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, stage 1 neg. nodes | Started out with neck pain that was excruciating, shoulder pain, left hip pain....moved to knees & feet. Like everyone else here I feel like I'm a 100 yrs old, it is really hard getting up in the morning. The worse is the severe depression and mood swings....I am "Dr.Jekyl & Mrs. Hyde"....I have actually screamed at people. Sex is never a thought. This is the worse I have ever felt. Someone else summed up this experience by saying that the daily pain is a constant reminder of the cancer........I agree with that. My survival rate with the rare type of cancer I had is 88%........without the Arimidex but my doctor said I could have 90% with it....but I think the joint pain and other side effects will kill me first. | I hate this medication so much I have stopped taking it, I feel the need to enjoy my life. | F | 58 | 5 months | 4/13/2007 | 4 | Stage I DCIS/ER +, no nodes | All described!!! | Symptoms began within two months of starting Arimidex, have continually increased, especially in the past year. I too have been faithfully exercising, took all the "white" stuff out of my diet, added a zillion anti-inflammatory and joint supplements. Arimidex had just been released to the general public in 2002 and I insisted on taking it. I had a bilateral mastectomy, with six months of chemo, plus almost 5 years of Arimidex - I think I've done the best I could! This site is without a doubt the best compilation of side effects - every dr needs to read it! | F | 61 | 58 months | 4/11/2007 | 4 | breast cancer | early on had bone pain and tiredness but none now | Now taking lots of calcium, glucosamine, cortaflex, high dose Q10 cut out dairy and now eating and juicing lots more fruit and veg and have hardly any side effects at all | F | 60 | 2 years | 4/4/2007 | 4 | Breastcancer | Hot flashes, night sweats, pain in my joints (hands & shoulders), tiredness, fatigue, waking up every hour during the night, dizziness when I got out of bed, felt like I was a 100 years old. Found the side-affect from Arimidex almost worse than having chemo and definately worse than radiation. | Asked questions about the side-affects and what could be done from every doctor I met. These doctors always responded that nothing could be done. Was already about to ask my oncologist for an alternative drug (if possible). However the last doctor which I met suggested that I should try Cymbalta which is normally described to people who have depressions but she said that women with strong menopause problems usually benefit from using this drug. Now after having used it for a month, the side affects of the Arimidex have been reduced considerably. At the moment I can continue using Arimidex without too much discomfort. The hot flashes, night sweats and the pain in my joints haved almost disappeared totally. I have much more energy, which I need since I started a new job and feel younger again. | F | 42 | 5 months | 4/4/2007 | 4 | BC - no lymph involve; lumpectomy | Correction to earlier post. Muscle and joint pain. | Took "Schiff Move Free Advanced 2 per day" which reduced the muscle and joint pain to normal. In a previous post, in error said it was "Natural Factors CLA Tonalin" that reduced the pain. | F | 55 | 4 years | 4/3/2007 | 4 | BC - no lymph involved; lumpectomy | Muscle pain and joint stiffness; bone loss; high cholesterol; weight gain | Muscle pain and joint stiffness relieved by taking Conjugated Linoleic Acid Blend (Natural Factors CLA Tonalin 1000 mg); take Boniva for bone loss; reduced cholesterol from 247 to 172 in 6 months by going on a Vegan-vegetarian diet, taking anti-flush Niacin and Red Yeast Rice; started water aerobics and weight training 3 days a week and have lost 35 pounds with more to go. | F | 55 | 4 years | 4/2/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Achy thumbs, index and middle fingers on both hands, sometimes these all go numb and ache intensly. Left, shoulder rotator cuff hurts. Knees ache, right worst, right hip tight in groin area, fatigue low labido, diarrhea after sugary foods, mood swings, weight gain, loosening skin on arms and upper theighs. | I had Infultrating ductal carcinoma in my right breast. Stage one Type one. I had a mastectomy. No lymth-node involvement. No Chemo or radiation. I'm 62 and started taking Arimidex 13 1/2 months ago. My already fine hair started thinning until Nioxin was recommended. I use their three step products and it has helped a lot. I take Ibuprophen when the aching gets too bad. I worked with a professional nutritionist. She recommended a diet and suppliments. I worked with her 14 years ago when I had Follicular Mixed Cell Lymphoma (unrelated to this breast cancer). It has not reoccured. Over all I feel good when I'm eating the diet she has recommended which does not include sugar. I eat organic foods as much as possible. And still enjoy a glass of wine now and then. I'm going to take the suggestion of a women who wrote here and elliminate caffeine and wheat from my foods to see if that will help with the joint pain. Thanks for this site. Quality of life is very important to me but I'll ke | F | 62 | 13 months | 4/2/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Took Arimidex for 3-1/2 years. Worst side effects have been severe joint pain and weight gain. After approximately 3 months I started having pain in every joint in my body. After about 6 months the pain settled in my feet and ankles. October of '06 started having severe pain in my right knee with some swelling. Pain in my feet and ankles, together with the pain in my knee, became so unbearable that I decided to stop taking Arimidex in November of '06. After 4 months, pain is worsening. I've been told by an Orthopedic Surgeon that I most likely have a torn meniscus and will need surgery. I can't get any doctor to address the issue of the pain in my ankles. I thought that within a few months of not taking Arimidex my pain would at least begin to lessen, but it has actually gotten so much worse that it is very hard for me to stand and walk. I'm 58 years old and feel at least 90. Until finding this board, I didn't realize the fatigue, mood changes, and memory losses were also sid | My original surgeon moved out of my area 3 years after my surgery. He acknowledged the joint pain side effect (although no one before, during, and after my diagnosis, surgery, and radiation treatment ever told me about any side effects, and the joint pain was the only one he acknowledged after I complained about it) and told me I could stop taking the Arimidex if the pain was too bad. Not wanting the cancer to come back, I decided to continue taking it since the pain was still bearable at that time. My last check up was with another surgeon, who said he had never heard of Arimidex causing joint pain (I need to refer him to this board). He, of course, had no explanation for my knee, feet, and ankle pain. I told him I had stopped taking the Arimidex, and he was okay with that. Every doctor I have seen in the past 4 years has ignored my complaints about that pain. It is so frustrating, and suffering daily (and nightly) with this condition is very depressing. | F | 58 | 3 years | 3/31/2007 | 4 | Breast cancer-Mastectomy-1 node | I am 63 and have been taking Arimidex for approximately 3 years. I am experiencing pain in my feet, ankles, knees, hip joints with pain and swelling of my hands and fingers. I also have flushed cheeks and dryness of my mouth, throat and skin. I also suffer with fatigue. My doctor advised me that he feels that this is the best drug for me. I have confidence in my oncologist and therefore, will continue to take it. I only have two more years left to take it. | F | 63 | 3 years | 3/26/2007 | 3 | stage 1 breast cancer | I've been on arimidex for 6 months. After 3 months I started having terrible hot flashes 24 hours a day. My hair thinned initially but stopped after about 6 weeks. I am currently feeling a little nauseous & am no longer sleeping soundly through the night but that's it...no bone pain, fatigue etc. I am experiencing some vaginal dryness & was told to use Replens & Vitamin E internally & that seems to be helping. I exercise a lot...walking, strength training, hiking etc. & I do think that helps a lot both physically & mentally. The whole thing sucks but I really feel that I don't have a choice so I will stay on this drug as long as it prevents a recurrence of this disaese. | F | 53 | 6 days | 3/25/2007 | 1 | Lobular BC, Stg 1, LCIS | I have been taking Arimidex nearly two years following lumpectomy and radiation therapy. I turn 60 this year and feel 90. After taking Arimidex for three week I woke up with pain in arms and hands and fingers asleep. I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel in both hands. After 7 months I had sever pain in right knee and eventually had arthroscopic surgery and meniscus all but removed from multiple tears from arthritis. Set to have a total knee replacement, I woke up with severe pain and swelling in other knee and am now waiting for mosaicplasty to repair cartilage on the femur. Feet are so sore at night (and I sit all day) that I can barely walk. When I see the oncologist and she asks about joint pain, she says nothing and just makes notes in the file. Are we remembering that this drug was so "successful" in FDA testing that it testing was stopped and it was offered to the public. This is considered an oral chemo and there is not enough testing or use to show long term e | F | 59 | 23 months | 3/23/2007 | 4 | BC Stg 3, 1 node | Severe joint pain in all joints. Stiffness and aches that are only relieved with hot bath. Weight gain. Trigger finger and severe finger/thumb/nerve pain. Hair loss initially, no new growth. Continuous swelling of remaining breast. | Brings to mind "It was the cure that killed 'em". I recognize that Arimidex may have saved my life. My five years are almost up and now my doctor says she wants me to take it two more years. I can't do it. I feel the arthritis like symptoms are killing me. | F | 48 | 4.5 years | 3/22/2007 | 4 | breast cancer | some slight pain in my joints, mostly if I lay in one position too long - have been on it for 5 months at this time. | F | 36 | 5 months | 3/22/2007 | 2 | BC Stage between I and II, no nodes | Weight gain, extreme fatigue, joint pain, stiff hands to the point of not being able to type (I'm a writer!). Post-chemo hair growth very slow and thin. Drenching night sweats followed by severe chills and can't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. Depression (who wouldn't be?) Feel horribly old and unsexy -- no interest in sex and that just isn't like me at all. Felt better during chemo than I do on this stuff.. | The doctor did not discuss any of the potential side effects and the reading material given me glossed over the side effects. The fact that all the reading material was from the pharma company, I'm not surprised. I wonder if the 2% "protection" from cancer recurring is worth the diminished quality of life for 5 years. At 53, I think I'd rather have 5 good years than 7 bad ones. Seriously considering getting off of it but will first talk to the dr. Since I had DCIS and an "encapsulated" 2.5 cm tumor with no node involvment and chose bi-lateral matectomies as a precaution followed by 6 months of chemo, if we didn't knock out the cancer already, I think I'll take my chances. | F | 53 | | 3/19/2007 | 2 | BC Stage between I and II, no nodes | Weight gain, extreme fatigue, joint pain, stiff hands to the point of not being able to type (I'm a writer!). Post-chemo hair growth very slow and thin. Drenching night sweats followed by severe chills and can't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. Depression (who wouldn't be?) Feel horribly old and unsexy -- no interest in sex and that just isn't like me at all. Felt better during chemo than I do on this stuff.. | The doctor did not discuss any of the potential side effects and the reading material given me glossed over the side effects. The fact that all the reading material was from the pharma company, I'm not surprised. I wonder if the 2% "protection" from cancer recurring is worth the diminished quality of life for 5 years. At 53, I think I'd rather have 5 good years than 7 bad ones. Seriously considering getting off of it but will first talk to the dr. Since I had DCIS and an "encapsulated" 2.5 cm tumor with no node involvment and chose bi-lateral matectomies as a precaution followed by 6 months of chemo, if we didn't knock out the cancer already, I think I'll take my chances. | F | 53 | | 3/19/2007 | 1 | DCIS stage 1 no nodes | growth of facial hair, facial redness, severe joint pain in feet, hands, knees, hips, neck, shoulder and jaw, hair thinning, dry,scratchy throat, depression, extreme weight gain despite greatly decreased appetite, insomnia, night sweats ,followed by chills,total loss of libido | I hate this drug. None of my doctors act like they are interested in the extent to which the side effects have destroyed my quality of life. One doctor said, "You have been taking it for 51 months, what's 9 more?" That cuts both ways so I am taking myself off it. If the cancer recurrs I'll deal with it then but I will not take arimidex again. Heart disease kills more women than breast cancer and arimidex increases my risk of that. I look forward to being able to move again and to get back to doing the things I love (hiking, yoga, needlepoint, gardening, golf) without excruciating pain. | F | 64 | 51 months | 3/19/2007 | 5 | Stage 2A IDC, chemo lumpectomy rads | Knees are starting to hurt. | Aching knees for me is a small price to pay for the piece of mind of knowing I am actively doing something to cut down on my chance for recurrence. I had my ovaries removed at the same time as my lumpectomy so I could go on Armidex as opposed to Tamoxifen. I am grateful to be ER/PR+ and HER-. I swim every day and hopefully that will help with the achy knees. | F | 51 | 4 months | 3/17/2007 | 1 | stupid question! | severe joint pain...... finger joints popping out, too. | F | 61 | 5 months | 3/16/2007 | 3 | BC Stg 1C R Mast | I only have a few months left on Arimidex as I chose to have my ovaries removed. I was on tamoxifen with little side effects. Arimidex has gradually made my feet so sore that I feel like my feet belong on an old persons body. I seem to have tremors, and my vision is blurry. My moods have changed for the worse and apparently am hard to live with. I have an appt in a week to see oncologist and I am going to go off of Arimidex and call it quits. I am so appreciative of this site, as I thought I was the only one with sore feet and now I know why. Thanks to everyone:) | 43 | 15 months | 3/13/2007 | 5 | Infiltrating ductal Ca Stage 2B | Bone pain, tiredness, weight gain, I don't get as many pimples. It hasn't been that bad...I try to always be active so I don't get so stiff. | I was diagnosed in June 2003 with Left breast ca(opted modifed rad mastectomy); had atypical dysplasia on the right the previous year(which was excised). I started Arimidex after 6 mos. of Taxoterre, Cytoxan & Adriamycin. I decided not to have radiation.Had mastectomy on the right 2005 followed by bil. reconstruction. I continue to take Arimidex and my oncologist told me that it is perhaps a treatment I will have for life....after all one never knows if one has beat cancer....only if you die from some other ailment other than cancer. | F | 49 | 3.5 years | 3/10/2007 |