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 |
| 3 | joint pain, stiffness, inability to walk in the morning due to foot pain, finger locking, TMJ, insomnia, increased appetite related to low energy, weight gain, depression, uncomfortable hot flashes that drench me, cannot tolerate warm temperatures, numbness and tingling of hands, vaginal dryness, no libido. | not sure entirely due to arimidex. also on prozac for depression and hot flashes. had lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. on tamoxifen originally (about 2.5 yrs), now arimidex (2.5 yrs) and oncologist is not planning to stop arimidex at the 5 yr mark, but planning on keeping me on it indefinitely. have started walking to get exercise to improve mood and energy, and decrease weight. | F | 53 | 2.5 years | 7/20/2008 | 4 | Stage IIIA Breast cancer | joint, muscle pain. | I've only been on Arimidex for a little over 1 month but I've been experiencing body pain. It began prior to my chemo and the Doctor believed it was due to my cholesterol medicine-Lovastatin. When i went on decadron for my chemo, all the pain disappeared. 4 weeks post chemo, my body pain returned so my doctor took me off my cholesterol meds. Afterwards i began Arimidex. My body pain in becoming worse. I have difficulty walking when i first get up in the morning or if I've been sitting awhile. Walking around seems to help. I have trouble using stairs and if I have to sit on the floor to do anything. I'm looking for anything to alleviate the pain because I don't want to come off the arimidex. Personally, I'd rather deal with the stiffness,pain then have to deal with a return of my cancer. | F | 45 | | 7/15/2008 | 2 | BC - lumpectomy, chemo + radiation | After 2 yrs tamoxifen (w/no side effects) my onc. switched me to arimidex since Chemo had put me into menopause and patients "do slightly better" on arimedex than tamoxifen as far as cancer goes... after only a week or so of arimedex, suddenly the middle fingers or BOTH of my hands got extreme joint pain. After a few weeks, I went back to tamoxifen. It has been 2 months now and my hands are still very painful and stiff. I can't make a fist, the fingers ache and lock up. I can't believe that I have become disabled so suddenly from this drug. I can hardly pick things up, at night I can't even pull up the sheet. | There should be some research on the side effects - it seems joint pain that has such a sudden onset, should have some kind of treatment to reverse it. This isn't osteo arthritis or rhumatoid arthritis... what is it? | F | 54 | 30 days | 7/12/2008 | 4 | BC Stage II to III, 4 lymph nodes | Thinning hair, dry skin, joint, bone and muscle pain (all annoying but not disabling), depression, HOT hot flashes, and typical Arimidex sleep disturbances along with poor memory for names and dates. | Once I understood that Arimidex and/or breast cancer can lead to depression, I was able to ask for the antidepressant of my choice with good results. I take natural anti inflammatories for the pain, Calcium mineral complex and extra Vit D which I read about from another woman in this site and which are helpful. I allow the hot flashes and the insomnia to just be there and accept them. I exercise every day, I have energy again and in fact I'm exercising more than I have in my whole life. I continue to live day by day, in the moment and give thanks for my complete cure which I hold in my mind. | F | 60 | 10 months | 7/9/2008 | 1 | second bc | headaches, dizziness, aching all over | This is second bc, first one 19 years prior. No meds after first diagnosis, but now taking arimidex. Too hard to tolerate! Will talk to onc about another treatment. | F | 56 | 5 weeks | 7/9/2008 | 5 | recurrence | hairthinning | I am a BC Survivor of 11 yrs. I am on Arimidex 8 1/2 yrs. My Oncologist suggested I continue indefinitely since I had a recurrence (before Arimidex.) and no osteoporosis. I attend exercise classes 2 -3 days a week. and take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Quality of life is good. How long has anyone because of a recurrence been on Arimidex? | F | 78 | 8.6 years | 7/6/2008 | 3 | BC,Tumors - 5cm,Type IIA,No nodes | Sweats, Bone pain in legs and back, poor balance, insominia, poor comprehension. | I had a lupectomy that led to a full mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. That was the easy part. Then I had 4 months of dose dense Chemo that took me down to what I called the look of a refugee with rickets. I lost my memory and could not concentrate. My eyes had a black veil over them so I could not read. I had my reconstruction done at the same time.I got through that and thought I was on my way to being me again. Then I started Arimidex. I wore my self out asking the doctors why I was not getting stronger, I hurt so bad in my legs, knees, and back I can hardly sit. I can not stand for long. I can not go up or down steps. I have such poor balance I'm, afraid I will fall. I have so many nights of not being able to sleep. I get a nod from the doctors and that is all they say. I use a diaper ointment so I don't have burning after I urinate. I do Tai Chi. This has greatly helped my balance and tight muscles. It is also stress relief. I do meditation to take my mind to another place. I | F | 62 | 3 years | 7/1/2008 | 3 | Rt Breast cancer stage 3a | Usual.Bone pain,arthralgia,insomnia | Been on it now 2.5 years. It is hard but can be managed over time. | F | 67 | 2.5 days | 6/28/2008 | 4 | post chemo and radiation for breast | joint pain hot flashes water retention | The hot flashes settled down to about 1 a day, very minor. My joints were pretty painful for about 2 weeks 3 months into it. My weight shot up but I am steadily losing it now. Water retention is the issue now. I take extra vit D and calcium, vit E as well as a daily multi. My feet really hurt in the morning but I run every day, it seems to help. I drink lemon and lime juice, green tea, and dandelion tea and it seems to be counteracting the water retention. I am tap dancing in a musical, walking 2-3 hours at night if I am not in rehearsal. It hurts pretty badly at times, and then other times I feel almost normal. I think regular exercise, a good diet and a good outlook on life helps me sleep. Getting rid of the exhusband was probably the most curative! took Tamaxifen for 1.6 years until they let me go on this drug. | F | 51 | 4 months | 6/25/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer -Not HER Positive | Every Side Effect imaginable, including rapid heart beat.I am going off Arimidex and will take my chances. I am 82 yrs old and can not tolerate 5 yrs of this. I would like to see a study address the outcome of patients over 75yrs with and without Arimidex. | F | 82 | 2 months | 6/24/2008 | 4 | BC, est. pos., lumpectomy, rads | joint pain, hot flashes, depression, weight gain, hair loss, loss of concentration | hot flashes went away within a year, depression was periodic, weight gain was about 15 lbs. which will not come off. Hair thinned but most came back. Concentration is still hard. Joint pain seemed to confuse docs. So did the serious blood clot I had 3 years into treatment. "Couldn't possibly be from the Arimidex!" Must be something else I was doing wrong. One good thing: I stopped having migraines and had been having them regularly since age 14. Stopped after the first week of taking Arimidex. Go figure! Anyway, I stuck it out. Have 2 more months until my 5 yrs. are up. Just had a good mammogram so that's encouraging. Good luck to all of you. | F | 64 | 5 years | 6/23/2008 | 4 | Breast cancer S1, lumpectomy, radia | Slight nausea, hot flashes, joint pain, muscle aches, tiredness | Slight nausea soon after I began taking Arimidex. When that passed, the hot flashes came out in force (had been almost gone after menopause). When hot flashes settled down, the joint and muscle pain began. What works best for me is to keep moving. Aqua fitness workouts really helped my hip pain...couldn't sleep more than two hours on a side before, now can sleep through the night. General overall stretching in the pool seems to help my whole body feel better. I get a massage every month or two--that seems to help with muscle aches. I hate being on Arimidex but am happy to be able to lower my risk factor. Trying to lose weight and manage that risk factor as well but it seems almost impossible to shed pounds. Tiredness doesn't help me...it's challenging to get motivated to exercise more than I do. | F | 54 | 2.5 years | 6/18/2008 | 2 | early-stage, low-grade br ca | Terrible hair loss/thinning (50% of volume lost, which began suddenly, within a month of taking Arimidex), and 20% loss of bone mass (in the first two years of taking the drug), in addition to joint pain. No other risk factors. To answer 5/29/08 askapatient posting re: hair loss: I was on Arimidex nearly 2 years, then Aromasin 2+ years, before I quit. It's been 9 months now since quitting, and I can categorically say that NO, the hair does NOT grow back, despite what some doctors claim. If you doctor tells you that, insist on seeing the study that documents that. There is none. Even the drug manufacturer concedes that. Additionally, insist on a DEXA scan to establish your bone mass BEFORE you begin Arimidex, so you can document your bone loss. | If you are at low risk for recurrence, carefully weigh the side effects vs. the benefits. I was told I could gain a very small benefit from taking AIs, but I was never told about the possibility of serious, permanent hair loss or serious, permanent bone loss. In retrospect, I regret taking AIs: my hair and bones are permanently and seriously damaged, for a very small--and probably dubious--benefit. I am very angry about not being allowed to make an informed choice. | F | 53 | 2 years | 6/18/2008 | 2 | Stage 1 Ca Breast BRCA1 pos. | Weight gain. Aches, pains. Loss of libido. Vaginal atrophy. | I have been taking this drug for 16 months and have gained 20 lbs. I had started on Femara but had an awful, odorous vaginal discharge and my doctor changed me to Arimidex. The effect of Arimidex on the vagina causes atrophy also. Every time my husband and I have sex I bleed a little afterwards. No amount of lubrication makes it comfortable and my gynecologist says there is nothing that can be done about it. I am seriously thinking of stopping taking it. For the lady who was asking about hair loss. My friend was on Arimidex and had that problem. She was changed to Femara and is fine and her hair grew back as good as before. | F | 57 | 16 months | 6/18/2008 | 3 | Invasive Ductal Carcinoma | Stiffness especially in fingers,thumb is locking, joint pain,muscle soreness,very emotional cry easily | I will keep taking Arimidex unless the locking of fingers gets worse, I appreciate the fact that my oncologist says it's the best adjuvent treatment for me. I certainly don't want to have to face a recurrence. I just hope it doesn't cause problems in the future, as those listed by others on this site. | F | 59 | 20 months | 6/16/2008 | 2 | Breast cancer | Terrible bone, joint, muscle pain in lower extremities. Hot flashes. | BC -Left side mastectomy Oct. 2005 Infiltrting & in situ ductal, grade 3, ER & PR positive, negative lymph node. I stopped taking Arimidex 4 weeks ago after taking it for approx. 9 months. The pain in my feet & legs was excruciating! It DRASTICALLY deminished my quality of life!! I feel as though I've aged 40 years while I was on this medication. This was a very difficult decision for me to make. The oncologist wants me to go back on the Tamoxifin but have decided to take a "drug vacation". I also have ankylosing spondylitis so I have been experiencing arthritis pain. The Arimidex made the pain so much worse. I'm limited as to what meds I can take for the spondylitis due to the cancer. What a vicious circle! I hope to find a solution to these issues. SOON!! | F | 51 | 9 months | 6/16/2008 | 4 | stg2 inva dctl bc chmo rad hercp | achy sore joints/muscles, insomnia, fingers/toes numb, inflamed bladder, raised bp, dry skin, etc. First 6 months, aches/pains were fairly severe, hard to stand up from sitting, had to walk about 20 paces before straightening up completely; that symptom decreased drastically with exercise (walking) | My dr. highly advised I take this over tamoxifen; due to what research was indicating and it's long-term results. I was in favor of doing whatever I could to stay around for my girls. It hasn't been a walk in the park, but it's kept me here for 5 years past surgery so far. | F | 43 | 4.5 years | 6/13/2008 | 4 | bc stage 2a lumpectomy/chemo/rads | I was Grade 3 and Her2+. First 3 months very bad lower back, hip and joint pain. Couldn't put my feet to the floor in the morning or bend over. Chemo left me lethargic and woolly-brained for a year. Do brain exercises and now much better, though multi-tasking still hard. | 1 year on, the pain has lessened or I'm acclamatised. Now only feet and lower back. By taking the pill first thing in the morning I start getting stiffer in the evening when it's less important. It has such a good success rate I will stick it out - better than going through chemo again. Libido non-existent. Hair is good. | F | 59 | 16 months | 6/12/2008 | 4 | BC, op chemo rads, no L node spread | Been taking Arimidex for 16 months. At first just noticed vaginal dryness, and a few hot flushes (but been having them before anyway). Then came waking up in middle of the night. Used to sleep like a log. Past few months - very stiff feet and ankles on waking, aching hips when sitting, almost constant fatigue, terrible leg cramps at night and multiple night-waking. Now I've just developed painful stiff finger joints - they seem to be bigger than they used to be too. My memory's got bad, but I thought that might be due to epirubicin chemo as I read it can permanently affect memory! | I gave Arimidex a 4 despite side effects. (I would have given it a 5, but could never say it has cured me.)It rates high with me because of the hope it brings, and the comfort that I am still doing something to fight the cancer after chemo and rads. I suppose I've got used to tiredness and stiffness, though am a bit freaked I might be getting arthritis. I don't feel old - though I can completely see how people here say that!Or maybe I should amend that to 'I don't feel mentally old'. Anybody want to email, please do, and we can have a moan together. | F | 56 | 16 months | 6/6/2008 | 1 | Stage 1 idc | Horrible insomnia, hot flashes that lasted minutes, achy bones, shoulder pain, exhaustion | I stopped taking this awful drug after 13 months. I feel much better, although I still have some hot flashes. But I am sleeping for much longer periods of time. Before, I was waking up hourly, and sometimes couldn't get back to sleep. I looked very exhausted, and pale, and my husband said that I really looked ill and not like myself. My tumor was 1.2 cm., and I had radiation, not chemo. The oncologist said Arimidex would reduce my recurrence rate 50%, which translates:from approximately 16% down to 8%. The doctors often don't fully explain actual reduction in risk. When they say 50% it sounds like a tremendous amount. It is very deceiving. There are no guarantees, even with these drugs, that the cancer won't reoccur. I investigated food sources of Aromatase Inhibitors like grapeseed, and mushrooms. There are several studies being conducted at City of Hope in Duarte, California, on these foods. I tried taking large doses, but the insomnia and hot flashes returned with a vengance! | F | 64 | 13 months | 6/4/2008 |