ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)

Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)

Filter Results

Compare ARIMIDEX with similar:
 ANTINEOPLASTICS AROMATASE INHIBITORS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

Results are sorted by Date added.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 2  DCIS stage 1 ER + node negative Severe joint/muscle pain. "Claw hands" in the morning and difficulty walking down my stairs due to leg stiffness, My ankles feel at times like they are going to snap. Poor memory, insomnia. Low libido with vaginal tearing the last time I attempted to have sex 2 months ago.Very painful intercourse even using every lubricant availble. I feel like I've aged 20-30 years. My 90 y.o. mother is much more limber than me. Also, had an acute appendicitis last week with emergency surgery. Surgery/radiation was much easier for me to handle physically. My quality of life has decreased due to chronic mod/severe joint/muscle pain. I've gained 12 lbs. and have little interest in walking/exercising. I do work 40 hours/week and must to survive finacially. Also, I like to work. Yes, I'm having a hard time with all the pain/discomfort. I'm talking to my oncologist tomorrow. Maybe I'll try Tamoxifin? Has anyone been on that? Also, I tried one month of Aromasin 25mg without any improvment in symptoms. F 54 10 months
1mg 1X day
7/19/2010
 5  BC Stage 1 no nodes Hair loss, bone loss I was fine on the drugs the first 3 years.Now I am experiencing minor joint pain and major hair loss. My five years are up in Aug. and I hope my hair grows back. Has anyone had this experience with hair loss? Does it grow back when the drug is stopped? F 56 4 years
1X day
7/18/2010
 2  breast cancer severe tendonitis in heels and hands. all over bone pain that has steadily grown worse. severe tiredness and depression. I am considering going off this drug,I plan on discussing this decision with my Dr. in Aug. F 67 3 years
1mg 1X day
7/12/2010
 4  stage IV breast cancer creaky, painful joints, particularly the knees and foot including top of foot and achilles heel. Particularly painful in the morning when get up (very difficult to walk down stairs, one stair at a time) or if I have been sitting a while. dry skin and lots of new wrinkles. Vaginal dryness and loss of libido. But what does that matter with all the weight gain in the middle. Soft nails. sometimes painful scalp. No dispute from supportive oncologist re side effects. Says that is why 30% or more stop taking Arimidex. But since I'm currently NED & I want to stay that way, I'm sticking with Arimidex until something better comes along. When I had a luggage snafu and was without my arimidex for a week, I lost a couple of pounds, got my waistline back because my weight redistributed, and my joints did not hurt as much. Also taking Herceptin every 3 weeks and Zometa every 4 weeks plus thyroid (because of radiation damage to thyroid). So maybe some of the side effects attributable to Herceptin such as the painful scalp. I take stuff which reduces the side effects and helps me live with the side effects: double my omega 3's, 6 grams of vitamin D with natto K-2, zyflamend, boswellia serratta, and glucosamine, chondroitin with MSM F 70 26 months
1 mg. 1X day
7/10/2010
Email
 2  BC Extreme fatigue, weight gain, swollen feet, joint ache results in difficulty climbing stairs, moodiness. I'm considering getting off after a year and a half. I'm tired of being tired. I find it hard to feel the gratitude in my life that I felt before I started taking this pill. I was a very peaceful, calm person even after I was diagnosed and going thru radiation. But now, I'm just angry. About everything. I'm tired of being that way. This boils down to a quality of life. I'd rather risk the recurrence of breast cancer than stay on this drug. I hope to meet with my oncologist this week to discuss or rather, inform her, that I am stopping this drug. F 58 1.5 years
1 MG 1X day
7/6/2010
 1  EARLY STAGE ER+ BREAST CANCER ****Dear BC Survivors****, Am now much content with decision to cease Arimidex, after taking for 11 months. Can't wait to feel better, physically. Used to walk 5 x wk. with friends, gradually decreased to every other day, for past 2 months unable to exercise AT ALL. Must undertake only survival requirements for self and family. Son and wife are Int. Med. MD's, but not experienced w/ this med. When asked to describe symptoms to them, response is: "Not sure if extreme pain is causing exhaustion, or if severe exhaustion causes pain." Discussed w/ oncolog. who stated that she has "no problem w/ you going off this med." To summarize: DX, pre-surgical & radiation treatments/post-radiation recuperation were NOTHING compared to the incapacitation I've experienced while taking Arimidex for only 11 months, and I'm a Pollyanna by nature and a non-wimpy army brat. It was a huge decision, but I look forward to resuming non-survival activity, especially because only 15 min. of vigorous exercise per day leads to 50% reduction in breast cancer. Can't wait to feel well enough to resume walks w/ friends. Here's hoping you have minimal side effects. God bless us all, as well as our families. F 57 11 months
1 MG. 1X day
7/5/2010
 1  breast cancer Since I started arimidex I can't sleep and have been having heart palpitations...atleast that is what I think they are. My hands are tingling and my hips hurt. I can't believe all this is happening so fast on this drug....I just got started. I just took myself off today...the heart palpitations it too much. I was doing fine on tamoxifen for about two years but had my ovaries removed about 6 months ago so my doctor recommended me to start arimidex. I was doing fine on tamoxifen....no real side affects other than the usually hand swelling here and there...no real hot flashes but every blue moon. My hair even grew back on tamoxifen. I will see my oncologist in two weeks and will insist on going back on tamoxifen or taking no drugs at all. Like others have stated whatever will be will be. I don't want to live my life in pain or damage my heart. F 39 2 weeks
1X day
7/3/2010
 1  stage 2 breast cancer joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, bad hand pain. weight gain. Fuzzy thinking, depression, tired all the time. This drug is pure poison!!! I have never been on any meds in my life until this drug. So all the side effects I was having were surely from this small little white pill. I took myself off of it on my own and I will take my chances. My life is more important then being crippled if I stayed on this for five years. WHO INVENTED THIS PILL, probably a MAN!!! I took it for six month, been off of it for almost two months and must say I am feeling much better. I still have some pain in my hands, but the hip pain doesn't wake me up at night anymore and I can easily go up and down stairs again. Chemo and Radiation wasn't as bad as this pill. I am cancer free, all testing and ex-rays were excellent. So my life now is WITHOUT THIS POISON PILL! Whatever will be will be!!!! F 66 6 months
1X day
6/26/2010
Email
 1  Stage 1 Breast Cancer joint pains, especially back and ankles, fatigue that sleep does not resolve, memory changes I did have some of the back pain prior to Arimidex but the ankle and foot pain began about 1 month after starting it. The fatigue has actually caused me to shorten my work day occasionally to come home and nap; I see a chiropractor, physical therapist and am lucky enough to be able to have fairly regular massages. Unfortunately when I get up in the morning, it takes me some time to get moving. Getting up from a chair the same. F 65 9 months
1 mg 1X day
6/26/2010
 4  B C stage 2 nodes 2 back pain, leg pain, headaches, occ hot flushes, low libido, severe tiredness, depression, weight LOSS..... originally put on tamoxifen, but had severe cramping, so my oncologist put me on Arimidex. I am trying to tolerate and work around all of these side effects. I just take 1 day at a time. But I seem to be the only one that has experienced weight LOSS since being on this drug. I have gone from a size 12 to a size 6 ( Australian sizeing here )My appetite for most of the time is just non existant.... The only thing that I am concerned about though is the fact that I refused chemotherapy ( although it was recommended ). So I am relying on this drug to keep me cancer free. But of course I did take the radiotherapy. My sister died of B.C. ( only 40 yrs of age ), my father died of brain cancer, and my other sister recently has been through throat cancer. I just pray every day that all will be o.k. Thank god for modern science. Even with the horrid side effects. F 55 3 days
30mg 1X day
6/25/2010
 1  Breast cancer Crippeling of the hands, intense hand pain, joint pain, depression, exhaustion I took Arimidix for 60 days from May 2009 to July 2009 and after intense crippeling of the hands I swithced to Femara. I took Femara for 5 months with the same results . I stopped Jan 12, 2010 and in June the symptoms were finally gone. F 67 60 days
30 mg 1X day
6/25/2010
 4  Stage 1 Breast Cancer I had complained to my doctor about muscle & joint aches, tiredness, fatigue, weight gain, etc. My doctor took me off of Arimidex for 3 months. I still had all those symptoms so we knew that it wasn't all the Arimidex symptoms but other issues as well. I am back on the Arimidex but feel much better knowing it is other things causing those symptoms. That sounds ridiculous but I do feel better. My doctor also explained that my body has gone through a lot with the radiation therapy so just be kind to myself as much as possible. F 64 3 years
1MG 1X day
6/24/2010
 4  breast cancer Bone pain, and mental cloudiness! I have felt tired most of the day and most of the time. I promised my two adult daughters that I would continue taking arimidex no matter what. So, here I am, which is a good thing. My quality of life has deteriorated so much. I can have a few good days, and then---physically down and out for several. When I am at work or out with family, friends, I pretty much "lie" now and say, "Oh, I am doing fine and feel well." Surely, they are tired of hearing me complain during the prior months. F 55 23 months
1mg 1X day
6/23/2010
 3  Breast cancer stage 1 F 51
1X day
6/23/2010
Email

Patient History
 3  Breast Cancer IIA Exhaustion, memory problems, extreme lower back pain, severe osteoporosis; finger neuropothy (numbness) MY doctor is concerned about the quick progression of bone loss even though I take Boniva. She suggested I could try Tamoxifen, however I'm not in a rush to add/change symptoms. I exercise regularly. I sometimes feel as exhausted as when undergoing chemotherapy. Good news - tumor markers are normal. F 54 3 years
1MG 1X day
6/21/2010
 3  ER+ Breast Cancer Stage 1 node-neg Fatigue Fatigue Fatigue Fatigue! Loss of libido and concentration. Poor memory. Bone/muscular pain. Harder to maintain/lose weight. It is now 18 months since I started taking this drug. I have left it a while before I posted here because I wasn't sure how many of my symptoms were left over from the chemo and radiotherapy. I am crippled by fatigue. Not tiredness - absolute life sapping fatigue that leaves me confused and tearful with a general feeling of awful malaise. I can't see properly or hear properly, I just want to curl up in a ball and close my eyes. Rest really doesn't seem to improve it - I can't predict when it will strike me down either as it comes and goes randomly like the hot flushes. One minute I feel ok and the next minute I am on my knees with fatigue. I do not want to quit this drug but my quality of life is really dire. I have lost my confidence completely. Most nights I am in bed by 7:30 in the hope that total rest will get me through the next day. It usually doesn't. I am wondering if Tamoxifen will be a better option. Maybe I shall give this another year and then swap. Has anyone gone from Arimidex to Tamoxifen? I will not stop this treatment because I want to live to bring up my kids. And I try to convince myself that these side effects are proof that the drug is doing what it should. I do feel very disabled now and life really isn't what it used to be. But if this drug buys me many more years then perhaps it is a deal worth making. F 45 18 months
1mg 1X day
6/20/2010
 3  Stage I Breast Cancer Osteoporosis, joint pain, depression, mood disturbances, extreme fatigue, sleeplessness, weight gain, thinning hair, weak nails, high blood pressure, dry skin, hot flashes. I have been taking Arimidex for 4 years and 2 months. I've had it. I can't stand it anymore. I could live with most of the effects for the 5 years, but the depression, fatigue, sleeplessness, mental fuzziness, not feeling like myself, and feeling 10 years older with absolutely no energy or drive are the deal breakers. I'm afraid I'll lose my mind if I continue on this stuff. I've been through a lot in my life; cancer isn't the first awful thing I've had to face. I'm noit a wimp. But right now, I'd rather take my chances with the cancer than live through this anymore. Like another lady who made a similar comment, I feel that at 65 I don't have enough years left to waste any more living like this. The doctors prescribed pills for depression and for the osteoporosis, but I'm scared to death the anti-depressant will give me yet more side effects and I've been maaging the osteoporosis well with calcium and vitamin D. I'm calling my oncologist on Monday to check whether you can stop cold turkey or should stop gradually. I rated the drug 3 because so far I haven't had a return of my cancer, but who knows if that's because of the drug or not? F 65 4 years
1 MG 1X day
6/18/2010
Email
 1  breast cancer extreme deep bone pain, joint pain, mood depression, lack of concentration, memory problems I never had much pain from the cancer or with my mastectomy, but after just a few days on Arimidex I couldn't stand up very long without severe discomfort in legs; arms feel heavy, knees ache. Stopped taking but still have symptoms 2 weeks later. Will not go back on this drug. F 60 14 days
1 mg 1X day
6/18/2010
 3  2 nd BC tired, loss of libido, vaginal drynessl,WEIGHT GAIN Definitely feel like I am 10 years older than I am. Was on tamoxifen for 5 yrs and no real problems. On Arimidex 11 months- 20 lbs gained, diet and exercise not helping budge weight. Too tired to exercise half the time now. Very frustrating. No sex drive and painful when attempted. F 44 11 months
1X day
6/17/2010
 3  breast cancer stage 2 sleeplessness, joint pain, high cholestrol,tingling in hands,fatigue, irritability. feel like I'm 100 whne I first get out of bed as my feet don't wnat to walk-- they are stiff & ankles ache I will persist because I do not want the cancer to recur. F 62 2 days
2mg 1X day
6/16/2010

Previous Page       Next Page

BACK TO TOP