ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)

Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)

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 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)

  

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

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More on ARIMIDEX: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Breast Cancer - Stage II/III intense hot flashes, severe lower back pain, hip pain, muscle weakness and fatigue (especially in legs), swelling in hands, severe lower leg cramps. After having had two spinal fusions in the past, the back pain caused from the drug was just too much. After checking out the arimidex.com website, I found out that the risk of a recurrence of BC is only 10% in the first 3 years. This is a risk I am willing to take. Quality of life wins out every time for me. F 47 6 months
1X day
6/16/2010
 3  Breast cancer Stage II a Severe knee and hip pain; my arches ache and now I have sensitive feet. But, I keep going, walking 5K a day, yoga at least 3x a week. Vit D3 seems to help. I take an Aleve if I really need it. The more I move, the better I feel, the more energy I have. Have given up dairy, red meat, my daily glass of wine. I hope Arimidex really works as it is supposed to. I am willing to take it as long as necessary. F 58 3 months
1X day
6/15/2010
 2  Stage 2 breast cancer Joint pain in fingers, hips, back, feet. Numbness in hands and arms on arising from bed. Constant fatigue. Sleep difficulties, probably mostly due to the joint pain. Occasional hot flashes. Fuzzy-headedness and memory problems. Thinning hair. Basically experiencing what most people seem to experience with this drug. My quality of life is not what I would wish for me or anyone. More long-term research is needed! This drug was found to be somewhat "effective" and it was marketed too prematurely, I think. It's a shame that our "wellness" is so tied in with the profits of drug companies. There are certainly other ways to look at cancer and its treatment and these should be explored. F 58 2.5 years
1X day
6/14/2010
 2  Stage 1 breast cancer Joint pain, initially in wrists, now in hands, quite severe, can't make a fist with either hand. Some fatigue My cancer was , ER+/HR+/HER2-. I will talk to my clinical oncologist at my next visit to see about alternatives. I don't know how to rate my satisfaction with the drug, as I haven't had any recurrence yet (1 year from initial diagnosis). I suppose if I have no recurrence in 4 more years I would be satisfied. Not sure I'll be able to take Arimidex that long though F 64 9 months
30 mg 1X day
6/10/2010
 1  Stage1 Breast Cancer Survivor On Tamoxifen for 1 year after Stage 1 inductu-carcinoma with no side effects except hot flashes. Had hysterectomy and changed to Arimidex...within 2 months started feeling joint pain in toes...then after five months, severe joint pain in thumbs with hip pain and other joint pain. Tried Celebrex, Aleve, Advil, flax seed oil, glucosimine, parafin baths, etc. and nothing helps. Primary care doc, oncologist, rhematologist all giving me remedies but no diagnosis! Seeing a hand specialist at months end...still say it is the Arimidex...STAY OFF IT IF YOU CAN! My quality of life has been so damaged because of this awful drug! More clinical research needs to be done on the side effects! F 51 9 months
1 1X day
6/10/2010
Email
 2  breast cancer I originally submitted a rating and my experience 7/22/2009. Please refer to it for a comparison to what I say today. I still have bad joint pain in my knees and stiffness all over. It is difficult to sit down or to stand up without my knees hurting. For the last year, I have had extreme tingling, numbness, burning in my middle 3 fingers on my right hand. Orthopedic hand surgeon said it was carpal tunnel, so one month ago I had carpal tunnel surgery. It has helped so far, but this surgery is a very long healing process and I won't know for months if the surgery has really done the trick. Diet makes a huge difference to me. I take a lot of calcium (Citracal with D3), my vitamin with D, and extra D3 daily. I also take glucosomine with MSM and Fosamax. I eliminate as much refined sugar as possible and no red meat. The only sugar I eat is in fruits. I eat as many different veggies as possible (limited potatoes). For meat, I eat salmon and chicken. Exercise (slow walking and recumbant bike) helps me a great deal. I do not have to take daily naps anymore, only an occasional one. I sleep okay at night. My energy level and stamina are not what they were before breast cancer, but surely improved over what they were a year ago. My oncologist will never convince me that my troubles are not due to Arimidex. I don't feel like 90 years old anymore, but at the same time, I can't get down on the ground (my knees) to play with my grandchildren. I just find other ways to play with them. The bottom line: I hate Arimidex on one hand, and on the other hand, I hope it's saving my life. F 69 16 months
1 mg 1X day
6/9/2010
 4  breast cancer double masectomy weight gain no side effects have been taking vitamin d and calcium daily F 50 2 years
1 1X day
6/8/2010
 2  lumpectomy/ breast cancer stiff joints, mental confusion, itching/particularly head, sleep problem It has taken me a while to realize the problems I have been experiencing are undoubtedly side effects of the drug. Whether it is necessary or worth it to continue are not decided. I have yet to convince my doctor these problems are side effects of taking Arimidex. F 77 15 months
1X day
6/8/2010
 3  Estrogen + cells in plural effusion So far I don't feel anything. I have an unknown primary, with estrogen + receptors, so Arimidex is prescribed while we keep trying to find the primary. I don't know if it's working or not because I feel the same--But I'm taking scads of supplements to boost my immune system, and am eating like a saint, so I don't know if that may affect anything or not. F 66 30 days
1 mg 1X day
6/6/2010
Email
 1  Inflammatory Breast Cancer, 111-B Joint pain, body aches, trouble sleeping, memory loss, fuzzy brain. hot flashes, less ability handling life stresses Did a man invent this drug? This is cruel. No one would be taking this if they didn't think or hope it was going to save their life. After discussing this drug in my cancer support group, there seem to be those who have few side effects or many side effects. I feel like this drug is toxic for my body, but I am still taking it just like I did the chemo drugs - which some worked for me and others didn't. I lost my breasts, that hurt but in the big picture, but okay if you keep your life. Now I seem to be losing my memory and thought process which is brutal. Lack of sleep and joint pain are issues also. If I didn't walk 3 miles a day and do yoga twice a week, my body would become stiff and ache. I have to be very careful about what I eat or otherwise the weight gain would make my situation worse. F 61 2 years
1MG 1X day
6/4/2010
 2  breast cancer severe hip pain. Incapacitating fatigue. Muscle cramps. No libido. Fractured femur after 3 yrs. 4 mos. Depression. No quality of life. Mental fog, memory lapses, difficulty learning anything new. I did not want to take Arimidex due to my active lifestyle. Was not given SERM option.Bone pain and fatigue have robbed me of all hobbies, activities, even walking my dog. My house is dirty, my yard is overgrown, my body is fat (gained 25 lbs.) My social life is nil, since I am too tired to even pay attention after 45 -60 minutes. F 59 3.5 years
1 mg 1X day
6/3/2010
 4  breast cancer No libido, some joint pain, depression, nails very brittle F 55 15 months
1 mg 1X day
6/1/2010
 2  breast cancer Joint pain, memory loss, fatigue, rashes (on feet) weight gain, can't sleep, so not myself!!! I had a great memory and brain, ha where has it gone? I need so much more sleep???? Is this pain going to continue after the 5 years? Big question, will it be worth the suffering? I have been told the joint pain doesn't get any better, please tell me it will. I am incredibly fit for my age and have always worked out, still are, under sufferance, high pain threshold. But what I am struggling with is my short term memory loss, I don't remember things. Its embarrassing. This alone makes me think, is it worth it? Lifes short, remember it...... F 48 15 months
1 mg 1X day
6/1/2010
 2  stage 1 bc Ache all over, constant flu, sore throat,became a tenor from being a soprano due to terrible state of throat, dried up,hacking cough and bronchitus, shattered, felt 80. Came off drug for a week, completely recovered. Took another tablet - in bed within 2 hours.Highly allergic individual. F 58 11 months
30 1X day
5/30/2010
 4  Stage 2 Breast Cancer After 2 weeks of taking the drug, I noticed sever joint pain in the hips. It was so bad that I found it difficult sleeping, sitting, standing and walking. The third week my feet felt like they were getting ready to explode and my toes were tingling. The doctor explained that the symptoms were normal and he could prescribe more pain relievers but I'm not going to be on pain killers for the next 5 years. I went online and researched benefits of vitamins. LADIES take 2,000 to 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3 Liquid SoftGels daily and you will be amazed! I take 1,000 IU in the morning and one in the afternoon and my pain has disappeared. NO JOKE! Also...Make sure you are taking atleast 1200 MG of Calcium for your bones. I am taking a combined 4600 IU of Vitamin D3 which includes what is in my multi vitamin and calcium supplements. I thought maybe this was just my imagination but no. My daughter and a friend suffer with back pain and I told them to take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 AND their back pain is gone! Please don't suffer anymore. OH...and it has helped my mood! Take some Vitamin D3 and let your pain melt away. It's very difficult to overdose on the vitamin, so experiement to see what dose works for your joint pain. YOU WILL BE AMAZED! Besides...fighting cancer is not going to be easy. We need to remember that the cancer drug will only work if you take it. Without it we may not have the chance to enjoy our families, friends and life for as long as we can. Be positive...Be proactive...and Love Life! You only have one! I love you all! F 42 2 months
1 MB 1X day
5/28/2010
 3  Early stage BC Lumpect clear nodes Carpal Tunnel in both hands-surgery. Two broken arms and broken shoulder, Severe knee pain-unable to walk more than 200 metres or be on feet for longer than 15 minutes. Two partial knee replacements required. First one booked in. Jaw repeatedly dislocates. Weight gain, depression. I am assured Arimadex is a very effective drug in preventing a recurrence of Breast Cancer. My doctors told me my joint pain would disappear when I stopped taking this drug. My knees remain unchanged. I first noticed joint problems eight months into treatment. Over the 5.5 years, I have gone from being a fit, active, happy person to being an hobbling old woman at 56. F 56 5 years
1MG 1X day
5/23/2010
 2  ILC Stage 11B short term memory loss (not sure if it is chemo brain or Arimidex or both). Hot flashes - much more in control after starting Effexor. Joint pain. Fatigue. Numbness in fingers upon awakening. No secretions. Dry skin. Eyesight decreasing Tough tough drug but nothing like the pain of Adriomycin. I have always exercised. After the second day at the gym the next morning it is difficult to get down the stairs. This is hard knowing the highly respected JAMA study on decrease in recurrence with cardiovascular exercise thiry minutes five times a week. F 59 1 years
30 1X day
5/23/2010
 3  invasive lobular carcinoma breast I had leg discomfort and tender wrist joints. I was on a gram of naproxyn a day during the 5 years of treatment to control the pain. I was and still am in a phase three study of the arimitase inhibators and I was randomized to arimidex and celebrex. The celebrex arm of the study was stopped after the heart problems came to light from celebrex. I thought the leg discomfort would resolve after finishing the 5 year course but I have been off the drug since Dec and have had to go back on the gram of naproxyn a day as I was awake in the night with leg pain, woke up with leg discomfort, and by the end of the day my legs hurt so bad I could hardly walk. I feel a lot better since I went back on the naproxyn a week ago. F 63 5 years
30 mg 1X day
5/20/2010
Email
 2  Stage 2 BC Bad palpitations, hip and foot pain (excruciating), trigger finger, unable to bend either thumb due to joint pain and swelling, carpal tunnel, interrupted sleep constantly, feeling quite agitated and generally 'unwell'. Oncologist took me off Arimidex - am now nearly four months off this medication. ALL side effects have gone, except for foot problem (plantar faciitis) which has improved considerably and seems to be very slowly repairing, so I hope that given time, this will also go. Taking Tamoxifin now and so far have no noticeable side effects, so am taking one day at a time. F 65 2.5 years
1X day
5/20/2010
 2  Stage 1 Lobular Carcinoma Joint pain - particularly in the hands, hips, knees, and feet. Difficulty sleeping at night. Would wake up and find my arms numb, and it would hurt to roll over. Had difficult climbing stairs because of the pain and loss of strength in my knees. Trigger finger in thumbs and ring fingers on both hands. Diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Minimal weight gain mostly because I regularly worked out and watched what I ate. A lot of people have asked about how long it takes for the symptoms to go away. I QUIT taking Arimidex over one year ago (quality versus quantity trade-off). Most of the pain has gone away, and I can sleep fairly well at night. However, there was PERMANENT damage (swelling and pain) in my finger joints. My left ring finger increased from size 7 to size 9, and I can't close the ring finger on my right hand. The trigger finger I was experiencing in my right thumb has gone away, though. Anyway, I know these joint problems were caused by Arimidex because I had NO prior history of arthritis or joint swelling. I also wasn't about to go on an Ibuprofen regimen, which is what the patients in the drug trials must have done! F 56 7 months
1 MG 1X day
5/19/2010

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