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 |
| 1 | stage 1 breast cancer | In the mornings when I wake up I literally have to pull myself up out of the bed. When I start to walk I have to hold onto the wall because my legs will not move. My feet feel like they weigh 100 lbs each as I will them to move me forward. After I get moving around I am okay, but for the first 15 minutes or so I feel like I am 100 years old !!!! Also if I sit still in a chair I have the same problem. I feel all stoved up and it is hard to get going, but again, once I get going I am okay. I walk 4 miles everyday and I am fine doing that. It is just if I stop that things freeze up. I have been debating stopping the drug, but I am afraid my cancer will come back if I do. If it were not for that I would definitely stop taking it. | F | 51 | 4 months 1X day | 4/19/2011 | 1 | breast cancer stage 1 | I took Arimidex for 5 months, the first month it did not bother me, but after that the horrible joint pain, loss of hair, fatigue started to kick in. It just kept getting worse and worse, I finally just stopped, cold turkey. my doctor was very upset when I told her about a month after stopping. But by then I was finally living again. It is so not worth living if you are going to be feeling like that. I have decided not to take any drugs and now have the energy to exercise and enjoy life. I think these doctors should have to take this medication themselves, because they just "don't get it" . This drug should be taken off the market! | F | 69 | 1mg 1X day | 4/17/2011 | 2 | stage 1 bc est & HER2 pos node neg | everything described here. Recently very abnorbmal sleep. Can't fall asleeep until 5 am even though I feel tired! Not able to function normally. Energy very sporadic even though sleep 9-12 hrs | A few months ago literally felt like the drug was going to take me down. Onc denies symptoms are from the drug. I know better thanks to this site. What is helping is: started taking a B complex along with multi, & herbal adrenal support that contains guarana (seed), mate (leaf), kola nut (seed), licorice (root), watercress (leaf), wild yam root. Had some concern about yam root because I've heard it is a plant estrogen, but found out it must be synthesized in a lab to have the effect. Onc ok'd. Also taking homeopathic arimidex from health & nutrition store (homeopathic is a very diluted form that is supposed to act like a vaccine against side effects - you take along with prescription arimedex) I'm not big on that sort of thing but I was desperate and now feel like I can make it through. Will take the drug 5 yrs so I know I did all I could. | F | 51 | 4 years 1 mg 1X day | 4/8/2011 | 1 | Stage 3 n1 breast cancer | extreme joint pains especially knees | thsnk god I found this site. I thought it was just me. Came on suddenly with sharp pain one night and then could hardly walk next day. Went from feeling great being able to exercise to not being able to walk without pain. Feel like a 90 year old. My mother who is 78 can get around better than I can. Depression sleepless nights also. I'm going to insist to be tank off. Even pain medicine is not helping. | F | 50 | 24 days 1X day | 4/6/2011 | 3 | Stage 2 Invasive Lobular | Brain fog, belly fat, joint pain, inability to lose weight despite diet and exercise, hot flashes, sporadic sleep pattern, general sloth because of lack of sleep | Started taking Arimidex 1/2010 and switched to generic in 8/2010. I have worked through most of my symptoms, and do not think mine were nearly as severe as some others have listed. I exercise 6 days/week, alternating days between weight training and cardio. If the knees hurt too much, I swim. Am very careful of how much and what I eat, and have managed to lose a few pounds; however, the weight around the midsection won't budge, despite lots of exercise and stomach crunches. But I am sleeping better and have little pain, and I credit the exercise routine for that. Would rather not take any drugs, but having cancer recur or spread is too scary, so I'll adapt. | F | 66 | 15 months 1 mg 1X day | 3/31/2011 | 3 | Breast cancer IDC no margines/nodes | Was already experiencing hot flashes before taking Arimidex. Had lumpechtomy, 5 days of brachytherepy, and was supposed to do 4 rounds of chemo, but only got thru 2, made me really sick. Cancer was estrogen positive. Been on Arimidex for almost 6 months, starting to have some joint pain/stiffness, but nothing I can't handle. Taking Advil helps a great deal. I find that walking helps, I try to do 30 mins every day, but can't always get it in as I work 40+ hours weeks. I also am taking Estroven Nightime as well as a hand full of vitamins daily (multi, turmeric, calcium, probiotic, acai berry, revesterole, IP6 & inositol). The estroven has helped me sleep better, and my hot flashes have miminized some. If this helps keep the cancer from recurring, I can deal with these side effects. I'm hoping they won't get worse. | F | 56 | 5 months 1 mg 1X day | 3/30/2011 | 1 | Breast cancer stage 1 | severe debilitating fatigue, short term memory loss, joint pain in knees, depression, anti social, foggy brain inability to focus | I felt like I was 90 years old. Severe exhaustion, no desire perform normal functions. Short term memory loss, for example putting clothes in washer and finding them 3 days later. I was blaming the fatigue on the radiation. It got worse over 6 months not better. Found it difficult to converse or concentrate on normal household paperwork. Could not do physical exercise. I was working out 7-10 hours a week prior to starting the drug. I was sleeping 10-12 hours a day with no energy, as opposed to 7 hours a day and full of energy. I avoided social situations due to extreme fatigue. I stopped taking the drug and all side affects stopped within 24 hours. Energy is back, no joint pain. Clear headed and conversation again. | F | 57 | 6 months 1 mg 1X day | 3/29/2011 | 2 | Breast cancer | Severe joint pain, sleeplessness, sciatica, hot flushes,foot pain, trigger thumb, stiff fingers.Lived on pain killers which didn't work.I want quality of life instead of quantity. | The first 6 months were tolerable but then each day got worse.I forced myself to take Arimidex for 12 months and have now been on tamoxifen for 2 months, so far it's o.k. At least I can walk again without crying in pain.Tamoxifen has given me some of my old life back but it's still early days. | F | 67 | 1 years 1X day | 3/28/2011 | 1 | breast cancer | horrible - I quit after 6 months.. | I am now on a 2 year death sentence.. The cancer has spread to my liver and is inoperable | F | 78 | 6 months 1X day | 3/26/2011 | 1 | breast cancer | Extreme bone pain, insomnia, depression | I have been on Arimidex fro 5 years post chemo, stage 2, HERS Negative, progesterone negative, estrogen positive , L--modified mastectomy. I have been in level 8-10 pain for the last 3 years. Quality of life all but diminished, none and knee pain was extreme. No relief asleep or awake. On March 1, 2011, after doing exhaustive research on this drug, I STOPPED TAKING IT! My plan was to stop taking it for 30 days to see if there was any relief and find out if the Arimidex was the cause of the pain. I have been on a cane since November 2010. In the first 10 days my pain decreased by 30%. As of today, March 26, 2011. I am off the cane, walking with some speed and able to sustain my gait for at least 1/4 block. My pain level is down to level 2-3. I get up and want to do things. I feel lighter and my pain centers are finally calming down. I will NOT begin taking it again. | F | 53 | 5 years 30 1X day | 3/25/2011 | 2 | Breast cancer | Abrupt menonopause. Weight gain ceased but cannot lose any weight depite having no appetite. Now suffering from insomnia, feeling very old, no energy for everyday life. Hot flushes, night sweats, memory loss, concentration problems, pain in feet, fingers, back, ankles , hips, neck. Fluid retention, hair loss, dry throat, no strength in body - even trouble getting out of the bath, trouble walking after sitting or sleeping, stiff joints, severe chronic tiredness, constipation, waking up with headaches. | POISON IN A BOTTLE - worse than the chemo. Was on Tamoxifen for 1 year - severe tiredness, gained 20kg. and asked oncologist to change my medication. Was given Arimidex 5 months ago and this is even worse.How can Armidex be effective if it decreases oestrogen levels but our fat cells increase and manufacture more oestrogen? Seriously considering not taking this medication. Oncologist wanted me on Tamoxifen for 5 years and then Arimidex for another 3 years. Will contact my oncologist to establish the percentage effectiveness of Arimidex as this drug decreases quality of life. | F | 53 | 5 months 1 1X day | 3/23/2011 | 3 | B.C. estrogen-positive | DeQuervain's tendonitus, achillis tendonitis, ankles, now rotator cuff | I was very motivated to take this as with a family history of heart trouble, they didn't want to give me Tamoxifen. I was glad to have something to keep the cancer away and pushed through the severe symptoms. I was not having any problems, worked through the symptoms, but then was forced to take the generic when it came on the market. Have had new and very rough side effects like I was starting all over again. There is a difference - even the law does not require the generic to be exactly the same. Very unhappy. | F | 59 | 6 years 1X day | 3/22/2011 | 4 | Breast Cancer DCIS and Invasive | Joint pain, foggy brain, chronic tiredness, severe aching especially in early morning. | I am willing to tolerate the side effects if this drug keeps my cancer at bay. I have been told I am to be put on the generic version and am concerned about the efficacy and additional side effects. I would love to read about others' experience of the generic. | F | 59 | 19 months 1mg 1X day | 3/19/2011 | 5 | breast cancer | Stiff back, dry mouth, hot flashes | I was prescribed Arimidex in 2002 after being treated for invasive lobular breast cancer followed by lumpectomy of an .8 cm tumor, 0/17 lymph nodes & 7 weeks radiation in 2001. I took the Arimidex for approximately 3 months and stopped it because of brain fog & hot flashes. It was the biggest mistake I ever made because in November 2010 I found out my cancer had metastasized to almost every bone in my body including my skull, many clusters of lymph nodes and to the intra peritoneum on my stomach. My oncologist immediately put me on Arimidex and after only 2 1/2 months my cancer has shrunk by 83%! If I had stayed on Arimidex after my first dx. of bc in 2001 I would probably not be writing this now. My first breast cancer was very, very small and I was sure it would never come back but I was wrong, it took 9 years for it to return and when it did, it returned with a vengeance! Today I am very grateful that I have Arimidex because right now it is saving my life. Don't think because your cancer was small and stage 1 that it won't return, mine did and I will be fighting it off for the rest of my life! | F | 62 | 10 weeks 1 mg 1X day | 3/15/2011 | 3 | breast cancer | After 4 years I have had urinary infection, bone and joint pain, depression, foggy brain and insomnia. My front teeth are now spitting into long slender shards. I am having to have veneers put on at a considerable price. I also have bone thinning. | I have had a hysterectomy before my breast cancer. I would have liked to have taken Tamoxofin, but my oncology would not allow it. She felt that arimidex was the best way to go.After all the side effects I wonder if it is worth it. Hopefully the side effects will go away. | F | 63 | 4 years 1 mg 1X day | 3/15/2011 | 1 | 2nd breast cancer in 9 years | After a mastectomy for a 1.5cm lump, no lymph nodes involved, and chemotherapy, I was told I'd be "sterile." Then My oncologist prescribed Arimidex generic, 1mg just like everyone else. Symptoms: floating severe joint pain, especially knees, needle-like jabs, swollen feet/ankles, elevated systolic blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, decreased kidney function, major fatigue, depression, weight gain of 20#, insommnia, heart palpitations, mild hot flashes, felt 90, couldn't get up after sitting more than 20 minutes, incontinence, seldom able to go out, mis-speaking and hearing like "chemo brain". | Arimidex is similar to chemo, but worse with more symptoms. I've filed a report with FDA's (on-line) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program, which includes side effects to medications. I quit taking Arimidex on my own after 3 months because I wasn't going to live the best remaining years of my life, 68 to 73, debilitated by 11 symptoms. After 3 months off my oncologist insists the remaining side effects (mostly leg pain & stiffness that wake me at night) are probably arthritis. Yet on Askapatient I find the support of over 1,800 women, many who have discontinued the drug and often still suffer, sometimes for years. The FDA needs to know this...please report! I still can't stand without pushing myself up, never had arthritis before. Arimidex has a 6% to 12% chance of working, severe side effects, should only be prescribed to late-stage patients or those who don't experience life-altering symptoms. Otherwise Arimidex should be used only on a monitored trial basis to see if symptoms appear, then withdrawn unless the patient chooses to continue. This is chemo/poison in a pill. It stops estrogen, a natural function. Too much bad for one questionable good. Be your own advocate! It's your body. | F | 69 | 90 days 1 mg 1X day | 3/14/2011 | 1 | breast cancer | Severe Body Aches, sore throat, sleepless mights, significant nerve damage,low will to go on,crying everyday, no longer able to work eachday, traveling pain, etc...etc... | I have not taken ARIMIDEX for 2yrs now, and never have gotten over the side effects. I spend alot of time fearing for those who will suffer the same fate as I am. My life is changed as I knew it. I feel like I am atleast 150, that is until I take my heavey pain meds, that have been given me due to the nerve damage caused by ARIMIDEX. I frightens me to know how casually my Dr.'s who perscribed ARIMIDEX are taking my permanent damage to me and my body. "They are aware" as one Dr. put it, but He said "do you know how many woman we are helping!" God help those who have taken our life as we knew it from us! They could have at the very least warned us, or told us to look into this web site and let us decide. No, instesd they frightened me into staying on ARIMIDEX. I only had a small lump and negative in my nodes! what are they doing treating all of us the same. They are charging over 700$ a visit for God's sake, can they atleast treat us as individuals! All's I ever asked was for help from my Oncologist, to find what was happening to me! They knew I was getting sicker and sicker by the day. I GOT SICK FROM THE FIRST DAY I TOOK ARIMIDEX! They knew it was'nt for me, but yet they ridiculed me for questioning! why?, why? would a care giver do this to me, an innocent victim. Another Dr. finally told me to quit taking ARIMIDEX when he seen the likes of me. Ladies it's been 2 years and my life is a horror! I think about others all day crying out to my GOD,PLEASE HELP U | F | 50 | 9 months 1 1X day | 3/13/2011 | 3 | breast cancer | Horrible aches and pains in my joints. After my body adjusted the pain did stop. | I have now been off the drug for about 6 years, my joints are starting to ache again, especially my hips. Does anyone else have this problem? Or has anyone heard if this will happen. My docs didn't seem to want to be very forthcoming with the negative points. | F | 60 | 3 years 1 m 1X day | 3/11/2011 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Aching joints, tiredness, lack of stamina, headaches, depression; a general feeling of not being "on task"; muddle-headed. | I'm thinking about stopping using these pills. I've done it for 2 years, and I just don't think I can keep taking them. I feel so bad. But at the same time, I'm afraid if I don't take them, the cancer will come back. | F | 57 | 2 years 1 MG 1X day | 3/11/2011 | 4 | Breast Cancer | After having a total hysterectomy 2 months ago, I switched from Tamoxifen to Anastrozole. The only side effects I notice (which may be related, or not) is skin itchiness and increased urge to urinate during sleep time. I have been getting up during the middle of the night more frequently to go to the bathroom. I take the medication at bedtime. I have not noticed any other severe side effects. | Like many others, it is difficult to go off the drug when the consequence could be negative with an increased recurrence of breast cancer. The side effects have not affected the quality of life. | F | 45 | 1 months 1mg 1X day | 3/8/2011 |