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 |
| 4 | Breast Cancer st 2 | excessive joint pain, especially in wrists, fingers, and ankles. Hot flashes and fuzzy memory are frustrating. After my oncologist prescibed Effexor the hot flashes have gotten under control. I also have gained weight. I weigh more now than when pregnant with either child of mine - but haven't gain the strength to exercise like I know I should. | I am so thankful for the drug. With 2 children to raise I'll suffer through all the side effects happily. | F | 37 | 1.5 days | 2/8/2007 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage II | Initially had hot flashes EVERY HOUR, now it's about 5 or 6 times a day. Developed a VERY painful condition in right wrist (De Quervain's disease). Need to know how much protection this is giving against reocurrance to determine if it's worth it. Also gaining weight despite dieting and exercising! | F | 49 | 3 months | 2/8/2007 | 4 | BC, Infiltrating Lobular, no lymph | I had my end of 5 yr yesterday and thought I was done with medication. Dr wants me to stay on another 10 mos but insur won't cover so was researching alternatives and came across this site. Imagine my surprise when I read all these side effects - all of which I had experienced but thought it was age related. I have now decided to stop taking any meds and see if symptoms improve. I had researched side effects 5 years ago but never linked my arthritis-like symptoms and lack of sex drive to this medication. Severe joint pain, hard to get moving in the morning or after sitting for any length of time. Recent numbness in thumbs and 1st 2 fingers, pain in feet and hip/shoulder/knees/back. Hot flashes and night sweats have become a way of life. Extreme pain during intercourse - our sex life is basically non-existent at this point (of course, I have no interest either), just grateful my husband is a patient, forgiving man who has supported me every step of this journey. | I have about one month's supply left and have decided to start taking every other day and then every third day after a couple of weeks. I have had no recurrence of my bc symptoms and all of my tumor indicators were favorable (less than 2, HER2 neg, clear margins after surgery (lumpectomy). Also completed 6 cycles of chemo, and 38 rad. I feel good about my decision to discontinue meds. | F | 53 | 5 years | 2/7/2007 | 5 | stage3 breast cancer | shortness of breath, bone pain, tremendous weight gain, exhaustion rashes | I know that this medication is the best for me. I am trying so hard to start an exercise routine to help me lose this weight I feel so old. I am so tired after I get home from work. It is winter now maybe when the weather gets better I can do some walking I know exercise is very important and before BC I exercised all the time I need some motivation, | F | 58 | 2 years | 2/6/2007 | 4 | Stage IIa bc, rad,chemo, 1+ node | My worst side effects so far are weight gain, muscle stiffness and soreness, and just a week or so ago, I started experiencing trigger finger in more than one finger. It scared me so it helps to know that others have had this happen as well. But I am happy to be on something that I believe to be quite effective. I will be three years out of treatment in a couple of weeks. Anyone have any good treatments for trigger finger? | Took tamoxifen for 1 year before arimidex. Tamoxifen caused some weight gain and by the time I switched I had some menstrual like cramps even though I became menopausal on chemo. | F | 53 | 2 years | 2/2/2007 | 1 | Stage 3, grade 3 breast cancer | After 4 months on Arimidex, I am losing all of my eyelashes and my hair is falling out again. I also experienced severe joint pain but could deal with that. It is completely demoralizing to have gone through chemotherapy for months, bald, only to get my hair and eyelashes back, and to lose them again. I feel like I've been neutered. AstroZenica stated that they could not tell me if the hair and eyelash loss would be permanent or not. | I called AstroZenica and they were less than forthcoming about these side effects, which were not fully disclosed in their literature or I never would have taken this drug. I called the manufacturers of Femara, who were much more cooperative in giving me statistics on these side effects. 3% of women in 2 clinical trials, for a total of 600 women, experienced these side effects on Femara. I'm betting the percentage is higher with AstraZenica. Full disclosure is a legal requirement and if I had the energy I would do something about it, but I'm going through radiation right now and do not have the energy! | F | 58 | 4 months | 1/31/2007 | 4 | early invasive breast ca. | I have only been taking Arimidex for 3 months, my worst side effect is muscle and bone pain. I can walk for miles, but when I rest and try to walk I feel as if my muscles and joints are tight and it hurts to walk, it is worse in the morning, or after sitting a long time.Vaginal dryness is another side effect, and hot flashes. I also find that although I am fairly active, I get very tired,and need my sleep.I am not sure if this could also be a side effect from the radiation or the chemo | Arimedex is very expensive, more then my drug plan will pay, but I will continue taking it, because I want to be a survivor. | F | 57 | 3 months | 1/30/2007 | 4 | stage 2 BC | I have been on it for about 9 months. I did pretty well at first but gradually began experiencing joint pain, especially in my hips and lower back. I feel like I am 100 when I get out of bed in the morning. I started taking glucosamine w/chondritin about a month ago and I think it may be starting to help. Lately, I have had pain in my shoulders and when I first get up even my feet hurt. I never experienced any of this before. Lately, I have been gaining weight and I am trying to get more active in spite of the fatigue, but I feel like someone is blowing me up with an air hose! My memory definitely is not what it was. I think I may be experiencing some mild depression, due to the drug or the side effects? I also wake up at night more frequently than usual and have red blotches on my face at times. | I am happy to have the drug to fight off 'the beast' but a little sad about feeling prematurely aged. But anything is better than cancer! Keep up the research! | F | 58 | | 1/26/2007 | 3 | Early stage breast cancer | Major weight gain, tender feet that feel as if someone has been hitting them with little hammers. Vaginal dryness, pain on intercourse and no sex drive. Knees, hips and ankles stiff and sore. Restless leg, (controlled by Quinine) cramps, including deep, visceral ones linked to hot flushes. I can't enjoy a good stretch without excruciating pain in my upper arms. I was a very young looking and fit 56 year old when I started on Arimidex nearly a year ago. Now I feel my quality of life is destoyed and I've aged considerably. My memory is still wobbly but improved when I started taking extra thyroxin to counter an under active thyroid gland, possibly caused by radiotherapy. It's worth getting a blood test for this if you are having symptoms of exhaustion, cold or confusion. Some days I feel extra frustrated at the pain and my lack of mobility. | It had better be worth it is all that I can say. I want to know if the symptoms will go away in four year's time or whether I'll be on a Zimmer frame for life. I never took Tamoxifen so have no comparison to offer. | F | 57 | 11 months | 1/25/2007 | 3 | BC -2.4mm; grade3;13/14 nodes+ | Mainly aches and pains in the knees, back and legs. Sometimes I have found it difficult to walk. Lack of energy. Dryness to mucous membranes.Hot flushes, which at the beginning kept me awake at night. | It is difficult to know whether the drug is effective, since what would have happened had I not taken it. The problem is that it causes symptoms that are associated with cancer, so I am left in a state of anxiety - that's an understatement!!Will continue to take it, since I am a high risk patient. What choice do any of us really have? | F | 48 | 22 days | 1/25/2007 | 4 | Stage II BC, chemo, no nodes | Most symtoms...joint pain, insomnia, fuzzy memory, fatigue, hot flashes...these have gotten much better over time. Vaginal dryness is tolerable with Replens and Vagifem (approved by my oncologist). However, my sex drive is zero which is starting to affect my 25 year relationship. | It seems the doctors don't like to discuss sexual side effects from this drug, maybe because they don't have a good recommendation. I'm open to suggestions. | F | 50 | 2.5 years | 1/21/2007 | 5 | stage IIa, lumpectomy, chemo&radiat | I have experienced most of the symptoms already reported on this site but since I am 63, I thought they were more age-related than anything else. Besides all of my friends forget things and have arthritis too. I have been taking Omega 3 fish oil for the joint pain for about 6 months and that has helped a lot. When my son expressed concern over my memory loss,I started looking into my meds to see if there were any possible links and I found this site. I have an appointment with a neurologist to explore possible treatment for the memory.I find that keeping on a regular (at least 3/week) exercise schedule keeps me more limber and helps with the weight although I have gained about 4 pounds lately when I slacked off my program. Leg pain at night and occasional brief difficulty swallowing my own saliva occurs. The vaginal dryness is my biggest complaint. I might be even a little more clumsy than before. No hot flashes and I am lucky that I have no fatigue or depression.(Well I was already o | I had not thought to blame arimidex for these things but I do see a connection. I can't say that I am "cured" but I will continue arimidex as long as I think this drug can keep me cancer free or until a better one comes along. I would like to read suggestions from others on things that seem to help them with the various symptoms, especially the vaginal dryness and the memory loss. | F | 63 | 2 years | 1/19/2007 | 3 | BC Recurrence | Hot Flashes and sweats same as on Tamoxifen.Really stiff knees and ankles and aching calf muscles and sore feet all the time | I am trying to exercise more and it does help with the stiffness, it has been a great relief to see that other women have the same side effects. I wish i didn't have to take anything but my estrogen is out of control. IT has been nearly three years since my original diagnosis was on tamoxifen then, but it did nothing now have cancer in bone and lungs. I am happy and living in the moment as much as possible.Good luck to all | F | 41 | 3 months | 1/18/2007 | 3 | Invasive,sentinel clear, no rad | After one year, pain in my feet (heel) and my spine. Any pain I had worsened five-fold and that's definitely the problem with this drug. Whether in your muscles or your bones, the pain worsens FIVE-FOLD. I got so depressed that I was considering abandoning treatment. On the plus side, hot flashes almost disappeared. I have a question for those of you WHO HAVE NOT undergone chemotherapy or radiation: HAVE YOU DEVELOPED BLUISH NAILBEDS after more than one year of treatment???? | I didn't tell my doctor but I am taking one dose every 36 hours and the pain has diminished a great deal. It's a chance I'm taking to enhance my quality of life, and after close to two years, things look good. I am very closely monitored. DON'T FORGET YOUR CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS (with vit D and magnesium) | F | 55 | 18 months | 1/17/2007 | 2 | BC both breasts lymph nodes ++. | Leg stiffness, joints of feet painful in the morning, foggy headed, blood shot eyes, sinus pressure, tired after 6 hour work day, weight gain, puffy eyelids, hot flashes and depression. | I don't know if all my ailments are from arimidex or from Menopause. I was 42 when diagnosed and while on chemo went into menopause. Hot flashes are less frquent now than when first changing hormonally. I stay on it because my good friens mom has been on it for her whole life and has been cancer free for 25 years. All I can do is try all I can find to help. I hate not feeling like I used to. I was so energetic and full of spirit. Now Im tired,, depressed and negative. | F | 44 | 2 days | 1/17/2007 | 1 | Cancer rt and left breast , | nauseas,headaches hot flushes,sweating a lot day and nights. lack of breathing in bed,still sleeping with 2 fans aroud me. Spent 4 years being badly diagnosed.,and than was too late................. | Surprised that this was chemio therapy.Arimidex gave me the same symptoms...But every day.....Nauseas.tiredness,had bones problems which went away .That was good... | F | 66 | 1 times | 1/17/2007 | 1 | Cancer rt and left breast , | nauseas,headaches hot flushes,sweating a lot day and nights. lack of breathing in bed,still sleeping with 2 fans aroud me. Spent 4 years being badly diagnosed.,and than was too late...............lost of hair.,not told about it.. | Surprised that this was chemio therapy.Arimidex gave me the same symptoms...But every day.....Nauseas.tiredness,had bones problems which went away .That was good... | F | 66 | 2 days | 1/17/2007 | 1 | Cancer rt and left breast , | nauseas,headaches hot flushes,sweating a lot day and nights. lack of breathing in bed,still sleeping with 2 fans aroud me. Spent 4 years being badly diagnosed.,and than was too late................. | Surprised that this was chemio therapy.Arimidex gave me the same symptoms...But every day.....Nauseas.tiredness,had bones problems which went away .That was good... | F | 66 | 1 times | 1/17/2007 | 3 | Early Stage Breast Cancer no nodes | Is anyone having hand and/or led tremors? all of a sudden one of my fingers will go into a shaking spasm. Also a awful feeling of anxiety. I wonder if the tremors are from the anxiety, please respond if you've had tremors. | F | 60 | 22 months | 1/16/2007 | 4 | breast cancer | Memory problems, joint pain, leg pain, tiredness, depressed. | F | 63 | 18 months | 1/12/2007 |