Side Effects of Arimidex After Almost 2 Years

On Nov 29, 2011 12:16 AM lillady5553 wrote:

On Aug 17, 2005 12:00 AM Rossy wrote:

I'm new to this site but maybe this will be of interest to someone. I have been on Arimidex for almost 2 years now, having had a mastectomy in November 2003. Firstly I had hardly any side effects and slowly but surely they seem to be building up, some days far worse than the next. I have never had nausea though, thank goodness. The main side effects which I am experiencing now are aching bones and joints, mainly while trying to sleep at night. Also tiredness and seem to want to just go to bed to rest from as early as 8 in the evening - this is sad as I always went to bed late before my breast cancer. I also contemplated coming off the drug but decided that as the cancer hasn't come back at all in almost 2 years then perhaps I am doing the right thing in taking it every day.

I am new on here and happen to stumble upon this site as I was researching *side effects of Arimidex*.

I was DX with stage 4 breast CA in 2003......a lump was found at the 6 o'clock position on right breast.

I went the next day for a mammogram and yes, it definately was suspicious. so off to the breast surgeons, biopsys, and then the dreaded comfirmation words we think we would never have to hear: You have breast cancer!

I had a lumpectomy, nodes removed  and the results of that was NO node involvement....Thank God!

I then went on to an aggressive form of chemo due to it being stage 4......the 2 drugs that were used on me every other week, usually did not get used that close together.

I finished chemo, then onto 36 rounds of radiation, which totally wiped me out.....but......then came the discussion with the oncologist: which drug was I going to take.....Tamoxifin or Arimidex....hhhmm, my hormone receptors were estrogen ---- and progestrone +

well, not wanting to due 5 years of either a *blood clot issue* with the Tamoxifin.....or 5 years of a bone eating drug.....hard decision...

I opted for the Arimidex only because I *figured* I could counter act bone loss, but the silent blood clot issue scared me too much. I had lost my mom due to a sudden heart attack and she was only 54 yrs young, so that drug was no in the cards for me.

I did my 5 years of Arimidex and finished it in 2010.

I was only off the drug 1 month, and my front tooth fell out of my mouth into my hand, and that continued until I went to my oral surgeon, and it was decided that I was going to lose all my top teeth....*talk about tears*

I had them all pulled this past July and a whole plate put in right away, and this has been another rollercoaster ride that I don't want to be on.

I thought my bottom teeth were okay, and today...a bottom front tooth broke off in the back and I have a hole in my tooth:(

I go to the dentist tomorrow morning, and pray my bottom teeth can be saved.

I have gone thru every symptom you all are..or have...experienced.

bone pain, always exhausted but can't sleep, hip joints pop out of their sockets and then I can't walk until they pop back in.....my last bone density was about 4-5 yrs ago and I was DX with osteopenia. I have bursars on my knees and elbows, a bunion on my big toe, sharp burning pain in my feet...and...it never seems to stop!

I would of never in a million years ever thought my  teeth would go because of the Arimidex, but yes, that is the case.

I still have my meltdowns and cry...except now I am saying: why did I bother to fight....when I got the diagnosis: hearing the words: you have breast cancer and saying: why me??

Everyday, there is an issue to remind me that I have so much damage to other body parts due to the Arimidex.....

 

I am so sorry you are going through the dental problems.  I understand there is bone loss but the doctors are supposed to keep you on calcium so this does not happen.  I get a yearly shot because my stomach does not handle the calcium pills too well.   They are also supposed to be doing bone density tests evey year.  I go to MDAnderson in Houston, TX.  My oncologist told me from the beginning every breast cancer case is different and handled accordingly and to autodiagnosed myself. I am a 65 year old women, had dual mastectomy, and have learned to leave a day a time and enjoy my family.  My mother lived 20 after she was diagnosed with bc.  She did not have chemo nor radiation. The cancer came back in her stomach.  I prayed that you recovered from the side effects. The thruth is that knowing all I know today if I had to take Arimidex I will take. What are the choices.

I am also new to this site....looking for an answer:  how long do the Arimidex side effects last after stopping the drug?  Unlike your accts of experience with Arimidex, I've only been on it since 10/1/11, not quite 3 months & have given up (12/27/11).  Quality of life is far more important to me than quantity, after what I have been experiencing.  The hot flashes from Hell, sometimes occur nearly hourly during the afternoon & wake me at nite, despite loads of sleep meds.  I have Raynaud's & am used to being cold.  Sometimes, despite my FL location my digits will get numb from being cold. Meanwhile, sweat pours down my face & drips off my hair from the lovely heat flashes! I feel like a Sweat Hog & am embarrassed to go out in public.  Every move I make hurts.  I feel very stiff.  Even my butt hurts & then, there's also the migratory joint aches.  The Rheumatolgist said there was nothing he could do.  Arthritis medications won't help bec it's not arthritis, it's Arimidex.  All he offered was a Rx for pain medication.  All that did was contribute to the constipation caused by all the Calcium to protect my bones from Arimidex.  This is just plain absurd.  I quit.  I'd rather die in peace, than live suffering in pain & constipated.    

And to add to all the discomfort from aromataze inhibitors....

I have been prescribed Actonel to try and mitigate the bone loss caused by Arimidex.  OMG I't like my first go round with L'etrazol.  I have stiff joints, nausea and bone pain. I asked if I will be able to stop taking the Actonel when I finish with the Arimidex and the answer is probably not.  Definitiely have to find something other than Actonel.  The joint pain and fatigue from the Arimidex is quite enough with which to live.

On Aug 17, 2005 12:00 AM Rossy wrote:

I'm new to this site but maybe this will be of interest to someone. I have been on Arimidex for almost 2 years now, having had a mastectomy in November 2003. Firstly I had hardly any side effects and slowly but surely they seem to be building up, some days far worse than the next. I have never had nausea though, thank goodness. The main side effects which I am experiencing now are aching bones and joints, mainly while trying to sleep at night. Also tiredness and seem to want to just go to bed to rest from as early as 8 in the evening - this is sad as I always went to bed late before my breast cancer. I also contemplated coming off the drug but decided that as the cancer hasn't come back at all in almost 2 years then perhaps I am doing the right thing in taking it every day.

Your story, and the story of so many other posters here, is why I refused to take Arimidex and am approaching my treatment with lifestyle changes (diet & exercise mainly). 

If you're considering going off it, you might find some of the links here to be of interest: https://www.facebook.com/BreastCancerBandits

I just started taking Arimidex and I am getting headaches and I am having really bad heart burn and lots of gas pain. I called the pharmacy and they told me these were normal.

I hope you don't get discouraged.  I was on Arimidex for 10 years.  I am a 10 year survivor.  I stopped a little over 3 months ago.  I can tell you based on my experience Arimidex did make me tired and I now have more energy.  I also think I have more patience.  I sleep better now.  I worked very hard on not gaining weight during the 10 years.  Even with the side effects, I am sure that it provided me with protection against a recurrence during the 10 years.  I always thought if it provides me with added years of life cancer free, I can put up with the side effects.  Maybe I was right, maybe I was wrong.  I wish you many years of cancer-free living!

Hello I am new to this board. I just started taking Arimidex on January 13,2012. I was told a year after my older sister lost her 5yr battle to breast cancer that I had breast cancer as well. The doctor did a lumpectomy treated me with 6round ofchemo and 7rounds of radiation. I was put on Tamoxifen afterwards and in 7 months time I was suffering from severe cramps in my legs, toes and hands everynight then all through out the day. The oncologist took me off the Tamoxifen and started me on Arimedex and as of today she has taken me off because of severe muscle and joint pain. I woke up with my hands cramped up in a fist. Took me a while to get up off the bed or couch. I have burning sinsation in my hips and my bones feel like a truck ran over them. I also started having neropathy in my legs again just like from the chemo. The doctor said after 3wks if the symptoms stop they will have to try something else.  Is there anyone out there who is not taking Tamoxifen or Arimidex and if so what is it called and are you having any bad side effects?

Hello: I have been on Arimidex for 4 years. Just went to my oncologist complaining of side effects-joint pain, back and neck stiffness etc. She said, that most of these side effects go away after one stops the medications. One more year- anyone out there having relief after stopping? I had already had 5 yrs. of tamoxifen for breast cancer the first time..