Arimidex Side Effects

I am new to this site.  I have been taking Arimidex for 8 months.  Gradually side effects are becoming apparent.  Recently, I have experienced intense stiffness all over my body and swollen hands when I wake up in the morning or during the night.  When I talked with my oncologist about it a few days ago, she said she suspected it was the Arimidex and referred me to a rheumatologist for testing.  She said these symptoms mimic rheumatoid arthritis.  However, it is not my joints that are the issue....it's stiffness and achiness all over my body.  These two symptoms, stiffness and swollen hands, subside quickly after I start moving and begin my day.   My concerns are:  will these two side effects continue for the duration of this treatment (I am supposed to take Arimidex for 5 years and I have less than one year completed)??   Will it get worse as time goes on?   Will it result in my having rheumatoid arthritis for the rest of my life? Should I change to a different medication?

I also experience tiredness and sleeplessness which are new for me. Perhaps it is most important to mention that I am not on any other medication at this time and have had excellent health all my life.  BC was found early, chemo + radiation.

I have enjoyed this site for quite some time...and it amazes me that over and over and over again ARIMIDEX side effects are brought up. Of course, I know that patients that are as happy as a clam with the medication probably do not write in.  BUT--so many entries is a big red flag that this medication causes lots of problems.  I was on Aromasin (similar) for about 4 months.  My symptoms were exactly as yours.  Without hesitation my ONC. put me back on tamoxifin.  By the way, I was the one who had read about Aromisin and Arimidex and inquired about taking it.  Anyway, I have absolutely NO regrets about discontinuing that medicine.  I, too, would wake up and just would be shocked, bewildered, and even scared that a medicine could cause such excruciating discomfort.  Be proactive about your health.  Research medicines.  Talk to your doc with knowledge.  Go to www.askapatient  that is a terrific site!  Good Luck!

I absolutely agree with KittyCath on just how dangerous these drugs are.

Please take a look back through previous message threads about Arimidex, Aromasin, Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and anti-estrogen drugs.  I have posted to quite a few of those threads - offering suggestions for coping with the medications or what to do if you want to stop taking them.

There are other frequent posters to the board who have had great suggestions, too.

If you have questions about any of my messages, please feel free to private message me, and I will try to help.

 Sincerely,

Tre

I am new to using a computer so don't know how to access previous messages...I will be seeing my oncologist in a few weeks for check-up and want to have knowledge about the Aromasin that I have been taking. I have discussed these side effects (not knowing if they were side-effects) but am told things like "well, your age--- or try to exercise more---or my favorite"but you look so good"---" I really want to know if it's worth sticking to the medication. Have been on it three years miss my "old self" and am getting depressed..I walk like I'm 100 years old..have many many hot flashes, feet are painful with some numbness, my hair has thinned out. One podiatrist told me that the foot problem may be due to all the chemo I had and that it may not subside..But, I'm thinking now-maybe it's the Aromasin...? Do you have insight for me?  feminabella

 

On 8/18/2008 megry wrote:

I am new to this site.  I have been taking Arimidex for 8 months.  Gradually side effects are becoming apparent.  Recently, I have experienced intense stiffness all over my body and swollen hands when I wake up in the morning or during the night.  When I talked with my oncologist about it a few days ago, she said she suspected it was the Arimidex and referred me to a rheumatologist for testing.  She said these symptoms mimic rheumatoid arthritis.  However, it is not my joints that are the issue....it's stiffness and achiness all over my body.  These two symptoms, stiffness and swollen hands, subside quickly after I start moving and begin my day.   My concerns are:  will these two side effects continue for the duration of this treatment (I am supposed to take Arimidex for 5 years and I have less than one year completed)??   Will it get worse as time goes on?   Will it result in my having rheumatoid arthritis for the rest of my life? Should I change to a different medication?

I also experience tiredness and sleeplessness which are new for me. Perhaps it is most important to mention that I am not on any other medication at this time and have had excellent health all my life.  BC was found early, chemo + radiation.

I have been on Arimidex for almost 5 years now. Was on Tomoxefin at first  but was so sick every day was worse than Chemo.  Haven't had any problems with taking Arimidex that didn't have prior to taking it.  At first had hot flashes as did with Tomoxefin but my ongologist had me try a low dose of Effexor which believe it or not has been a god send to the hot flashes, they are gone.  Have shared this with a few friends from buddie group and it has been working great for them even with the Tomexifin.

Don't think any one drug works for all of us so if having constant problems might want to try one of the others for a while.  Certainly hope you get some relief soon. 

 

megry,

My symptoms on Arimidex are exactly like yours, the swollen hands, stiffness, being able to function after being up for a while and I've been on Arimidex now for 31 months. 

Since my earning a living depends on my hands and feet and there is nothing that can be done for my feet (chemo caused), my hands and wrists were the biggest problem.

My doctor also sent me to a rheumatologist who took a number of blood tests to rule out rheumatoid arthritis.  He finally sent me to a physical therapist when a bump started to form on my left wrist.  The therapist worked with me and my wrist started to improve quite well.  The bump started to fade and is not noticable.

A year later the same thing started up with my right wrist.  I went back to the therapist and went through the same thing again only this time the response wasn't as quick.  We had hit an impass where I was not showing any more improvement and we agreed that I would stop treatment for a while and see what happened.

Oddly, my discomfort started to ease without any further treatment which leads me to believe that this side effect has it's own timeline and will cause me discomfort when it wants and I'll feel better when it decides it's done for a while.

My hands and wrists are just lightly painful now and only when I flex them or stress them in the wrong direction.  They are still a bit stiff but I can live with that.

 

I talked to my doctor about switching to something else and he said he'd rather I stay on the Arimidex, if I can tolerate it, as it's the best thing going for my type of cancer.  So I'm staying on it.