex about 4 wks after finishing Taxotere and am still having severe pain. First thing in the morning, can hardly get out of bed my hips, knees, and feet hurt so bad and I can't even close my hands -- they hurt and are stiff and swollen. It's been two months and I'm miserable. Can't take NSAIDS because of GERD -- have taken them a few times with no relief anyway. Don't know if it's worth it to be this miserable; I'm working and this is awful. Five years of misery is a long time -- thinking about just taking my chances with the cancer. | F | 52 | 2 months | 3/4/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | so many side effects-it is a quality of life issue. When one is in soooooo much pain; you keep asking yourself if it is worth it.I have terrible heel pain-have been going to the podiatrist for 2 months on a weekly basis. I am now going to an orthopedist starting next week. Trigger finger just started today in left hand. Pins and needles in right hand-just started today. Hot flashes-can be tolerated. Shin pain lasted for 2 weeks then left-thank God. | F | 55 | 3 months | 2/29/2008 | 1 | Breast cancer | Extreme fatigue to the point of feeling like a zombie. Massive weight gain Skin aging over night Headaches Depression Hair loss - a lot | Yesterday I decided I could not live like this and stopped taking Arimidex. I have been taking it for past 6 months. Today I am hopeful that I will begin to enjoy what is left of my life (I am 75) This is one horrible drug. I do not wish it on anyone. Could barely drag myself about the house daily. I think the last straw was the almost overnight baldness. I had to figure that if this drug was doing all this to my body - that I could see - what in the world was it doing to my insides that I could NOT see. Forty years ago I was on Stilbestol and then they found that caused cancer and it was pulled from the market. For my heart attack I was on Baycol for two years before it too was taken off the market as it was found to cause too many deaths. I am not waiting to see what they find out 10 years from now about Arimidex.. What it was doing to me right now was more than enough. | F | 75 | 6 months | 3/5/2008 |