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 |
| 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 | stage 1 bc | Dried out like a raisin. Joint pain, especially hips and feet. Hair thinning and hair loss. Some sleep interference but not as bad as I feared it might be. Although now I think that symptom may be increasing. | This website is awesome, as the kids say. I read it last fall when I couldn't decide what to do about the side effects. Dry skin everywhere. My scalp itched and I thought I had lice. I thought I had yeast infection. And I had to change to softer toilet tissue. I mean everywhere! Hair thinning and falling out. joint pain. Increasing foot pain to the point of almost falling when I got out of bed. Yes, I felt 80+. So talked to onc. No sympathy. But willing to switch to Femara. Off of everything for a couple of weeks and others commented that I "seemed myself again." On Femara one month. HORRIBLE! The pain was better and the dryness. But total brain fog. I made a hotel reservation that I still can't remember. Interfering with work and home life. That's when I found this site. Read someone's comment about going on 1/2 dose. I liked that idea. Didn't want to risk going off altogether. Doc arranged estrogen level test off of all meds and then back on 1/2 Arimidex. Off of all meds, level higher than expected for postmenopause. On 1/2 pill the estrogen level was "negligible", in other words, they couldn't measure it because it was so low. Have been on 1/2 pill for several months. Hair grew back. Still some hip/joint pain but none in feet. Minimal dryness. But brain fog from Femara never oompletely lifted. Am deciding about trying Aromasin. Am going off for a couple of weeks again and will try to figure it out. The postings on Aromos | F | 59 | 30 months 1X day | 5/24/2012 | 1 | Stage 3 b/cancer and lymphs | I'm really struggling I have monthly zoladex and arimidex. I'm so tired I can't function really depressed, painfull bones severe hot flushes have sickness & dihoreah daily and can't think straight short term memory bad I can't take anymore but have 4 kids and am so worried b/c will come back but can't take anymore | F | 39 | 2 months | 5/4/2012 | 1 | Adjuvent therapy for Breast cancer | My knees became so stiff I could barely stand up from a sitting position or in the morning upon wakening. Prior to taking the drug I was running 3-4 times per week, including a half-marathon. My fingers felt stiff although not as much as my knees. | After a year of discontinuing this drug, my knees I still experience stiffness and joint pain in my knees. | F | 52 | 4 months 1 mg 1X day | 4/30/2012 | 4 | right breast cancer -took Tamoxifer | I have sweating and muscle spasms-was on tamoxifen for 5 yrs. and now Arimidix for another 5.Had right breast mascectomy in 2004 and reconsruct surgery(flap kind) Gained small amount of weight-not sure it's from the med.-had no bone loss before going on this med. but 2 yrs. later ,I do but it is minimal. Feet hurt if I am on them for an hour but this is from the effects of chemo and not the Arimidix . Now, I am worried about side effects AFTER I go off this med. That has happened to some people. | F | 66 | 2 years 1mg. 1X day | 4/20/2012 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Tired, bone and joint pain feeling like I am 89 and a half years old ( 55yrs), hard to get up from sitting or laying position, Liver enzymes elevated,pain on right side, onc took me off hoping my liver will settle down. Been off a week and feeling so much better. | I believe Arimidex is what damaged my liver and hoping by stopping it that it will repair itself. | F | 55 | 8 months 30 1X day | 4/20/2012 | 2 | Breast cancer | Wow I didn't know why it's hard to get up from sitting position and wrist and finger pain until reading these comments. I had tram flap surgery and the pain from that was and is worse and distracted me, to a point. I just started having carpal tunnel and didn't link that to the arimidex; had no idea joint pain was a side effect. Thanks for sharing | F | 57 | 4 years 1mg | 4/14/2012 | 1 | Yes | Were on arimidex for 2 yrs, then femara, then tamoxifen. My side effects were substancial, got to a stage of not walking etc. So made the hard decision........ | Arimidex, gave me no brain, (were in corp world) stopped me from walking. I liked gym... I made my own choice albeit to me. Hmm lets give to the cause, in time will get better and better with funding. .. Do not like to put down, the levels, we are lucky things have come along way. Living is great......... OK, I had really bad body responses to arimidex. If a family member asked should they take it, I would advise NO. And risk the aftermath, as I am... Yet after, everything, then recently carpal tunel etc cannot pick up or use my hand , 4 yrs later and everything this drug has done to my body. Just think there needs to be more research...... FOR the next generation. | F | 51 | 2 years 30 1X day | 4/13/2012 | 2 | Breast Cancer, Stage 2,estrogen pos | Joint pain, numbness, extreme fatique, insomnia, spacey brain, poor memory, difficulty breathing, unable to walk or bicycle - leg muscle weakness, thinning of hair, weight gain | My first cancer was Stage 1 BC. Had a lateral mastectomy followed by chem, no radiation, followed by Tamoxifen. After 3 1/2 yars, I had a TIA, and asked the ono. to take me off of it, and refused to go on anything else. In 2008, I got BC again in remaining breast - stage 2, lymph node involvement, estrogen positive. Went thru 6 months of chemo, 6 weeks of daily radiation, put on Arimidex. After a few months, I noticed extreme joint pain in hands and feet, insomnia, weight gain, thinning of hair. Talk to Dr., and he said he was sorry, but I needed the med., so I had to suck it up. Almost two years of taking it, I found myself losing energy - like when I was in chemo. After Christmas 2011, I was in a chair unable to get up to do anything like walk or daily household tasks. I was so tired. I just couldn't imagine staying liked that, so I got out, joined the gym, tried to walk, bicycle, anything. I couldn't do it, couldn't breathe, heart pounded. I ended up in the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack - but no, heart is fine. Thought maybe the cancer was back. Dr. thought it might be Arimidex. Have an appt. coming up - he suggested a drug holiday- I feel uncertain about it, but I can't live like this. I am 70, I don't want to spend my remaining years unable to enjoy children and grandkids. | F | 70 | 2 years 1 mg 1X day | 4/11/2012 | 1 | had double mastectomy | everything on package insert list,cant walk from curb to office to work,severe swelling and ulcers of mouth,chest pain,extreme fatigue with insomnia and soaking night sweats major problem | I cant talk,or eat,or brush teeth while taking it and can not function. Had to quit it. | F | 55 | 30 days 1X day | 4/6/2012 | 1 | STAGE IIIA BREAST CANCER | Joint pain and joints lipping in/out of socks. Weight gain, even with exercise. These seem to be permanent. | When I started taking this drug there were only three entries on this site. Now 9 years later I still regret taking this drug. Exercise, stable shoes, calcium with vitamin D3 and emu oil capsules help me manage the joint issues. Weight management is difficult. It also seems to me that some of the comments from the first couple of years are missing. | F | 51 | 6 months 10MG? 1X day | 4/6/2012 | 1 | St 1 er and PR+ node neg | Severe bone and hip pain,numbness,unableto walk hadto stop work extreme fatigue lightening jolts up and down legs severe back andhip pain now ontamoxifen much better but residual effects last | F | 66 | 9 months 1 Mg daily | 4/4/2012 | 1 | breast cancer | memory loss, painful joints, numbness in hands and feet, tired, slow, miserable depression... | onc says take it for 5 years. insurance will cancel me if i don't | F | 52 | 22 months 1 1X day | 4/1/2012 | 1 | bc2 her3+estrogen positive | Horrible pain. These pills contain gasoline and glycol. People that's poison. Allergist did test found I'm allergic to this. Once u go on there's no going back. Do research and go after FDA. Put them out of office, they new about this!!!! Its gasoline! Do u really think ur going to get better swallowing gasoline every day. Something wrong. All side effects same. All pills same ingredients. Look up glycol petroleum etc.. wake up Ginny pigs. No study proven it works. Die with your head held high. Don't try and kill itself. I believe chemo and radiation should be enough. Herceptin was the cure!!! Prove me wrong 4 out of 1000 woman took it for 10 years and got it back. 8 out of 1000 women didn't take it and didn't get it back. American cancer institute wont tell u that because they are getting paid NY drug company to do the study!!! Do the math!!! Would love to be proven wrong, anyone care to go up against me, please don't let me stop u, go for it!!! | F | 64 | 4 months 1mg | 3/25/2012 | 4 | Breast cancer | Slight weight gain. Hot flashes no worse then before medication. | F | 65 | 5 months 1 1X day | 3/21/2012 | 1 | BC Stg. 2, 17 LN removed; 2 invade | chronic bladder inflammation; borderline osteoporosis; high cholesterol; hot flashes; insomnia; | I am 74, Dec. 29, 2005 told I had a tumor in right breast--had passed THREE mammograms, and two docs missed tumor as well. I found it under armpit--won't fit mammo plate. Doc told me only 1 in 10 BC's are hereditary & mammos miss 20% of tumors--lucky me. My BC estrogen receptive, 2006 had lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, told need Arimidex for 5 years. Ignoring 20 side effects mentioned in warnings, in two years I had chronic UTI's/bladder inflammation, cholesterol up from lifetime of 170's to 230, bone density (had ostopenia already) within decimal point of spinal osteoporosis, & for 1st time , hideous hot flashes & insomnia. Told oncologist I refused to take it any longer, I'd rather go through BC again than be on dialysis (bladder/kidney failure), fractured hip/wheelchair (osteoporosis), stroke/heart attack from blocked arteries. He OK, said in 2 years, I'd gained 75% of Arim. benefits, asked if be willing to tamoxifen--agreed for one year only-told I'd need lifetime statins & UTI medication. Dumped UTI prescription, urologist OK's cranberry gels instead, & now rarely need prescription. Told ob/gyn get I mammos to humor her--now get BREAST COIL MRI's. Arimidex?--if estrogen caused BC every woman on planet would die of BC. Keep eye on your kidneys, cholesterol and bone density, girls. If over 50, remember--Big Pharma tests drugs on people in 20's & 30's with prime-of-life kidneys and livers--organs that process meds--read ALL side effects careful | F | 74 | 2 years 1X day | 3/20/2012 | 3 | Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - Early | Brain fog, forgetfulness, memory loss, some insomnia | Pretty mild side effects, but frustrating given my occupation. Memory loss is different than just "old age" - instead of my brain searching thru my memory banks, it's like it's looking in an empty room. Sooner or later the info comes to me, but it's very frustrating - especially when I'm running the financial end of our family business. But if it cuts my risk of recurrence in half, it's worth it to me. I'm just trying to find ways to mitigate these darn cognitive side effects. | F | 59 | 6 months 1 MG 1X day | 3/13/2012 | 1 | breast cancer estrogen receptive | Bad, bad hip, thigh, leg pain. Great difficulty getting up and sitting down. Walk with much problems. Started after 4 months on the medicine and got worse. People talk a lot about not having good Vit D levels: I have had 0 to low levels for years despite taking 50,000 IU Vit D wkly plus more than 1,000 daily. I had this condition way before I got cancer. My vitamin intake has NOT helped my bone pain. | Have quit the medicine 2 wks ago. Have had a very slight lessening of the pain but surprisingly no improvement in trying to walk. Doubt if I will take a substitute now being offered. I want quality of life for the time I have left; don't feel I will get it if I continue taking this type of medicine. Question: Do the side effects really go away? I am anxious to know. | F | 76 | 6 months 1 mg 1X day | 3/8/2012 | 1 | BC Stage 2, in 1 node, lumpectomy | None - I stood up to my oncologist(s) and told them I was NOT going to take Armidex. Thanks to you on this website! | I decided my body had had enough poison with chemo & radiation after being dx in 8/09. I said NO to my oncologist who said I needed to take arimidex. She then suggested I try to loose weight. I am down 18 pounds so far and feel fine. I asked her if she would take it if she was in my shoes and she would not give me a straight answer. Yes, I maybe taking a chance but you poor women who are on this and hurt/feel old - GET OFF of it! - just because a doctor says you should take it does not mean it's good for you. Eat right,excercise, take a greens drink and turmeric daily and stay away from processed foods. I just had to change oncologists and he is preaching at me to take it too - I flat out told him NO, and that's my final answer. Those of you who are at the point of being told you need to take it -think hard on your decision. It might be too late once you start and for some it sounds like the damage is irreversible. I don't regret my decision not to take and if the cancer comes back, so be it. I just know in my gut that this drug is not the answer for me. | F | 55 | 0 days n/a 1X day | 3/6/2012 | 3 | Breast cancer | mild insomia for first week. Mild stiffness in hand and twinges in feet. Occasional pain in back and chest, but not much so far. Taking gabapentin for hot flashes. | i am supposed to take drug for five years. I csn tolerate current level of pain. | F | 58 | 60 days 1mg 1X day | 3/4/2012 |