Reviews for ARIMIDEX30 ratings: (side effects include neuropathy)Edit Filter | Clear FilterCompare ARIMIDEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 |
More on ARIMIDEX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | Estrogen fed BC | Neuropathy, hot flashes, nausea, muscle pain, joint pain and general malaise. | One starts to wonder whether quality of life is more important. Need input from Oncologist, but long wait time in BC. First BC, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and 5yrs on arimidex. Second time 11 yes later BC other breast due to Her positive, stage 3, chemo to shrink and mastectomy followed by radiation. Pathology found small tumor of the same nature as first cancer. Have been on Arimidex 2.5 yrs and quality of life is awful. What to do?? Oncologist please respond. Thanks!! | F | 82 | 3 years 1mg 1X day | 3/30/2023 | 1 | Triple positive breast cancer stage | Increasing neuropathy on daily basis. Extreme nerve pain on back, stomach, fingers, breast. At night the pain became debilitating where you questioned is this how you want to live your life. Effects my daily living, and work. Looking for alternative medicine. | There needs to be more accurate side affects posted with this drug. As one believes they are going crazy at times. | F | 62 | 20 months 1 1X day | 12/26/2021 | 1 | BC | Neuropathy in foot and leg, the most extreme fatigue and muscle weakness. Hip and back pains | This drug should not be on the market, it's poison to the system. If you want qualitty of life do NOT take this drug. It's sapped me of all strength, all joy and I got through the cancer, mastectomy with no trouble but this drug has ruined me. I only took it for month till all the pain came but all the SE's are still with me after 3 months. I can hardly function for muscle wastage and weakness. The worst thing I ever did was take this | F | 66 | 2 weeks 1X day | 6/5/2018 | 1 | Stage 3 breast cancer survivor | I just got the news...15% bone loss in my spine and 11.4% in my hips in just 3 years. I am at high risk for spinal cord fractures. I live in horrible chronic pain. When I lightly bump something (hand, arm, etc...) I bruise easily and the area that was bumped swells up for days. I have incredibly stiff and painful joints. I cannot open a doornob, hold a pen, or pull up/pull down my pajama bottoms at night. I have vision problems, neuropathy in hands and feet, thinning hair, reoccuring headaches, insomnia, fatigue, severe moodswings. I am sure I can come up with 20 more SEs. I have been on it for 3 years after 5 or 6 years of tamoxifen. I took myself off 2 days ago when I learned my bones are now destroyed. My oncologist gave me her blessing today. | Arimidex is a horrible monster! My quality of life is so much more important than longevity. I am tired of living in horrible chronic pain as my bones disintegrate. | F | 47 | 3 years 1 mg daily | 1/25/2017 | 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 | 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 | 5 | BC stage 3b hormonal therapy | Depression;aggravated severe chemo permanent side effects(surgery followed by dose dense trial - 6 FEC every 2 weeks/18 weekly taxanes) then radiation. i.e. bone/joint/muscle pain; neuropathy; | Followed prescribed regimen for 8 yrs. (1 mg/day) despite side effects which I managed with pain meds. Quality of life was good (Hey, I was alive,working etc.) Depression was the hardest to manage. In 2010 diagnosed with CML (a major blow). Howeve. I felt as tho I had dodged another bullet as it was discovered early and treatable. However meds for CML had same side effects as arimidex so I discontinued arimidex so I could take CML meds and continue with a decent quality of life. In in 2012-13 CA15 tumor markers start climbing gradually and in Dec 2013 had scans which showed a very tiny spot on lung. Doc put me back on Arimidex and tumor markers immediately started lowering and scans showed tiny spot getting smaller! All due to Arimidex! However Arimidex combined with ongoing CML drugs = disabling. I'm now on reduced dosage of Sprycel (cml), still taking Arimidex and life is manageable. I am very thankful for Arimidex. Even during the initial 8 years I thought of it as my life saver and took it religiously. Cheers for Arimidex! | F | 66 | 9 years 1 mg/day | 4/1/2015 | 2 | Breast cancer | Within 10 days I had a huge outburst of anger. Now I have a sore tongue, joint pain, foot pain and swelling, worsening of my carpal tunnel syndrome, and I believe it worsens the neuropathy I experience from the chemotherapy. I am now beginning to experience more of the anger I initially experienced. | Arimidex is the coup de grace after the physically devastating chemotherapy. I have come to realize that cancer treatment is still in the stone age. The chemotherapy drugs I received were all over 50 years old. The cyclophosphamide is older than I am. The paclitaxel left me with loss of sensation in my hands and feet. I'd like to know where all the new and innovative cancer drugs and treatments are. | F | 72 | 6 months 1MG 1X day | 3/25/2015 | 2 | brest cancer stage 2 | hair thinning, insomnia, depression, neuropathy | I wonder what would happens if I stop to take this drug. I also think that my tinnitus and hear loss could be probably related to this drug or chemo treatment. | F | 54 | 3 years 1MG 1X day | 6/11/2012 | 4 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer | 5 years ago after having insomnia & excruciating shooting pains throughout my body, I decided after 6 weeks of taking Arimidex to stop taking the drug. 18 month later I got cancer in my left lung. I was told to go back on Arimidex and try to tolerate the side effects. I have now been on it for 3 years and am cancer free and I know that this medicine works great. I am now not working so I don't worry about not having great sleeping habits, I take naps when I can. I also have neuropathy tingling in my feet, legs & abdominal area, sometimes it is extreme & drives me crazy & other times it is not as bad. My hair has thinned a lot & it falls out more at times than other times. I just took break from the drug because I have now been diagnosed with osteoporosis so I decided to stop for a while. My Dr. told me today to get back on it soon. I feel so free not taking this drug, I want to stop it permanently but the possible return of the cancer is concerning. I have been told | F | 62 | 3 years 1 mg 1X day | 10/27/2011 | 2 | Stage 3 Breast Cancer | Thankfully, I didn't experience any more hot flashes than I had previously, from early menopause that I experienced due to a hysterectomy. Unfortunately, I did experience some very unpleasant side effects. I was hoping to find my body and brain recovering, becoming stronger and "healthier", regaining a sense of balance after the battle of chemo. Instead, I seem to just be on a downhill slope of increasing and new symptoms. My "chemo brain" doesn't seem to be getting any better. I'm having trouble finding the right words and remembering things. I can't seem to get enough sleep and even fall asleep at my desk and computer. Getting up to walk is SO painful and sometimes I just have to PULL myself up, FORCE a foot to move, and literally WILL my legs to move. I look like I'm twice my age, but once I'm up and going, I walk pretty well - just a bit slower than normal. The bone pain is the worst part of it all and is absolutely excruciating. I developed neuropathy from chem | Even with the problems that I've had with this drug, I'm so glad that these drugs exist, because if each drug can help keep just one person alive and cancer-free, it's doing its job. Recovery didn't come without discomfort and staying alive won't either! I'd rather be here with my family, friends, and precious children in my class and all the people that I have yet to meet with pain as my companion than to just feel like a sitting duck waiting helplessly for cancer to strike again. At least we're armed! | F | 49 | 4 months 1 mg 1X day | 2/2/2011 | 3 | IBC, Stage 3C,ER+ | In early months, experienced neuropathy in hands, mild joint/muscle pain. Now, neuropathy is gone, but experiencing extreme lower back pain, leg cramps, hip pain, insomnia, slight vaginal dryness. I was 50 going on 30; now feel 50 going on 70! | My Onc is switching med to Aromasin to see if any improvement. We'll see how that goes. I remain healthy by keeping up w/exercising, eating lots of fish&chicken, organics, juicing, etc. Take Vitamin D, Glucosamine/MSM & other antioxidants. Hate this med, but worried about alternative since I had advanced stage; could be at higher risk of recurrence. | F | 51 | 14 months 10 1X day | 10/6/2010 | 2 | Breast Cancer | depression, bone pain, neuropathy, headaches, hair loss, intense hot flashes and insomnia to name a few | I decided to quit after 2 and a half years because the depression was too intense and the bone pain was interfering with my activities of daily life. I quit 3/2010 and my depression is better, headaches are better but bone and nerve pain in my feet continue...does anyone else have annoying long term effects? | F | 63 | 30 months 1 mg 1X day | 10/6/2010 | 3 | Stage IIIc BC, ER +, HER - | Started as hot flashes, insomnia, & mild knee pain. Now have debilitating pain in my knees and ankles which causes mobility and balance issues. Had to have trigger releases done on both thumbs in the last six months. Also having elbow and neck stiffness coupled with neuropathy which is still present in my toes from chemotherapy. Hot flashes & inablity to sleep more than 5-6 hours a night remain a problem. Use vaginal moisturizer for dryness but have also experienced tears. Memory and forgetfulness issues are embarassing at work. There have been days when I wake up with severe headache and call out that day. I noticed in the past month that I have gained weight and my ankles and feet swell every day to the point of being painful. | Oncologist asks me what would be the better choice: Arimidex side effects or recurrance of breast cancer. I am just having a difficult time with having my first grandchild to enjoy and feeling like I am 90 years old. It seems like once I get up and move around my joints feel better but I also tire easily and have to sit down & rest. Then when I get up again, it starts all over again. NSAIDs help if I take dose first in morning but I am concerned that this joint pain will remain after finished treatment. Counting down the days to last dose of Arimidex! | F | 53 | 21 months 1mg 1X day | 8/11/2010 | 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 | 3 | Stage 1 BC Positive nodes | I have been taking Arimides for about 16 months now. I have had minor side effects, such as achy joints until the past week. I began having numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I certainly do not want to experience the neuropathy that I experienced with taking Taxol. I've also began having some serious dental problems. I brush 2-3 times a day, and floss daily. I have never had dental problems before. Therefore I am seriously thinking about stopping the medication. | I have remained cancer free, but I can't say that it is because of the Arimidex because honestly, I forget to take it sometimes. I really do not take it everyday. I believe that God is the one who heals us of Cancer. I really do appreciate having the Arimidex as source of comfort, believing that it helps, seems to work. | F | 54 | 1.5 years | 7/19/2009 | 2 | Stage 1 BC - ER+, Nodes neg. Lumpec | 1st 2+ years all ok - lately, finger & toe & lip neuropathy ( all feel numb) - transient bone and joint pain (sometimes my hips hurt so much it is hard to walk, and sometimes my thumbs are totally disabled...but it comes and goes.) Also, I have been having nausea in the a.m., and extremely low glucose readings (like 55) in the morning, resulting in sweats, heart palpitations, and a "swooning" feeling.I am NOT diabetic. I have an appointment with my oncologist in 2 weeks. We'll see about continuing. I have also discontinued Fosamax - it tore up my stomach.I do have a hiatal hernia which may have made the Fosamax difficult.I also had bone loss in my jaw. OK - I trashed the Fosamax in spite of the MD's recommendation. I have increased my Calcium +vitamin D intake. That'll have to do. | I thought I was tolerating it very well. The first few months I had night sweats, but that went away. Then I started having the "numb" feeling in my fingertips and toes about 6 months ago. Now it is in my hands and around my mouth.I have 2 years to go on this med, and I am not sure I want to do it. These symptoms do not appear in the Rx insert. Anyone else having them? | F | 63 | 3 years | 4/16/2009 | 2 | Invasive ductal BC, Stage 3A | Weight gain, neuropathy worse than during chemo, depression, joint pain, decreased sex drive | All these symptoms could be part of menopause, which I was thrust into with chemo and now with Arimedex. Took Tamoxifen for 6 months, but after going 1 yr, w/o a period Doc switched me to Arimedex. I'm glad to find company for my misery -- I've been saying WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? Would love to hear if these symptoms go away when 5 years of taking A. are over. I am considering not going the whole 5 yrs. | F | 51 | 4 months | 3/13/2009 | 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 | 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 |
ARIMIDEX (ANASTROZOLE): Anastrozole is used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause. Some breast cancers are made to grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Anastrozole decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers. FDA Approval Date: 1995-12-27 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)