Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/15/2008
On 3/28/2008 Suzie m wrote:
I have been on all three of the AI drugs: began with Arimidex, switched to Femara, now on Aromasin. Side effects are the same with all of them. I had horrible pains in my joints, in my arms and legs, at night sometimes I'd have hip pain, and I have extreme hot flashes--both number (40-50 a day at one point) and intensity (dripping sweat, feeling like I was on fire). I've twice skipped my AI drugs for a week just because I needed some relief and the side effects did improve. (So if they ever let us stop taking these drugs maybe the side effects will go away forever!) My onco very much does NOT want me to stop the medicine so she has encourage me to do whatever I need to to control the side effects. So she has me on Percodan 5mg as often as I need it. And truthfully, I have found that I keep the pain well under control with 1 Percodan in the morning and 1 around lunch time. Late evening I usually have milder pain and I take a couple of Darvocet. (I don't know why your doc said it is a bad drug. If you don't take too many I can't see why it would hurt.) I was worried about addiction, etc. but I have never felt the need to take more pills than I need to control the pain, which my onco says means I am not addicted. One other thing that has really helped--exercise. As hard and painful as it is, the more you move, the better you feel. When I can get out and take a long walk my aches and pains are not nearly as bad. We have to hang in there for the long haul, so don't worry about the pain meds. Take the pills, take long walks, do whatever you need to do to feel better.
Suzie, I was on Arimidex for 1 year and now Aromasin for a year. The side effects are just so bad - constant pain and I am trying not to take too many other drugs. I take Effexor for depression and have xanax when my TMJ gets real bad. The pain got so bad that I was raiding my med. cabinet for any pain pills left over from surgery in Aug. 2005. I go to Jazzercise 2-4 times/week and walk when I can. I try to stay as active as possible. I am also on Crestor for high cholesterol. I've tried to handle the cholesterol issue naturally but was unsuccessful. Everyone in my family is on meds for this. I am single, 52 yrs old and own a house. I can't afford to have someone do everything for me so I have to keep active in order to keep up with things at home. My problem is this. I just went off Aromasin for 2 weeks and feel so much better. My oncologist suggested this to determine the cause of the pain - joints and muscles. I know that Aromasin is the culprit for most of the pain but some of the other meds I'm on have similar side effects. So the last thing I want to do is take more drugs. I'm already on way too many for my liking. And don't get me wrong - I am very grateful to God to be here. But tomorrow I have to call my oncologist - it's been 2 weeks - to tell her how I feel. I know she wants to put me on Tamoxifan and I'm having a hard time accepting that. She says I need to be on AIs for at least another 3 years. I'm just looking for the best treatment, that causes me the least pain and does not have some other weird side effect like a link to uterine cancer. Thanks for letting me vent but I'm so frustrated.
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/15/2008
Amen to your comments! I am starting to think that the Aromasin is worse than Arimidex or Femara, at least for some of us. I met a nurse last week who was also a BC survivor like us and she had switched from another AI drug to Aromasin and she found she also had even worse pain. So I may ask to switch back to Femara, see if it eases up a bit.
I'm also unwilling to switch to Tamoxifen because I worry about the more serious side effects (another cancer? no way!) and like you I hate taking a lot of meds. I was 47 when I was diagnosed and not taking anything but a multivitamin and the occasional aspirin. So it is hard for me to accept taking an AI drug plus all the drugs to manage the side effects of the AI drug! But if you can get some real relief, maybe one more drug is worth it? My doc put me on Percodan and assured me I would not get addicted and she was right. I have taken about the same amount from day 1 and it really does relieve the pain to a great degree, enough to let me function. Maybe your onco will give you something stronger for pain? We gotta do what we gotta do, sisters, and if that means taking pain meds to stay on the AI drugs, then so be it.
That said, I always respect the choices other women make. It is so hard to know what to do and we each have to decide what is right for us. Bless you all and buena suerte, good luck.
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/15/2008
On 3/28/2008 ShirleyM wrote:I am on Arimidex now for about 1 month. I have much bone pain . I have found that Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules and Calcium with Vitamin D helps me a lot. The pain is much less now. I still get headaches and dry eyes but the bone pain was the worst of the side effects.The Fish oil and Calcium is cheap and they really do help me. It's worth a try,it may help you all. Hugs Shirley
Ah, thank you Shirley. I can't believe I forgot the Fish oil! My cancer surgeon recommended it when I first started the AI drugs and was struck with the HORRIBLE pains. And I believe that it has helped, especially the pains in my knees that gave me the most grief. It doesn't eliminate the pain, at least for me it doesn't, but I really think it helps. And it is good for your heart, which is probably a good idea for those of us who got that lovely "red devil" chemo, Adriamycin. Apparently it is not good for the heart :(
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/15/2008
On 3/29/2008 Nbhadia wrote:Hello. I have been taking the other aromatase inhibitor Femara for 4 yrs. and also experience many of the same symptoms as you are having. I have 2 ideas for you instead of pain meds. 1. Physical therapy in water, specifically in a heated pool 2. Acupuncture I have found acupuncture helps and that means frequent treatments, maybe weekly for awhile and then bi-monthly. Most insurances now cover acupuncture or if yours does not maybe you can find a foundation that funds cancer patients' alternative therapies. I refuse to take pain meds as I don't want to tax my liver anymore than it's already been due to so much chemo. I hope this info helps you a little. I am just thankful that I am still here after having breast cancer twice (1st time in 1989) Reoccurence in 2003 with mets to the sternum. Femara seems to be working for me and I'm living with the side effects! Good luck. Hadia
I would love to try acupuncture, but here in Mississippi, antiquated and overly-friendly-to-physicians state laws make it almost impossible to practice acupuncture. As a result we have only one acupuncturist anywhere close to me and she is basically not taking patients. It's good to know it helps you, though. I may try traveling to Louisiana for treatments, although the cost may prevent that.
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/15/2008
Hi Susie No the Fish Oil Capsules and Calcium with Vitamin D, does not eliminate the pain but it really does help and like you said it is good for the heart and arthritis. I don't think anyone could go wrong by taking these supplements. Also I went to my Rheumy and he gave me Colchicine for the inflamation of the joints. It is also helping some. It is for Gout which I don't think that I have but I can't take pain pills b/c I have allergic reactions to them. After surgery they gave me Morphine and I had HIVES from head to toe and my throat started swelling shut. I went back to the Oncologist today and she still won't take me off the Arimidex,but I know it's the very best drug for me right now.Later she will give me Tamoxifen but not for several months. I hope you are feeling better and I will remember you in Prayer, NOTHING helps like Prayer. Hugs Shirley
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/18/2008
On 3/29/2008 maylo wrote:
After 2 1/2 years on Tamoxifen, I was afraid to switch to Arimidex because of all the stories I had heard of the bone pains. I already had knee and hip arthritis and spinal stenosis. I have now been on Arimidex for 9 months without any pains. We will all react differently to these meds, but don't automatically blame them for new problems. Be sure to be tested to rule out other conditions. I attended a lecture just a few nights ago where an oncologist recommended 1) switching to a different AI to see if pains subside or to Tamoxifen, and 2) try 1000 mg D3 supplements. Also, for those of you with severe hot flashes/sweats, after I didn't have improvement when taking Effexor 75, 150 or even 225 mg, I now take 0.1 mg Clonidine and have greatly improved (no, I'm not normal, but I rave about the difference) !
Are you still on the Effexor?
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/19/2008
Yes, I'm still taking Effexor, but only because I found I was a happier person on it. It never helped me with the hotflashes & sweats and might even cause some of my excessive sweats.
Subject: RE: aromasin/arimidex side effects
Date: 04/21/2008
On 4/19/2008 maylo wrote:
Yes, I'm still taking Effexor, but only because I found I was a happier person on it. It never helped me with the hotflashes & sweats and might even cause some of my excessive sweats.
the reason I was asking is because I'm trying to figure out which side effects are caused by which drug. Going off the Aromasin for 2 weeks alleviated the muscle pain but not the joint pain. I already had minor arthritis so maybe the Aromasin was making it worse.
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