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 | Breast cancer, stage 2, HER2+ | Fatigue, headache, lethargy | Have only been taking Arimidex for 1 month and if side effects get no worse, will continue as directed by my oncologist. Tried chemo 1 session with life-threatening results (2 trips to ER, one by ambulance, 7 days in hospital.) After stopping the chemo, I have had 2 treatments of Herceptin and some of the symptoms I have may be related to that chemical. Reading the comments of others it seems that we respond very differently to these various treatments, perhaps age-related, also. We all need to make our own decisions about whether to continue treatments, based on quality of life issues. I've also changed my eating and drinking habits to optimize my chances of living a long and healthy life; lots of fruits and veggies and no meat combined with vitamins and minerals, plenty of sunshine and fresh air, and no alcohol or caffeine. Any other suggestions would be welcomed! | F | 71 | 1 months | 4/12/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 BC bilat. mast. Chemo | My side effects have been joint pain and stiffness. It's gotten better this last year.I take zoloft to help with mood & sadness. 39 months into taking the drug my hair is falling out. | Hey, I've been bald once - with chemo. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN! Losing the hair is a drag. Sore, stiff & crabby is not fun either. BUT having cancer again...NO THANK YOU! I'll take the dope. | F | 50 | 39 months | 4/8/2008 | 5 | bc stage1, lumpectomy, radiation | bones are thinner, some joint pain and stiffness, about 10 lbs weight gain | In 10 days I will finish my five years of Arimidex and will be interested to see if I notice any change. I have dealt with it well and apparently have had few side effects. I continue to work full time, am not depressed, have lost no hair -- hot flashes have diminished over the years. Guess I've had it easy. | F | 65 | 5 years | 4/6/2008 | 3 | BC stage II-III 4 lymph nodes | Mild muscle pain, sleep disturbances due to hot flashes, increasingly more painful joint pain in the right ankle with sudden onset of shin pain. I have energy, no weight gain (I'm being very careful with portion control) and I'm calmer since I started a low dose anti-depressant. | I have mixed feelings about taking this drug since I'm thinking that I'm taking it out of fear of recurrence rather than a deep conviction that I need it. I successfully endured intense chemo and did 6 weeks of radiation following a bilateral mastectomy and from which I feel completely recovered. I have a hard time walking for any length of time due to pain so I'm not engaged in any routine exercise regimen. I'm trying not to overdo it with NSAIDs because they can interact with the anti depressant and thin the blood. I think the connection between almost complete absence of estrogen and depression is poorly understood and I resisted taking an anti depressant for a while, I'm grateful for it now and living my life in the "now" as I'm am, with gratitude. | F | 60 | 8 months | 4/6/2008 | 4 | estrogen receptor positive bc | mostly bone and joint problems, arthritis in lower spine, osteopenia thoracic spine, now my jaw is of concern | bc 2001, 3.5cm, 4/10 positive nodes, A/C 4, taxotere 4, 7 weeks radiation. two years tamoxofin, 3 years arimidex, onconogist wants me on two more years. I'm guessing that they want you on anti-estrogen for 8 years if tumor is more aggressive and node positive versus 5 years for others with smaller tumors and no positive nodes. I see my oncologist in June and am going to discuss these bone problems I am having and may quit this drug. | F | 55 | 3 years | 4/3/2008 | 4 | Invasive ductal BC with node involv | Joint pain, hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings | To person who posted on 3/25/08 (age 47) re having a period after not having them for several years. The same thing recently happened to me. Went into chemo induced menopause two years ago, and had not had a period since then. Last month, I had a very light one, with "period symptoms". Had a FSH test, which confirmed I am in menopause. During the few days I had the period symptoms, my hot flashes abated. | F | 50 | 2 years | 4/3/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | slurred speech, bone and muscle pain, trouble breathing, hot flashes, depression | F | 58 | 3 days | 4/3/2008 | 4 | stage 2 breast cancer | I have had joint pain in my hips, elbows, wrists,knees and shins. So often you wonder whether this is just normal wear and tear or the effects of the drug. I am also on anti depressant drugs after suffering an extrememely 'blue ' period 2 years ago. My short term memory is pretty poor I think, but again is this normal??? My hot flushes are constant, in fact it is very rare that I feel cold at all. | I am grateful that the medical profession have something that I can take to make my chances of life better. The side effects, if that is what I am experiencing are nothing to having cancer again. Chemotherapy was just awful and hair loss devestating. I plan to live and love life every single day. | F | 54 | 3 years | 4/1/2008 | 1 | Stage 1 breast cancer IDC | Thanks to all who have been so clear about the quality of life issues and how difficult the affects of Arimidex are to deal with. I opt for a natural way to control my cancer, through proper diet and extra natural supplements specific for cancer treatment. I opt for quality of life. I also have Multiple Sclerosis and have naturally overcome most of my debilitating symptoms. | I will not poison myself with chemotherapy | F | 64 | 0 days | 3/31/2008 | 1 | stage 1 b.c. lumpectomy and radiati | severe joint pain, hot flashes, weight gain, sleeplessness, constipation and moodiness. I would cry if you grinned crooked...and palpitations. Blood pressure went up alittle also. | I got so bad I could hardly function at times. Had my doctor switch me to femara and I seem to be somewhat better even though I still have the hot flashes and the joint pain to a degree. I can at least have some days where I can move now. I am taking osteo bi-flex and aleve daily. | M | 59 | 3 months | 3/31/2008 | 5 | Odds are this medicine will keep my estrogen positive cancer from coming back. It does cause hot flashes and bone pain. Death from preventable cancer is not an acceptable alternative. | I have read many complaints on various blogs about joint and bone pain and sleeplessness in those who take Arimidex. For those suffering joint and bone pain from taking Arimidex, I have some news. My doctor(s) recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements which have helped me greatly and will probably help you. It seems Arimidex may inhibit your ability to absorb Vitamin D and thus inhibits your body’s ability to absorb calcium(?) Anyway, get your blood D levels tested and don’t be surprised if they are low. Ask your doctor how much calcium and vitamin D are right for you. Also, a moderate exercise program (swimming is great) will help with sleep and muscle pain. I have been taking a calcium supplement and about 200 percent of daily recommended D for about 3 weeks and I already notice a big difference. If you are taking an aromatase inhibitor, it would be a bad idea to stop without talking to your doctor about the vitamin D/calcium connection first. | F | 51 | 6 days | 3/30/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | severe bone pain, especially in joints, muscles, no sex drive, cough, tired all the time, fingers and hands tingle, pain can wake me up at night, hard time getting up and moving...the bottom of my feet hurt really bad (heels)....beginning to wonder what is going on with me and then found this website.....I'm so glad to know everybody else is going thru this too.....have had bone loss.... | just want to try to stay on as long as I can to try to not have a reoccurence of breast cancer....was on tamoxifen for five years, then was put on this a year ago | F | 53 | 1 years | 3/30/2008 | 2 | To prevent breast cancer recurrence | All of them. Joint pain, osteoporsis, stress fractures, depression, inability to sleep, extreme weight gain, high blood pressure | My husband frequently tells me I look, act, and walk like an old woman. I weighed 145 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I now weigh 192. I can't stop the weight gain. I had shoulder surgery this week. My husband was aghast when he heard the nurse say what I weighed. I'm on so many medications. It's very expensive and embarrassing. | F | 54 | 4 years | 3/28/2008 | 4 | Breast Cancer mastectomy L breast | I've been on arimidex for 3 years and don't really have any side effects but I have changed my way of living and eating. I was wondering if anyone who went into menopause has had periods. My periods quit one month into chemo three years ago. I had a light period nine months ago and am having another now, just wanted to know if anyone else is having this. | F | 47 | 3 years | 3/25/2008 | 1 | early stage bc following lumpectomy | extreme joint pain in knees, toes, fingers, hips, back, shoulders. Sleeplessness, constipation mild hot flashes, palpitations, fatigue, depression....I cry if someone smiles crooked... | On for about four months and had doctor switch me to femara only on this now for 3 days. Hope to see an improvement. He tried to tell me one drug might work better for me then the other. Trying aleve and over counter osteo bi-flex and others with no relief. Taking senokot-s for constipation and benadryl for sleep. This medicine is horrible and I do not know if I can make 5 years or more on it as I think sometimes quality of life is better then quantity. I have gained 20 pounds and can harldy walk on most days I am to tired and to much pain. I am afraid of falling while walking as my knees have gotten so bad. | F | 58 | 4 months | 3/24/2008 | 4 | stage 1 BC, lumpectomy + radiation | I HAVE SEVERAL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS LISTED HERE BUT I HAD THEM ALL BEFORE STARTING ARIMIDEX 8 MONTHS AGO. i RECENTLY STARTED GETTING HEADACHES AND WONDER IF THERE IS CONNECTION AS i SELDOM HAD BEFORE. HOW CAN WE KNOW IF "MEDICINE IS WORKING"- i GAVE IT THE RATING BECAUSE I AM GRATEFUL FOR FEELING GOOD. | F | 63 | 8 months | 3/16/2008 | 5 | breast cancer stage 1 no lymph node | I have been on arimidex for 10 months. I do have some knee and foot pain but I'm not sure it is due to the medication. I had 2 knee surgeries (orthoscopic) a few years before taking this med. I have tons of energy. I exercise 3-4 times a week. I ski, spin, bike ride, hike, and sail. I don't sleep well but I never did before either. I'm never tired. | I will continue to take this medication as long as I have to in order to stay cancer free. I have lost 10lbs since I was diagnosed with cancer due to exercising. I try to stay upbeat and keep a positive attitude. I know when I'm down, my aches and pains feel 10 times worse. One thing many people mentioned was they take their pill at night. I take mine in the morning. Could that make a difference? | F | 60 | 10 months | 3/15/2008 | 2 | BC stage 3A mastectomy, chemo, radi | First started with heel pain. Heel is better now fter doing exercises for heel spur but then I got a trigger finger. Now my elbow extremely painful and I find that I am not using my arm too much because of the pain. I'm afraid of losing strength . | Started taking it per doctor's advice and I am in a clinical trial for breast cancer. | F | 57 | 1 days | 3/15/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | weight gain which I'm trying to combat and bone pain mainly in my ribs. And of course the dreaded hot flashes which started with the neo-adjunct chemo and have continued since | Just wanted to give everyone a big tip! I was also having alot of bone pain in my ribs and asked my radiation oncologist on a follow up visit about it since I wasn't sure if it was from arimedex or the radiation treatments and she encouraged me (once again) to take vitamin C, D and E -2 grams each daily - which seems to be 2000 mg each. This time I tried it and it was amazing! Bone pain was basically gone in a week! I take 1000 iu each of D and E in capsule form with breakfast and dinner and for the C I take EmergenC _which is a vitamin drink mix twice a day - great stuff. This makes sense to me since arimedex causes loss of vitamin D in your body and the supplement will help you compensate for that and help your body absorb the calcium you need for your bones. I guess the arimedex is helping - I like to think it is. My mom died from breast cancer at 51 when I was 10. So getting breast cancer at 48 was pretty scary. The battle is on! | F | 49 | 7 months | 3/14/2008 | 1 | stg 2 breast cancer/ hormone recept | Finished Chemo and radiation in 2006 and 2007. Was on Femara and the side effects were horrid, pain in legs so bad had to have doppler, trigger fingers 4 of them, had to have steroid shots. Stopped taking it and pain in legs went away, and no more trigger finger. Oncologist talked me into try Arimidex. I took the 5th pill and the next day woke with severe, burning and pain in left shoulder. I am not going to go any further with experimenting to see if I can take these drugs. I am stopping as of now. Cannot take Tamoxifen, stroke risk. I am vain enough to want whatever life the Lord has planned for me to at least be in peace and pain free. This pain is horrid and only on the 5th day. Flushing the pills, and determined to say no to any other. Will use antioxidants like Green Tea, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and pray. Good luck to all who think painful living is worthwhile. I admire your courage. | F | 65 | 5 days | 3/14/2008 |