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 |
| 2 | Breast Cancer..stage 2..no nodes | My muscles feel like I have the flu perpetually. I don't feel like exercising and when I do, I get out of breath extremely quickly. I play a lot of tennis and have to take breaks and don't run after the balls like I used to (before the Arimidex). | I am glad I saw this website. I thought I was grossly out of shape and lazy, but I have been feeling it may the medication. Now I know it is. See the oncologist in a few weeks and will discuss it with her. | F | 59 | 2.5 months | 6/10/2007 | 2 | Stage II breast cancer no nodes | Fatigue, horrible joint pains, mood swings, can't sleep through the night, getting up from sitting to standing is VERY difficult and complete loss of sex drive. | I am seeing my oncologist this Tuesday and I am stopping the medication. I will try Tamoxifin and see how that works, but I cannot deal with the quality of my life right now. I am just SICK of the limitations and the daily reminder of the cancer. After I finished my radiation, I bounced back pretty well. Then I started taking the arimidex and life took a serious turn for the worse. I am retired and this is a time of my life that I should be enjoying myself and being active. I have not been able to play with my Alaskan Malamute for a year. I do not want to feel 90 years old - I am not ready to be OLD! | F | 60 | 10 months | 6/10/2007 | 4 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer | Joint pain, difficulty moving from sitting to standing position, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping through the night, impossible to lose weight. | My oncologist prescribed Bellarmine for the hot flashes and sleep difficulties and it's really helped. It took about two weeks to kick in but it's so much better. I find if I take about 600 mg of Ibuprofen several times a week it really helps with the other side effects. I haven't experienced the depression but I've been on 75 mg of Zoloft for years and this might be why. The weight gain... I'm glad to hear from others it's not just me! I even joined LA Weight Loss and wasn't losing weight (that was a waste of money -- don't bother). | F | 56 | 6 months | 6/9/2007 | 2 | Stage I Breast Cancer | Joint pain (especially in the knees), back pain, stiff neck, some foot pain. Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning and changing positions from sitting to standing. | Had a bone scan which showed a little arthritis (typical for someone my age). Went to my Internist because I was constantly in pain, stiff and was having difficulty walking. His first thought was that it may be the Arimidex and he suggested that I stop taking it, which I did. He also did a blood test which showed a marked increase in my sed rate and showed some anemia. Therefore, the diagnosis was Polymyalgia Rheumatica and I was put on a low dose of Prednisone. While there has been some improvement, the stiffness and knee pain still recur. Somehow I wonder if the Arimidex is the cause of all this, since I have always been very healthy and active. Anyone with similar experience, please comment. | F | 63 | 9 months | 6/9/2007 | 3 | Breast cancer | Increasing exhaustion and vaguely defined muscle/bone pain. Weight gain. Growing lack of optimism/"zip." | Apparently Arimidex has caused severe VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY and possibly ANEMIA...recently diagnosed when the exhaustion and pain just got too bad. Am on 50,000 units of Vitamin D; normal is 1,000 units. If you are on Arimidex, you might want to get your Vitamin D and red blood count checked. My oncologist just kissed off the tiredness and pain, saying we all are getting older. It was my internist's nurse-practicioner who found the vitamin deficiency! | F | 62 | 4 years | 6/5/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer stage 3 | Joint pain, Pains in my legs hips and back and neck, hot flashes galore, headaches(severe migraines) stomach upset, light headedness, memory lapse, slight confusion. I havent gained anymore more weight since of tamox. but I havent lost any either. The pain is unbearable. | From all accounts I have the medication works in keeping away the cancer. I have to take it and grin and bear it. Did anyone start to bruise very easily after taking arimidex? | F | 42 | 1.5 months | 6/5/2007 | 4 | breats cancer stage 1 no nodes | hot flashes and night sweats;insomnia; loss of libido. I have not as of yet experienced significant joint pain and my weight is not an issue. I also dont feel it has caused me to feel depressed. Generally, I feel pretty good and continue to have a positive outlook. Energy can wane, but that can be said for most people. | I hadnt linked arimidex to my symptoms. I assumed they were symptoms of menopause and lack of estrogen. I have been fortunate in that my side effects are minimal "ish", but what I miss most is a regular good night's sleep and a healthy sex drive. I am actually encouraged by reading these reviews as I now realise my sex drive is being affected by a drug and not because I am aging at a freakishly fast pace. I will more comfortably talk to my husband about this information and I do believe we can work together on getting the intimacy back. | F | 45 | 1 years | 6/4/2007 | 1 | prescribed by dr. post chemo | Everything aches. Can hardly walk up and down stairs. The back of my heals hurt terribly. I'm thinking it's causing the severe moodiness and depression I seem to be having. | Is there any alternative??? This is just not worth it. | F | 53 | 4 months | 6/4/2007 | 4 | | 6/2/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer 3 times | Have a lot of symptoms everyone described but will continue to take Arimidex because the option for me of not being here isn't the option I want. Everyone has to make their own decision--switch doctors--talk to your doctors--but you probably should let them know if your off of it | The memoray lapses that I am reading about may not be all from the arimidex. There has been a study done on ladies who have or had breast cancer (although with breast cancer they don't consider it in remission from what I understand)--for 10 years or more our brains continue to be affected from the chemo if you had it--isn't that interesting--between getting older--all the chemicals and procedures and surgeries many of us had, it is just one more interesting turn with breast cancer. Glad to be alives, mid-thirties when first discovered, with 6 children. Take care all you beautiful ladies and God Bless | F | 54 | 7 months | 6/1/2007 | 2 | | 5/31/2007 | 2 | Breast cancer | Was first diagnosed with advanced breast cancer when I was 39, 13 years ago. Had a mastectomy, chemo, radiation, biological and hormonal treatment. Was on tomaxifen for almost 5 years--I felt it saved my life but did have a lot of side effects--clotting and bleeding. Wond up getting endometrial cancer and the oncologist said it was more than likely from the tamoxifen. Because I was being monitoried closely because I did not have a good 5 year survival, I went sent to a gyne/oncologist that corrected by surgergy and progesterone was used for 2 years. I had a recurrence and had the other breast off, had 9 chemo treatments and have been on arimidex for about 9 months. I have bone pain/muscle pain/achiness; hot flashing and depression but am going to try to stick with it because I want to survive. | Hang in their ladies; try another drug if you have to; see if your doctor will let you be off of arimidex for a month; sometimes the effects lessen; sometimes it might be caused by something else--I now have arthritis so don't know if it is from getting older and/or being on arimidex. Do what you think is best for yourself. Get second opinions; don't be afraid to ask a question or make a suggestion. I should be glad I have hair but have male pattern baldness on top now and am growing a beard. Oh well, ain't life interesting! | F | 53 | 9 months | 5/31/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer (stage 2) | Stiffness in knees especially when getting out of bed, going upstairs / aches & pains in back / weight gain / vaginal dryness / no sexual desire / constant hot flushes - but have to say after reading the comments on this site and how some women are suffering, I consider myself very lucky. | I changed to arimidex 8 months ago as I could no longer cope with the constant hot flushes whilst on Tamoxifen but for the remaining 12 months I have left to take this medication I am going back on tamoxifen and will suffer the hot flushes! | F | 51 | 4 years | 5/27/2007 | 2 | Early stage breast cancer | The main problem has been hot flushes that have ruined my sleep. I'm then very tired (not sure whether its the disturbed sleep or the tablets) I have been suffering with depression, I have also had some joint pain. Another major problem has been weight gain and then a real problem losing the weight. | Are all oncologists aware of all these problems? I was put on Arimidex as the side effects of Tamoxifen - hot flushes - were a real problem. It doesn't seem to be a lot better to me. | F | 55 | 3 years | 5/24/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Have left a rating before, been to Hospital and have been told that one in ten have joint pains, so am coming of Armidex going back on Tamoxifen for next two years, Doctor said that if I was so bad I could stop, Might take my chances and stop altogether if Tamoxifen doesnt work out. I think it may be better as I feel so old with pains in legs,thighs, and feet are sometimes unbearable. | Think Arimidex needs to be looked at when giving to cancer patients as there seems to be too many women with all the same symptoms, surely if the illness doesnt kill you then Arimidex might? | F | 57 | 3 years | 5/24/2007 | 1 | estrogen positive br. ca. | terrible wrist pain, sleeplessness, joint aches and pains, restlessness | tamoxiphen had less side effects for me than all the aromatase inhibitors | F | 48 | 6 months | 5/23/2007 | 1 | Stage 2 BC - 5 year oral chemo | oppressive lower back pain , difficulty standing, rising from chair or bed,reaching and stretching over head,or walking, feel weak and feeble (unsteady like an old woman), balance problems, incontinence (I even wet the bed-so depressing), edema (legs and feet), lymphodema (underarm), sweats, red face, severe depression(screaming bouts crying "I can't take this anymore" suicidal ideations, cough | F | 53 | 4 months | 5/22/2007 | 4 | Breast Cancer stage 2 | Have taken Arimidex for four years and have somewhat stiff joints and total lack interest in sex. After reading this site I now know why I am unable to loose weight. Thanks. The fact I have had no reoccuring cancer indicates to me the drug is working and I am thankful for still being alive. Upon reading all the input to this I feel I am doing well since I feel my life is good and am able to enjoy each and every day. | F | 55 | 4 years | 5/21/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer Mastecomy Left Side | Progressive joint and muscle pain that eventually affected all my body until I couldn't function. Aleve and Tylonal couldn't control the pain. My blood pressure was high. My GP suggested I stop Arimidex for three weeks and monitor blood pressure thenreevaluate. After two weeks of not taking Armimex, all the pain is gone except for some in my left hip and lower back. This is controlled by Aleve. Will follow up to see if I will go back on Tamoxifen. After not taking Arimidex for one week, my blood pressure has returned to my normal reading. | I had been on Tamoxifen for three and a half years, when changed to Arimidex for the past seven months. No side effects with Tamoxifen. | F | 77 | 7 months | 5/18/2007 | 2 | Stage 2 breast cancer; in nodes | After reading through these comments, it seems like I have MOST of the symptoms! I guess the drug is working, because I am cancer free. However the side effects are many. I experience joint pain (most painful in the morning or after sitting for a while); weight gain (which I can't seem to get under control); memory loss (fuzzy memory); vaginal dryness and complete loss of interest in sex. Fortunately my joint pain isn't as severe as some, but it is there every day. The Dr's had me on FOSOMAX for about 1.5 yrs because of bone density tests, but they stopped that drug after I showed improvement in the test results. I was getting concerned about my memory issues but the timing of my problem to taking this drug has to be more than coincidential. I do mention the weight gain and joint pain to my Oncologist every time I visit but he doesn't want to change the medication. I have tried Weight Watchers a couple of times, but I can only seem to influence 5-8 lbs and that includes walking | F | 51 | 3 years | 5/16/2007 |