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 Date added. 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 | HR positive breast CA stage 2 | Hard to say which side effects are from Arimidex and which from chemotherapy. The only ones I think are due to Arimidex are carpal tunnel, some increase in joint pain, fatigue, 10-15 lb weight gain, and depression. | I've been taking Arimidex for 7 months. I'm ambivalent about it. I will stay on it a year and see if symptoms abate. One of my nodes was "questionable" -- two cells "lost" in process of analysis -- so I agreed to take Arimidex to decrease odds of recurrence. I feel old and tired like many of you...but I'm told residual effects of chemotherapy (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) can last a year after stopping chemo, and I want to sort out which treatment is responsible for which side effects. I am the type of person who would kick myself all the way to my grave if my cancer recurs and I haven't done everything possible to prevent it; that's why I'm hanging in there with Arimidex, at least for now. I eat a healthy natural diet. I eat very little meat or poultry, only free range animals that are fed no growth hormones or antibiotics. I take calcium/magnesium/vitamin D, glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM, a European herbal-based anti-inflammatory called Zyflamend and an immune bo | F | 57 | | 6/3/2008 | 3 | Breast cancer Stage 1 Chemo | Joint pain especially hands and feet. My ankle can have severe pain. Memory loss. | If it helps me survive I'll gladly live with the problems. I can't say it is good or bad in preventing cancer returning. Testeserone concers due to prostrate cancer 12+ years ago. PSA still monitored and is 0. Arimdex was determined to be the only after care drug. I had life threatening blood clots during chemo. Exercise stretching and yoga helps. Watch my diet. Try my best to stay calm without stress. Try to keep a positive state of mind. Hope to survive and not have a cancer re-occurance. Hoping new findings on zometa will also help prevent re-occurance. | M | 62 | 2 years | 6/3/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Frequent headaches | Almost 7 years years out from diagnosis I had to stop taking Arimidex because of the frequent violent headaches. I am wondering if there is any value in taking half a tablet/day or maybe 1 every other day | M | 68 | 3 years | 5/30/2008 | 2 | bc stage2, surgery, 7w-ks radiation | Fatigue,insomnia,severe arthritis pain, heel and bone pain,hot flushes,weight gain | I do not know how I will survive next 4.5 years. Acupuncture helped me a lot with insomnia and hot flushes.(I had 12 acupuncture sessions so far) Now I sleep 4-5 hours without waking up(was up every hour and awake for 1-2h).Flushes are down from 20> in 24h to 6 in 24h. Arthritis and bone pain are still quite bad. I take Vit E 1000U, Osteo-Bi-Flex,Celebrex 200mg and Ca+Vit D | F | 58 | 5 months | 5/29/2008 | 1 | stage 1 estrogen positive | incredible muscle aches and pains hair thinning +++ very discouraged with this drug unsure if it is, really worth it or not. | would like to know if anyone off the drug has gotten their hair back or not | F | 56 | 3 years | 5/28/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer, no chemo or radi | Severe joint pain and stiffness, fatigue, hot flashes, swollen joints, depression, anxiety, you name it.... | I pulled myself off of Arimidex after 8 months and that was in 8/06. I am still suffering from that crap. I feel like I am 30 years older. I used to have a zest for life. Always happy and now I am the opposite. Arimidex has ruined my life. I will ever feel the same again.... | F | 54 | 8 months | 5/28/2008 | 4 | breast cancer-Stage II | Mild joint pain (mainly in knee w/ previous surgery); difficulty sleeping (stress from cancer??); increased hot flashes; "salty" taste in mouth - anyone else have this? | Compared to the horror of recurrent cancer, my side effects seem minimal. I, too, take vitamin and mineral supplements: extra C, D, E and calcium, prescribed by my oncologist, and am trying to exercise and watch my diet. I view Arimidex as a lifesaver at this point. | F | 58 | 6 months | 5/23/2008 | 2 | Breast Cancer T1. N 0. M 0 . | I have cognitive problems memory loss I am substituting words when cannot find correct one, I have problems swallowing and have a sore esophagus gas also I am feeling very tired and aging quickly no aches or pains in joints yet but mostly concerned about perhaps having dementia problems I do get occasional pain in legs at night no night sweats but mood swings and angry times all very strange and worrying was feeling fine after rads now on Arimidex 5 months not getting any better. | I have tried to balance alternative therapies ie naturopathic remedies yoga meditation excercise but still feel life is slipping by due to horrendous feeling of aging and lethargy I have been taking this drug 5 months I include my email address if you need to contact me | F | 66 | 5 months | 5/23/2008 | 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 | Lobular and ductal BC at same time | Started on tamoxifen first because of cost of arimidex. Five years after cancer discovery am still alive, but have no idea if Arimidex is the reason. Perhaps will never know. Complained to doctors at cancer clinic and Astra Zeneca immediately about bone and muscle pain. Doctors had never heard of these side effects but AZ had. Files were started on my situation but I have to call them, they do not sontact me for updates. Every year I go off it for 1 month to obtain some relief. I am going to go off of it for 2 months this time for more conclusive results. I have spent thousand and thousands of dollars on weeekly physio, massage therapy and active release therapy through my chiropractor (which works the best). None are long term relief. I seemed to have some relief a year ago but now realize muscle spasms replaced some of the pain and continue today. My left side is the troublesome side with concentration in my neck and shoulder. | Hope price goes down with release of patents since it is more than 5 years old. My doctor tells me that it is getting such good results with non-occurrence that they expect to keep us on it for another 5 years instead of taking us off! | F | 56 | 54 months | 5/20/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer. No chemo or radiatio | Bones ache from top of head to bottom of feet. Arm, hip, toe fractures and possible lower left rib fracture, Itching body Hair thinning, headaches, mind going hazy, Feel 90 years old.Cannot sleep at night, Fall asleep sitting in chairs with no arms find myself on floor usually with a fracture. Fingers are swollen, fingers going different directions. Knees hurt. I am tired of being a guinea pig for Arimidex. My oncologist says maybe we can do some testing down the road. Sorry I am done testing for anyone I am finished. Terrible weight gain of 40 pounds. | Terrible stuff. The pain of what it does to you is not worth the misery it gives you.They say never miss a pill, I think they like to scare you into taking it. Reverse phycology?? | F | 72 | 38 months | 5/10/2008 | 2 | Breast Cancer | Severe joint, muscle, and bone pain. The pain began in my knees, then spread to the bottom of my feet, and then to the rest of my body. I also experienced lack of energy (and consequently gained 20 pounds), and occasional flu symptoms. | I have decided to stop taking Arimidex. Instead, I have begun an aggressive exercise, nutrition, and supplement plan. | F | 51 | 15 months | 5/6/2008 | 5 | Stage 1 BC radiation, no chemo | I found this site in Jan ‘08 after being on tamoxifen two years and on arimidex for nearly three years. Had such hot flashes and leg cramps with the ta, that was eager to go on arimidex. Since, I have had 4 surgeries for trigger finger, another one “going”...beginnings of carpel tunnel, JOINT pain, WEIGHT GAIN, neuropathy in my feet, swelling in one foot, hair loss, and feeling OLD. This site is great as thought all this might be just getting old. NOT SO after reading all the trouble so many of you have had. Two good friends had to quit this drug because of their arthritis. | Now I have been OFF arimidex for 6 weeks and it is a JOY to FEEL GOOD again, energy coming back, hair coming back, hands so much stronger…so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sub-lingual vitamin B6 helped the swelling in my foot. Am happy I could get thru the 5 years of treatment as have lots left to do in this life. Good luck to all of you. | F | 76 | 3 years | 5/3/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | skin problems, pain, hot flashes, weight gain | F | 59 | 1 years | 5/3/2008 | 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 | 2 | Stage 2 BC, Mastectomy, No Chemo | Hands and arms falling asleep numerous times during the night, numbness/tingling in hands constantly, no wrist strength left-could hardly hold the coffee pot in my right hand, swelling in the hands, joint pain - if I sit for any time at all I struggle to stand and walk, can't write neatly any longer, FEEL OLD, feel strange and disoriented at times. I actually thought I'd fall down the stairs the other day, just trying to vacuum. | I only took this for 60 days. I stopped on my own and have an appointment with my oncologist next week. I don't want to feel old immediately and then after five years on this drug I really will be old. I had hot flashes and night sweats too but that to me seems OK. I had taken Premarin for years so it is natural that I would have hot flashes now whether taking Arimidex or not. What I don't want is to feel old and creaky and unable to use my hands or fingers for five more years. I stopped taking it 2 1/2 weeks ago and already I feel so much better. My joints are better, the swelling is gone, the only thing remaining is numbness and tingling in my right hand/fingers. I might consider taking an alternative but only after I have researched it thoroughly and only after the numbness in my fingers goes away. | F | 57 | 60 days | 4/29/2008 | 3 | stage 2A breast cancer | have not taken this yet | I have been on Tamoxifen for 6 monthes and have found the hot flashes to be nearly unbearble.Im seeing my oncologist soon and was planning to ask him to switch me to ariminex but in looking at the comments it appears there are many side effects of this drug as well.Can someone let me know how you feel the 2 drugs compare. | F | 53 | 0 days | 4/19/2008 | 3 | Early BC; No Lymphs grade 2 | High anxiety; Chronic fatigue; Fear; Blurred vision; Pain; Burning mouth syndrome. | I know it is supposed to save our lives and I KNOW I should not complain - BUT at what cost. | F | 59 | 43 months | 4/17/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer | After the first couple of months, there were no significant side effects. Now, almost 4 years later, I am finding pain in my thumbs and my right thumb in particular "locks" painfully, especially first thing in the morning. My hands are weak then too, and swollen. Now the locking continues all day, and the pain is there too. Other than occasional foot pain first thing in the morning trying to walk, I can't complain. There has been some bone loss, but I also take Fosomax, and it seems to have slowed that down considerably, and even improved my spine reading over the last two years. | I also take Vitamin D with a multi-vitamin, and try to get more exercise. No problem sleeping, my weight has stayed constant (has my whole life), and my blood pressure remains low (90/60), so I have been blessed with good genes in that regard! | F | 53 | 4 days | 4/16/2008 | 1 | Ocologist prescribed it. | It was prescribed immediately after chemo for my type of breast cancer, so I don't know if the peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet were made worse by it. A feeling of being in a sauna, some mood swings, and waves of feeling resembling orgasam. | I am angry with myself , my medical care giver, pharmacies, companies that make Arimidex--etc. I've finally added up all the side effects, and realize that this drug is making alot of women OLD before their time. There is now research going on at the "Laboratory of Endocrinology, Aging and Disease" that states that hormones that regulate reproduction in mammals act later in life in a futile attempt to maintain reproduction, become dysregulated and drive senescence( old age-aging).That's what we are doing when we take this pill. We are wiping out the estrogen made by our kidneys, bone, skin, BRAIN, and all other organs making estrogen. If you suddenly wonder why you have turned gray overnight, have alligator skin, don't have a libido, turn and look at your after pill( Arimidex) for the answer, or ask your oncologist to level with you. It's not what they tell you--it's what they don't tell you. I refuse to grow old before my time. That's why percentage wise Arimidex doesn't | F | 71 | 17 months | 4/16/2008 |