Arimidex Side Effects

I have been on Arimidex for almost 5 years and will stop when I complete the 5th year this fall. It's been an adventure. Joint pain, stiffness, (which left me worrying about bone cancer (hey, if there's a pain, there must be a reason).... thank you all for your postings to let me know that I am not alone in my Arimidex side effect symptoms). Sitting still for too long or just getting out of bed in the morning left me feeling like I was 90 years old (aching knees, ankles and feet). I have always felt taking the Arimidex was worth the discomfort if it gave me a better chance of not having a cancer recurrence.

I'm hoping that once I'm off the Arimidex for awhile - the stiffness and aching will go away.  I wake up in the morning and stretch and flex my stiff fingers for a few minutes and my first few steps out of bed are more of a a hobble, and then I'm ususally fine for the day except for sitting in one place for more than a half hour. 

What has helped the most, instead of taking more pills, (ibrophen, tylenol, muscle relaxers, etc) has been doing low impact water aroebics for a half hour 3-4 times a week.  The hot flashes were combatted by a fan in every room and one on my desk at work.  Baby wipes in a purse-size holder are wonderful for a quick "refresh" as needed, as is a mini spray bottle of water.

I go in for a bone density scan next week. Arimidex is especially tough on the bones.  I had a "screening" done at a health fair last fall, and there was an indication that further tests should be done - so I am having the test.  After reading about Boniva and other prescriptions - I'm not sure that I want anything to do with these drugs. I think calcium, excercise and of course prayer may be my best prescription. 

Blessing to all of you out there - we are all sisters in this battle.

OH YES - I had the same horrible side effects with both Arimidex and Femera but I put up with it, mainly out of fear that if I stopped taking it, the C/A would come back.  What I took was a OTC called "Move Free with MSN" - it worked wonders for me!!!!!

Congratulations!  I've been on Arimidex for 3 years and am currently taking a break.  It's been 2 weeks.  I know when I go to my oncologist in March he will be upset and tell me to get back on.  At that time I will make my decision.  For me the weight gain of 45 lbs. has put my health in jeopardy.  My blood pressure shot up as did my blood sugar.  The doctor just tells me to exercise and watch what I eat.  It doesn't seem to matter if I starve myself, I just keep gaining.  So in a few weeks  maybe I'll have better perspective of what I will do.  I mean 3 years must count for something, but in all honesty I'm very afraid of a return.

 Dove

 

On 2/19/2009 dove111 wrote:

Congratulations!  I've been on Arimidex for 3 years and am currently taking a break.  It's been 2 weeks.  I know when I go to my oncologist in March he will be upset and tell me to get back on.  At that time I will make my decision.  For me the weight gain of 45 lbs. has put my health in jeopardy.  My blood pressure shot up as did my blood sugar.  The doctor just tells me to exercise and watch what I eat.  It doesn't seem to matter if I starve myself, I just keep gaining.  So in a few weeks  maybe I'll have better perspective of what I will do.  I mean 3 years must count for something, but in all honesty I'm very afraid of a return.

 Dove

I've been on Arimidex for about 11 months now.  At one time or another, I've had every side effect that anyone has ever mentioned, but I will continue to take it to hopefully prevent a return of my Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC).  As much as I hate the joint pain, the worst side effect for me is the weight gain.  Both my blood pressure and my blood sugar have shot up, my doctor keeps increasing my pills, and she has even said that she may have to put me on insulin instead of a few pills a day.  I do not like the thought of that.  Also, I'm very uncomfortable with the extra weight as I've been skinny most of my life.  What am I supposed to do??

Large doses of Vitamin D helped to minimize the tremendous stiffness I had as a result of Arimidex. I take 1,000 IU a day, well below toxic levels.  

There has been research on Vitamin D to see if it helps alleviate Arimidex's side effects, ward off some kinds of cancer and improves mobilility in older people.

By the way, I have an odd possible side effect -- the beginnings of a bunion. Maybe it is caused by foot swelling making my shoes rub. 

I'm one month into taking Arimidex and have concerns about side effects.  So far I am experiencing joint pain, hot flashes (which I was having before) and the weight gain.  I've been gaining weight anyway from taking Lyrica, now I have Arimidex adding to the weight gain.   I'm not too sure if I'm going to continue taking Arimidex if the side-effects continue.  Right now, my breast is so distorted from surgery and radiation that I foresee a mastectomy in my future.  I shall try another month or two until I see my onconologist and then I shall discuss this mater further. and make a decision.

Good luck to you.  We're all in this together.

Maryann 

This forum is so helpful for me. I took Arimidex for 14 months and Aromasin for 6 months. I gained nearly 40 lbs and was pretty near crippled with pain. No one has mentioned the cost here, so I will. It was over $350 every month out of pocket. I made the decision a month ago to take Tamoxifin and so far the side effects are much less. It is like waking up to a new life. When you ask the oncologist he starts quoting statistics but there is only a 1 percent difference for me. I guess I am 66 and willing to live with that one percent difference for a better life. Now to take off the weight! My best and prayers go out for all of us.

 

On 2/18/2009 LynMarie wrote:

I have been on Arimidex for almost 5 years and will stop when I complete the 5th year this fall. It's been an adventure. Joint pain, stiffness, (which left me worrying about bone cancer (hey, if there's a pain, there must be a reason).... thank you all for your postings to let me know that I am not alone in my Arimidex side effect symptoms). Sitting still for too long or just getting out of bed in the morning left me feeling like I was 90 years old (aching knees, ankles and feet). I have always felt taking the Arimidex was worth the discomfort if it gave me a better chance of not having a cancer recurrence.

I'm hoping that once I'm off the Arimidex for awhile - the stiffness and aching will go away.  I wake up in the morning and stretch and flex my stiff fingers for a few minutes and my first few steps out of bed are more of a a hobble, and then I'm ususally fine for the day except for sitting in one place for more than a half hour. 

What has helped the most, instead of taking more pills, (ibrophen, tylenol, muscle relaxers, etc) has been doing low impact water aroebics for a half hour 3-4 times a week.  The hot flashes were combatted by a fan in every room and one on my desk at work.  Baby wipes in a purse-size holder are wonderful for a quick "refresh" as needed, as is a mini spray bottle of water.

I go in for a bone density scan next week. Arimidex is especially tough on the bones.  I had a "screening" done at a health fair last fall, and there was an indication that further tests should be done - so I am having the test.  After reading about Boniva and other prescriptions - I'm not sure that I want anything to do with these drugs. I think calcium, excercise and of course prayer may be my best prescription. 

Blessing to all of you out there - we are all sisters in this battle.

 

 

On 2/19/2009 Mytita wrote:

 

On 2/18/2009 LynMarie wrote:

I have been on Arimidex for almost 5 years and will stop when I complete the 5th year this fall. It's been an adventure. Joint pain, stiffness, (which left me worrying about bone cancer (hey, if there's a pain, there must be a reason).... thank you all for your postings to let me know that I am not alone in my Arimidex side effect symptoms). Sitting still for too long or just getting out of bed in the morning left me feeling like I was 90 years old (aching knees, ankles and feet). I have always felt taking the Arimidex was worth the discomfort if it gave me a better chance of not having a cancer recurrence.

I'm hoping that once I'm off the Arimidex for awhile - the stiffness and aching will go away.  I wake up in the morning and stretch and flex my stiff fingers for a few minutes and my first few steps out of bed are more of a a hobble, and then I'm ususally fine for the day except for sitting in one place for more than a half hour. 

What has helped the most, instead of taking more pills, (ibrophen, tylenol, muscle relaxers, etc) has been doing low impact water aroebics for a half hour 3-4 times a week.  The hot flashes were combatted by a fan in every room and one on my desk at work.  Baby wipes in a purse-size holder are wonderful for a quick "refresh" as needed, as is a mini spray bottle of water.

I go in for a bone density scan next week. Arimidex is especially tough on the bones.  I had a "screening" done at a health fair last fall, and there was an indication that further tests should be done - so I am having the test.  After reading about Boniva and other prescriptions - I'm not sure that I want anything to do with these drugs. I think calcium, excercise and of course prayer may be my best prescription. 

Blessing to all of you out there - we are all sisters in this battle.

 

 

Reading your experience with Arimdex was real validation. I was on Arimidex for two years, following Inductal Carcinoma, stage 1, radiation and "good to go". I thought I wasn't having any real side effects. In fact I told a friend making the decision following her diagnosis and treatment very similar to mine....hey! Arimidex is a great drug. Then I had my annual dexa bone scan and they told me I had had a 15 percent bone loss in my hips and neck in one year and it was a reality. This drug was going to steal my life, my career, my mobiltiy and it was a decision I had to make. Most certainly if I continued on Arimidex I would wind up in a wheel chair, hip fracture, osteperosis and I went off the drug and switched to Tamoxifen after a discussion with my Oncologist. Now I want to know....what kind of side effects are my sisters out there having with Tamoxifen? I know no drug is without a side effect but believe me....feeling like I was a little old crippled woman with all the aches and pains and immobilization from Arimidex...not even remotely acceptable. Help! Anyone care to share their experiences?

I have been on Arimidex for 4 yrs and 1 month, not that I am counting!  I also have bone pain and joint stiffness.  I was taking a combo of Extra Strength Tylenol and Aleve twice daily.  This works great for pain.  The hot flashes are horrible and seem to be getting worse the longer I am on the treatment.  The one problem I have developed is photosensitivity to the sun, especially on my arms.  The itching is unbearable.  I have bruised myself trying to relieve the itching.  I have seem a dermatologist, and now a rheumatologist because lab work indicates possible Lupus!  Has anyone experienced itching or photosensitivity related to Arimidex?