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 | Secondary Breast Cancer | Severe pain and stiffness in joints, particulary in hands and feet. Hot flushes. Sleepless nights. | I took Tamoxifen for 18months for primary Grade 2 breast cancer, but the cancer returned in my ovaries, so had complete hysterectomy and ovarian cyst removed. My Oncologist put me on Arimidex, but had really bad stiffness in joints, so she changed me to Femara after 1 year. Took Femera for 3months, but the pains got so bad could hardly walk, so was changed back to Arimidex. Seems to be the lessor of the two evils. I'd rather not take any drug, but as the cancer has come back once, terrified it'll come back again, so don't have much choice. I just wish my oncologist would agree that it's the drug causing me problems, but she won't, she just blames the menopause. | F | 48 | 15 months | 6/15/2009 | 5 | Breast cancer stage 2 positive node | Alot and I mean alot of hot flashes, joint aches, weight gain(probably 25 to 30 pounds), some fatigue, mood swings at times, osteopenia, high cholestrol, and for the last few months my ears have been ringing(may have nothing to do with the Arimidex though since no one else has complained of that) | I took my pill everyday for 5 years. After lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, and Arimidex I have passed my 5 year mark, so I have to give it a rating of 5. I trusted my team of doctors, especially my oncologist, and did what they said. I met with him last week and have been off the pill for a week. He said there is no study that shows any benefit for me to take it longer than my 5 years. He also told me it would take 3 or 4 months to get it all out of my system. And he informed me side effects should subside. I am excited at the prospects of feeling better, although after 5 years I am not sure what better or normal is for a post menopausal 52 year old woman. The mind is a funny thing though, even after 1 week off of the drug I seem better. I would like to say that exercising helped so much with my aches and general state of mind, wished it would have helped more with the weight though. This sight has helped me and I just hope my input will help some of you too. | F | 52 | 5 years | 6/10/2009 | 3 | Prevent breast cancer recurrence | Feet very sore when I first get up in AM, and after sitting for prolonged period, though it does go away after a few minutes. Now, my knees are also stiff and sore after sitting. Exercise is more difficult. Can no longer sit cross-legged! Hands painful when gripping objects, even just a coffee cupm and prior carpal tunnel is worse. Prior post-menopausal symptoms are worse--vaginal dryness, loss of libido, hot flashes. Some memory loss, especially noticeable at my college reunion! Dry eyes. I guess if there's no recurrence of BC, then I'll say it was worth it, but time will tell. | When I first told my doctor about sore feet, he said it's probably my age! The next time I told him about my sore feet, he agreed it's the Arimidex! A friend who was on it at age 48 stayed on it for 8 months, went off the drug because of pain in feet and knees. She said it took 6-8 months to feel all better, but at least the pain is gone! | F | 52 | 8 months | 6/8/2009 | 2 | Stage 4 BC- Mets Liver & Bone | extreme weight gain - 34 pounds (I am only 5')feel like a blob, joint pain, always tired but can't sleep at night, depression, pain in bottom of feet, back, ribs, hands, lung problems, very low libido, numbness, veracious veins, you name it. | I thought all this was just me!!! I'm miserable. I agree with others, is it really worth it for me to take this drug - after all, I'm stage 4. What kind of quality life am I having at this point? I don't want to be around anyone, I just want to stay in the house, I'm breaking my husband's heart. I also have Lupus. The drs. blame everything on that but I have had it since 1980 and not had all these problems. | F | 51 | 2 years | 6/5/2009 | 3 | Stage III BC and infected nodes | Initially and immediately, horrible joint pain, extreme fatigue, and loss of libido. Now, weight gain, fatigue and no libido. More headaches than ever before. Moodiness comes and goes. | How can we say if this drug works? It's nearly 4 years since diagnosis and I'm sill clear of breast cancer so that's a wonderful thing. Is it Arimidex, Chemo, Radiation, Herceptin or a combination of the above that's worked? How do you rate a drug that may save your life but with side effects that make enjoying the life that's saved sometimes hard to take mentally and physically! And then the feelings of guilt for not being eternally grateful to be alive. Of course I am, we all are, but it's the daily grind of eating right, exercising and watching the weight just go up and up and up. Everyone leads busy lives and to fit double an exercise program into an already over-stretched day seems impossible at times. And the fatigue doesn't help either! I've gone from size 12 to 14-16 gaining 13kg (approx. 29lbs) which sounds about the average weight gain. I want to know if it is easier to lose once we finish taking this drug? I guess people who have finished Arimidex no longer need these website forums so no one is out there that can answer us. I have 18 months of treatment to go and just can't wait. I know it's impossible to have the life back before cancer but "By Crikey" I would love the level of fitness and the body shape I had before cancer. It was by no means perfect but it was nicer than the blob I am now. I really believe that we are using the best possible options at this time to ensure we live to old age but I can't wait for the day when they have a 'cure' for the | F | 44 | 3.5 years | 6/3/2009 | 4 | prevent breast cancer re-occurance | I ws a little 'creaky' at first, but just kept moving and now I'm fine. A little 'hot flashy' also, but I would expect that anyway as I was hormone therapy before. No weight gain, in fact I've lost a couple pounds without really trying. | I would say to people who need it, give it a try with an open mind. I, for sure, do NOT want to go through the cancer experience again, and if Arimidex reduces my chances of that happening, I am thankful for it! And also, if you do have awful side effects from any drug, speak up and try something different, you do have options. | F | 56 | 2 years | 5/31/2009 | 4 | breast cancer | thinning hair | F | 75 | 3 months | 5/31/2009 | 1 | breast cancer | My mother was taking it for 8 months she is 67 it is in her opinoin NOT worth it and seeing her going down hill fast was killing the family and her she has since stopped taking it and thank god is feeling better the hot flashes,the joint pain, carpal tunnel, weight gain,cant move with out pain head aches,the list goes on I undersatnd many will not experiance all the side affects as all drugs have side affects but this was way to much for a woman that does not complain about pain and has never had a head ache in her life when u can see the pain and the effects it has done just aint worth it | F | 48 | 8 months | 5/31/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer | WEIGHT GAIN from size 8 heading to size 12, joint pain, joints locking up,HOT FLASHES, and decreased brain power and libido. | I wonder what the long term effects of this drug are. I only take half a tablet because the side effects were so severe--I figure half is better than none | F | 48 | 5 months | 5/30/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer | I gave a 3 rating because there is no way to know after 1 month if Arimidex is effective. I started experiencing adverse side effects after the second week: Joint pain, trigger finger, no libido, severe hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, moodiness, and general fogginess when playing Bridge. | F | 66 | 4 weeks | 5/29/2009 | 3 | stage IIIB breast cancer | Extreme joint pain. Low sex drive. Fuzzy memory and thinking. My hands have actually gone up 2-3 ring sizes in a year. Unable to open and close hands if they are idle for even a few minutes. Have trouble walking upon rising in the morning and getting out of a chair. I was an extremely active person, now I hobble around a lot. | I'm sure the drug works or it would not continue to be on the market, but surely there is something that can be done about the side effects. Most doctor's think you are a nut when you tell them how bad you feel. | F | 51 | 2 years | 5/28/2009 | 3 | Stage IIIC lobular BC 21 Nodes | Hot flashes, poor sleep, joint pain. One oncologist suggested that I had a torn rotator cuff but I think it's the drug. | Side effects are tolerable but unpleasant and disrupting. The packaging is awful. What marketing genius thought it was a good idea? I posted a comment on the drug company website. I was told the drug is available in a bottle but you have to request it from your pharmacy. | F | 61 | 1 years | 5/27/2009 | 3 | Stage 2 breast cancer | Weight gain; thining hair; knee pain; numbness, tingling and burning feet; trigger finger; frozen thumb joints; feel bloated all the time; difficulty standing, balancing, and walking after sitting or first thing in the morning. The knee pain is the worst. I've had cortisone shots in both knees and a series of five Suparts injections in each knee. Nothing worked. | I'll continue taking Arimidex as long as I can, but I'm counting the days until my five year sentence is up and hoping that the terrible side effects will go away. My quality of life is definitely compromised. This is no way to live. | F | 62 | 4 years | 5/27/2009 | 2 | Stage 1 BC clear margins neg.nodes | Joint pain, sadness, thinning hair, tiredness and no energy. I miss my estrogen..... | I started Arimidex six months ago and haven't felt good about myself ever since. I stopped taking them for 1 week during the first month and again for 2 weeks during a trip overseas. My doctor persuaded me to persevere but it is difficult. My only solution has been to take one every second day although I haven't told my family or doctor as I know they would not agree but I am prepared to take the risk since it has been much easier for me to tolerate Arimidex since my decision to do so approx. 3 weeks ago. I don't understand why the drug is prescribed to everyone in the exact same dosage, no matter what your age, type of cancer, body type etc. This drug is to deplete the estrogen you naturally produce and it seems like a huge sacrifice to me. | F | 65 | 6 months | 5/19/2009 | 3 | Stage 3 BC (21of 30 nodes) | Most of what's been stated: No libido, osteopenia, muscle and joint pain (especially ribs, elbow and foot), accelerated aging, thinning of hair and skin, sore throat, headaches, weight gain, extreme fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. | Finding this site was a godsend. I thought I was nuts and an ingrate for not being joyous at still being alive. Some days I am in tears and others in a rage. I want to live, so I'll stay on this drug, but it is so hard some days to get up. Now it will be hard to take that little white pill each night knowing that it may be the cause of my misery, but I have to believe it is helping. Someone please tell me that this goes away once you stop taking it, please. Although now there are those trials to about staying on it for more than five years. As long as there is hope it helps, I don't see an alternative. | F | 57 | 2 years | 5/18/2009 | 3 | Breast cancer | Where do I start? weight gain (20 pounds), depression, insomnia, hair thinning (extreme), hot flashes, memory loss, low energy, joint pain, extreme vaginal dryness/tissue thinning, eye dryness, and, my most recent delight, constant bladder infections | If this stuff weren't so good at zapping cancer I wouldn't put up with all this. I'm halfway through the 5 years I'm hoping to make it the rest of the way. Nice to be able to vent to all of you. One hint--acupuncture has been very helpful with some of the symptoms and might just make it so I can get through the next 2 1/2 years. That and a nice glass of wine every night! Good luck, ladies, and let's keep funding research so they can find better drugs that don't mess up our quality of life... | F | 61 | 2.5 years | 5/18/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage 2 | nausea, weight gain, tired, hot flashes | I have been on the drug 7 months and have gained about 8 lbs. I exercise almost everyday but it is very difficult to lose weight. I have not had joint problems and overall feel good. I would just like to see better results from the exercising. | F | 40 | 7 months | 5/12/2009 | 2 | Post breast cancer medicine | fatique, arthritis, hot flashes | very expensive | F | 74 | 100 days | 5/10/2009 | 2 | Stage I Breast Cancer | Joint pain, tiredness, weight gain, muscle weakness | Uncertain about the symptoms as I am 73 years old, but prior to taking Armidex I had always been active. Now it is a chore just to get up in the morning and perform my normal household activities. I am beginning to wonder if the treatment is worse than a re-ocurance of breast cancer. | F | 73 | 13 months | 5/7/2009 | 3 | 5 yr plan after breast cancer surg | horrible joint pain. every few weeks it lets up and i think i can handle this...then WHAM it comes back with a vengeance in another place. this time in my back and neck. I understand it will hit your weakest joints first. Initially I spent 3 mo. in physical therapy for my arm and shoulder. They said it was very near a frozen state. I excercise regularly (yoga, pilates and taichi) It has kept me going as well as anything. I do not like taking it any better than the rest of you, but 10 years from now I hope it will have been worth it. Anyone experiencing hair loss? My Dr. said to try folic acid....we'll see if that works. He has been very interested in side effcts and has had me try several options (Aleve or Advil) I found that arthritis strength tylenol works somewhat, at least better than the others. I am very cautious about taking it because all those can cause long term liver damage. I now have a hernia but don't know if that is a related problem. That will just have | F | 65 | 1 years | 5/1/2009 |