Side Effects From Aromasin

On Mar 11, 2010 10:10 PM Ninah wrote:

I have the same problem and am developing neuropathy in my feet. Very sacred... but looks like there is no other choice...If anyone has a suggestion, please count me in

Taking B12 and a B complex may help with neuropathy per info I just read from the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.  This may help it heal.  Drug approaches are primarily pain suppression.  You may need both. 

I've also read that Vitamin D is deficient for almost all persons with breast cancer.  I asked my doctor to check mine, and was below normal.  I'm taking 5,000 IU daily.

I've also read an article recently about taking very high doses of Vitmain D to help reduce pain from the aromatase inhibitors.  It was from the recent San Antonio breast cancer conference.  The research shows a Vitamin D dose of 50,000 IU one day each week, was effective in reducing pain.  I plan to ask my doctor about this.  This is a very high dose and should be taken only under medical supervision.

Wishing you well.

I recently switched from Arimidex to Aromasin, and took Aromasin for three weeks.  My major complaint with Aromasin was the additional pain---as well as the swelling and rash/itchiness  over my whole body!   I tried taking otc benedryl but it did not work.  On Monday my doctor called me and told me to stop the Aromasin and called in an rx for Atarax.  Within hours I felt much relieved.   I have Herceptin treatment on Monday (every 3 weeks for past 1-1/2 years) and then appt. with doctor to discuss my other options.  I am sure that Aromasin is now out of the picture for me.

I too have pain in my joints and muscles. Hands and feet too. one time I woke up with my hand locked in a loose fist position. also swelling in my hands. I take 1 percacet in the morning to be able to get moving. Once I am, I'm okay till I stop for an hour or so. Almost feels like I need to be in perpetual motion all day at work :) And I am also so exhausted after work. but the dull headaches have went away! But I have found when I spend 1/2 hour on the treadmill walking, till my hips start to hurt :). About an hour later, I do get relief from the joint pain for maybe 2 hours or so. Weird..I know. Sondra

I also had bad leg cramps when I was on Tamoxafin. Also toe cramps. I was on tamoxafin for five years. The side effects didn't last that long. Then my doctor put me on Femera. I don't know if this is one of the side effects but I had migraine headaches often. Now I am on Aromasin. No pain yet just fatigue and lots of it. Sometimes I just want to quit taking these breast cancer drugs.

Hi there,

I am on Tamoxifen, have been for almost 6 months now, went to 2 oncologists one prescribed Aromicyn and the other Tamoxifen. I opted for the second choice and although I did occassionally get cramp in my calves it is certainly more severe now, reading your letter explains why!!  When you get these cramps, a quick relief is to pull your toes upwards towards your knee, that is of course if you can get to them!!  Another thing that seems to help me, is if I have got to my toes and bent them up, I get out of bed and stand on the cold tiles for a few seconds!!  I only get these cramps at night.  Another thing that helps cramp is to take quinine sulphate tablets.

If you try any of these, please let me know if they have helped you.

Best wishes

Jacqueline

My feet hurt also. I am taking Aromasin.  I took Tamoxifen for 5 years. At first I had leg cramps and hot flashes. But that went away after a few months then I had no side effects.  I wonder if I can go back to Tamoxafin. I'll have to ask my doctor.  I noticed this Aromasin leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

HI I have been taking Femara for 2 yrs and my joints and legs, back are killing me,.   I tried the aromasin and arimidex, but had different side effects.  I am seriously considering to be asked to be taken off of this.  I have read so many posts about the side effects of this drug or others its beginning to scare me.  I can barely walk without leg pain.  I just wish I knew more about what would happen if I stopped this.  But its beginning to be more of an option to stop.  As its a continual joint pain 24/7.   Is everyone else having these symptoms?  I wonder if there are people that dont have this problem.,  Mine was a stage 3b ductal breast cancer and had a double mastectomy , chemo & radiation.  Would love to hear feed back from others.  Thanks

  Joyce

On Jul 15, 2010 3:25 PM JoyceJJL wrote:

HI I have been taking Femara for 2 yrs and my joints and legs, back are killing me,.   I tried the aromasin and arimidex, but had different side effects.  I am seriously considering to be asked to be taken off of this.  I have read so many posts about the side effects of this drug or others its beginning to scare me.  I can barely walk without leg pain.  I just wish I knew more about what would happen if I stopped this.  But its beginning to be more of an option to stop.  As its a continual joint pain 24/7.   Is everyone else having these symptoms?  I wonder if there are people that dont have this problem.,  Mine was a stage 3b ductal breast cancer and had a double mastectomy , chemo & radiation.  Would love to hear feed back from others.  Thanks

  Joyce

Hi Joyce, I too had stage IIIB ductal and lobular cancer, bilateral mastectomy, etc.  I was on Femara for about 18 mos and couldn't stand the pain in my joints.  It was unbearable.  My oncologist switched me to Aromasin about 9 mos ago, and I am doing better on it.  I still have pain, but not as severe.  However, the hot flashes, weight gain, and lack of energy are the same.  I'm tired of feeling tired all the time, but I'm afraid if I stop the drug the cancer will come back.  Its kind of a no-win situation, but I'm just not willing to take the chance.  I know the symptoms will go away if and when I can stop taking the drug.  I was very intersted to hear of all the incidinces of carpal tunnel on this site because I've just been diagnosed with that.  The brace at night helps.  I don't want to have surgery on that arm as that was the side all the nodes were removed from and they said to not even have blood work or blood pressure done on that arm.  Good luck to you - try to stay positive and be kind to youself.  I found a yoga stretch class very helpful.

Sunnygirl in Feburary 2008 I was diagnosed with stage III 2 node invation ifiltrating ductile carcinoma/Her2+. I was 44 years old. Had double mastectomy with reconstruction and nipple reconstruction with areola tattooing. Treatment has been tomoxifin for 2 months could not tolerate then switched to Arimidex every other day with Lupron shots every three months. No chemo because I was hormone receptor positive. My total therapy has been 2 an a half years now. But just recently the Arimidex has reached new heights of side affects to the point of me taking other meds to combat the side effects. To many meds quality of my life was getting really bad.I decided to go off the Arimidex for a month of course all side effects are gone but the doctors recommend that 5 years is teh magic number for me. So now I am headed to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Faulkner Hospital in Boston. There is a great Doctor there I met in the begining of my treatment and sent me to another wonderful doctor at the Megee Womens hospital in Pittsburgh PA. Between the information that I recieved from both doctors and my own research my treatment has been effective up until now. So I am heading back to the Dana Farber Cancer center in Boston to get this doctors opinion. The Faulkner hospital in Boston gets more information on breast cancer form other contries other that the US so they can give you more up to date data on medication therapy and there effectiveness so you and your doctor can come to a better comprehensive treatment for your specific desease. If any one would like the names of these doctors I will be happy to give them to you. Cancer is a nasty desease but if we find the best treatment we are comfortable with and it makes sense to us we are more apt to go the duration. Once you have all the facts infront of you you can feel that YOU are making the best decision you can for yourself and then let it go and live your life. You have done the best you can do for yourself thats all you can do.

I took Tamoxifen for about a year, had hot flushes, hip pain, fatigue. Switched to Arimidex and spent 4 1/2 months on it before I had to go off it. Side effects included, wanting to kill myself, joint and bone pain all over, foot pain, carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, debilitating fatigue, severe fluid retention in the lower limbs, weakness, and not hot flushes but a feeling that every day was 43 Degrees Celcius (over 100 degrees farenheit). I had more than 20 different side effects and have now gone back on to Tamoxifen. At least the se's on that are manageable. I found out about a joint formula available in the US (I live in Australia and buy it on eBay) called Shiff Move Free, it is excellent for the joint pain. I started taking it while still on Arimidex - pain reduced by about 60%. On Tamoxifen I get no joint pain at all now. My naturopath has me taking Indole 3 Carbinole, which is good for estrogen balance. I will continue to take this when my 5 years is up. Studies have shown it could be just as effective as Tamoxifen, for ER+ breast cancers. Magnesium is very important too, helps with cramps, and helps to keep bones strong.