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 | Breast Cancer | EXTREMELY SEVERE joint pain. | I thought I was developing nasty arthritis after chemo, but it was the Arimidex. I could barely walk or even drive. Couldn't get anything done at work. I'm fairly young with 3 young boys. I've always been in very good shape. I stopped taking it after only 4 months. I'm going to deep tissue massage therapy to help my joints recover. No way could I continue this for 5 years. No way at all. | F | 38 | 4 months | 10/18/2007 | 5 | bilateral mastectomy | Knee pain. Ocassional headaches. Nighttime hot flashes. | Wow! I have not heard so much whining since I taught preschool. Have you tried anything else? How about exercise, yoga, meditation, Ibuprofen or even a hot bath? I am very grateful to Arimidex for keeping me from having to have IV chemo and radiation. I am looking forward to a long, healthy life with no return of cancer. I wish the same for all of you. | F | 66 | 1 days | 10/17/2007 | 1 | primary unknown/stage 4 liver | Fingers locking (can't make fist with left hand). Feel like I have arthritis in about every joint of my body/painful to even massage in places. Vaginal dryness, no libido, insomnia, no energy, stiffness after sitting. I've never been a complainer - even when I was on the chemo - but it seems I'm complaining every chance I get. | Chemo wasn't this hard on me. At least I had some "good" days. With this drug it won't let up on the pain. Am going on my long-awaited honeymoon and just want to feel better. Called my Dr. Am stopping Arimidex on my own. I'm hoping that there are other drugs out there that this can be replaced with. | F | 60 | 4 months | 10/15/2007 | 4 | Invasive cell carcinoma, stage 1 | Some hot flashes;low libido; painful feet, ankles, knees, basically ALL joints, even toe joints; acne. | Acai berry juice (filled with omega 6 & 9) & flax seed oil (omega 3), mixed in a smoothie everyday along with moderate exercise has dramatically reduced joint pain. Has anyone else expeerienced the acne? | F | 53 | 18 months | 10/14/2007 | 3 | part of bBreast cancer treatment | | 10/10/2007 | 3 | IDC, Stage I, lumpectomy, no nodes | Excruciating pain and swelling in both wrists, now experiencing similar pain in knees, insomnia, weight gain, loss of libido, irritability, profuse sweating when exercising, hot flashes & night sweats abating somewhat. | The wrist pain began in my left hand and has now appeared in my right, and since I'm right-handed, it's beginning to interfere with my ability to do my job. The knee pain is strange--I only feel it when I touch a certain place on the outside of the knee, and then I yelp in agony. I experience the usual creakiness, groaning when I get up from a chair or out of bed. I am very fit, exercise vigorously every day, and eat right, and I've never had any joint pain before. Even though the night sweats and hot flashes have abated somewhat (not completely), I rarely sleep more than 4 hours a night. What's the minimum effective time to be on this drug? I hate it. I have a one-year post-radiation mammogram next week. | F | 59 | 11 months | 10/10/2007 | 3 | BC | Hot flashes, joint pain everywhere especially after sitting in one position for any length of time. Weight gain which I will try to lose. Thin hair, mood swings and swollen ankles. | I wish these doctors would read this website. They have no idea (or don't believe us) as to what this drug causes. Does anyone taking Arimidex have swollen ankles besides me? If this drug will keep the cancer away I guess I will have to tolerate it if I can. | F | 62 | 10 times | 10/10/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Joint, Muscle and Nerve pain. Shooting pains in arms at night keep me from sleeping. Extreme pain in the morning, or when I sit still for 15 minutes or more. Fatigue. Foggy thinking. My hands are probably the most painful. I've run that gamut for pain remedies (including Methadone). Lortab helps but Even 60gm of Lortab daily doesn't relieve all the symptoms. I just moved to TN and after 22 months, I have met with a new medical Onco Doc here. He is the first doctor (and I've seen Neuroligists, Rheumotologists, Pain Doctors) who suggested that Arimidex could be the cause. He suggested going off for six weeks to see if my symptoms improve. I stopped last nite. I found this site this morning, and I feel like I've got a ray of hope again. If the Arimidex IS the cause, my quality of life has been so poor that I'd rather take my chances and never take that drug again. | F | 55 | 22 months | 10/10/2007 | 4 | Stage 1 ER/PR + Breast Cancer | Hot flashes, joint pain/stiffness, torn rotator cuff tendon, arthralgia, osteporosis, increased liver enzymes, DeQuervains syndrome (similar to carpal tunnel, back ache, vaginal dryness, vaginal discharge, swelling of the leg (left) and fingers, water retention, high blood pressure | With all of these side effects, I still feel as though I am doing something procactive to prevent a recurrence. I think the Oncologist need to wisen up and listen to their patients. I can't tell you how unerving it is to know that your symtoms are caused by this drug and not have your doctor agree. My Orthopedist wanted to do surgery on the hand with the Dequervains, but I declined. My experience has been that these symptoms have gone away on their own due time. Sure enough, the sever pain in my hand from the Dequervains disappeared last week as suddenly as it started. I'm wondering what will happen next. Doc wants to put me on meds for the HBP, which also builds bone, sut I am seeing an Osteoporosis specialist next week. | F | 52 | 2.5 years | 10/8/2007 | 1 | metastatic breast cancer | After just 7 months on Arimidex, I have chosen to stop. I have had itching, neuropathy, hair loss, muscle pain, tooth pain, memory impairment and fogginess. The warning on the info from Astrozeneca states: if you have the following rare but serious side effects contact your doctor immediately: tingling or numbness in hands or feet; allergic reactions such as rash or itching... However, on mentioning the nearly debilitating itchiness and neuropathy, he just said that he hadn't heard of any similar reactions! As of now, the side effects have just become unbearable. I cannot touch my skin without getting a severe itching reaction that drives me wild. The tingling in my hands, feet, face and scalp, MIDSECTION, BACK, HIPS, and LEGS is intolerable!!!! As I write, I realize that the tingling is actually all over - just gets masked now and then by the intolerable ITCHING!!!!! Occasional nausea, loss of appetite and insomnia are part of the lovely mix as well! It's time for me to cut bait an | F | 56 | 7 months | 10/7/2007 | 4 | Breast Cancer, lumpectomy, chemo & | Very few side effects so I think I'm one of the lucky ones. No joint pain or symptoms which others are describing. The comments on this site have been very reassuring for me! I also have MS and thought the tiredness, poor memory and befuddled brain was due to that. I am relieved to read that it may be due to the Arimidex and I finish it in one year! | I tried Tamoxifen for the first 3 months but had weight gain and changed to Arimidex. As long as the doctor recommends it, I'll continue taking it to prevent the cancer returning. | F | 56 | 4 years | 10/6/2007 | 3 | inv lobular bc/mast. rt 1 node | I have been taken it for 6 month and I notice increasing stiffness, bone pain, hot hot flashes, tremors,and itching. I also bruise very easily. Does anyone else have the itching and bruising? | when I first took arimedex I didn't have any symptoms but gradually they have started. Now my fingers, hands, arms, neck, shoulders, and hips all ache. I thought I was just getting old. I looked up symptoms because of the bruising. I'm soo glad to have found this site. | F | 53 | 6 months | 10/2/2007 | 1 | Early stage Breast Cancer | carpal tunnel syndrome, aching all over, lethargy, depression, weight gain | I have decided, after talking to my radiation oncologist, to come off this drug to see what happens with the side effects. We both agreed that quality of life v the small chance of reoccurence is more important.Have just been diagnosed with carpal tunnel and will be having surgery. Was very fit and felt positive and happy before taking this drug. These side effects came on very quickly. Taking Arimidex doesn't guarantee 100% chance of cancer not coming back and I don't like all these other side effects. I'm going to take my chances by ensuring I eat a healthy diet and keep up the exercise. | F | 56 | 2 months | 9/30/2007 | 3 | stage 2 bc no lymph nodes | incredible joint pain, cognitive impairment, fatigue, vaginal dryness, zero sex drive | I began taking Arimidex 10 months ago. After 6 mo. joint pain became so bad I switched to aromasin. The joint pain lessened a little but I had more overall discomfort with aromasin ( more hot flashes, headaches, nausea). I am taking 50,000iu vit D. Last month switched back to Arimidex and got slammed with even worse joint pain. My Vit. D levels are monitored so I am going to up my intake to see if this helps and I'll add calcium and check into Cymbalta. The other Aromasin related side effects are not as pronounced with arimidex for me. I considered the switch to Femara until reading this site. But please ladies what can I do to get back my libido? I have solved the pain issue with astroglide (use liberally and repeatedly), but could really care less if I have sex ever again. Has anyone tried the little pink pill? My doc does not want to talk to me about this. | F | 44 | 10 days | 9/28/2007 | 5 | Her2 | most of the ones every other person had- but decided to ignore them, and like annoying people, most of the side effects went away. I am not sick, felt fine before the cancer, no reason why I should not feel fine with the cancer.Think on the bright side, you have nothing to fear- except fear itself. You have a chance, so seize it- you might just as well die otherwise. | Think of the alternative!! and be grateful for a chance. A lot of it is in the mind, just get on with your life. | F | 63 | 18 months | 9/27/2007 | 3 | Stage 1 BC, bilat matectomy | Joint pain especially in the knees, feet, and ankles. Thinning hair, no sex drive, vaginal dryness, weight gain. The hot flashes were the absolute worst of the whole thing. | I had already lost some hair to lupus previously, so losing some more to arimidex was just another thing to deal with. The joint pain is horrific at times, especially if I've been sitting a while. My doctor also put me on effexor for the hot flashes, and then added catapres to help with the elevated blood pressure. | F | 50 | 5 months | 9/25/2007 | 4 | bc | arthritic pain throughout body, hair loss,increased cholesterol, joint pain and stiffness, osteopenia. | I've been taking Arimidex for 4.5 years and plan on asking my oncologist if I can go off of it 6 months early because I'm very tired of hurting. I take acetimeniphen daily, anti-inflammatory supplements, and have used nearly every rub-on substance that's been made to no avail. I'm tired of feeling like this. I'm fortunate because I can afford to go for a massage frequently and to a chiropractor -- both help for a time. On the other hand I do give Arimidex credit for keeping my bc away. I'll be 5 years out April 1, 2008. As for the osteopenia I get a Zometa infusion every 6 months because I'm unable to take Fosamax and Actonel. I also take Vytorin for the cholesterol. | F | 72 | 4.5 years | 9/24/2007 | 4 | for Breast Cancer | None so far | Whatever side effects that might come my way cannot compare to how I felt when I had a breast tumor (which has been removed) -- I would rather take Arimidex to be free of cancer --- If I do get any side effects I will post them -- I have been taking this pill for 3 weeks. | F | 57 | 3 months | 9/19/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer stage 3 with 5 nodes | Painful heels. Bone and joint pain. Osteoporosis. Weight gain and insomnia | I found reflexology helps and trying to keep as active as possible. Prepared to put up with the side effects if the drug keeps me cancer free. Good luck everyone. | F | 48 | 11 months | 9/19/2007 | 3 | tubular ductal, 1+node, no chemo/ra | Hotflashes with night sweats, severe joint pain and lower body bone ache. Headaches, Chronic insomnia, chronic fatigue, short term memory loss, decreased libido, mood changes. | I had osteoarthritis prior to going on first Tamoxifen then Arimidex. Had an easy menopause at age 46, significantly more symptoms now, post CA. No chem or radiation. I do take mega calcium and vit. D supplements. Have controlled pain by taking oxycodone and oxycontin with ibuprofen. Worked to keep me going but side effects include severe constipation and spaciness. Also easier to rationalize not exercizing. I stopped the oxys except for 10mg slow release at night-can't sleep w/hip/leg ache. | F | 54 | 2.5 years | 9/18/2007 |