Arimidex and side affects

I was on arimidex for 3 years and after having all kinds of side affects decided quality of life was more important than being sick all the time.

 I have gained 45 lbs., and haven't lost anything after three weeks of weight watchers, in fact I gained 3 lbs.  Has anyone else had this issue and has anyone stopped treatment early due to side affects?

cindy

Many women have stopped treatment early due to the nasty side effects. And some, like me, tried only a few doses and said "Uh unh - I ain't doin' this."  If you look back through the messages on the breast cancer forum, you will find dozens of concerns similar to yours.

Be patient as concerns the weight loss - it will happen, but it will take time. The weight gain was quite possibly due to severe estrogen suppression.  Taking Arimidex chemically produces just about the same effect as if you had had a hysterectomy and your ovaries removed, or had gone thru menopause.  More women than not report that they gain quite a bit of weight after hysterectomy - 50 pounds is about the average.  (I speak from personal experience!!)  And just so many women report weight gain when on the anti-estrogen drugs. This seems to be the body's attempt to increase estrogen in the body. Fat cells produce estrogen - the more fat, the more estrogen - so the body starts gaining weight by increasing fat storage. 

It will take perhaps 6 - 9 months for you to metabolize and totally eliminate the arimidex from your body.  As this process occurs and your body goes back to the estrogen production that would be normal for you at your age and reproductive status, your system will less and less perceive the need to maintain the extra fat cells for estrogen production, and you should be able to start losing the weight.  

If you make sure to incorporate lots of cancer-fighting foods - like cruciferous veggies and fresh raw fruit - in your diet, that will also help balance out the effects of the arimidex.  Many foods like broccoli, asparagus and brussel sprouts are also very gentle natural estrogen regulators.  Also increase your exercise as tolerated, as the side effects of the arimidex begin to lessen.  make sure to focus on gentle, low impact exercise, such as walking or swimming  - this will help to strengthen your muscles and bones without overstressing your joints.  It also increases metabolism. 

Make sure to drink lots and lots of fresh pure water.  The body absolutely has to have it to promote weight loss, and for healing from the detrimental effects of drugs.

You might consider getting a rebounder (a 36" mini trampoline.)  It's wonderful exercise for weight loss, and you can start with very gentle bouncing and work your way up to a more vigorous routine as your body heals.  This is an especially way for women who have had lumpectomies or mastectomies to exercise, as it promotes lymph drainage in the arms and breasts.

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/rebounder.htm

Sincerely,

Tre

On 4/22/2009 dove111 wrote:

I was on arimidex for 3 years and after having all kinds of side affects decided quality of life was more important than being sick all the time.

 I have gained 45 lbs., and haven't lost anything after three weeks of weight watchers, in fact I gained 3 lbs.  Has anyone else had this issue and has anyone stopped treatment early due to side affects?

 

cindy

 

Hi,

I visited my oncologist today And he has changed me from tam (after 2 years) to armidex, My first thought was I hope none of the side effects are weight gain as I have recently been on a diet and lost 21 pounds, and what do I see,when I look up side effects, weight gain! I feel like screaming!  Well, its not going to happen, I have about 6 months supply of tam upstairs and if I gain more than 3 pound on armidex, its out, gone!

I will let you know xx

Hi Cindy,

I, too, was on Arimidex, but only for 3 months and stopped because of the side effects.  I not only had gained weight, but my joints ached too much.  I told the oncologist and she now wants to put me on Tamoxifin.  I told her not until I see her in May, but even then, I don't know if I want to take anything.  I'm concerned about my bones, and when estrogen is removed, there goes the bones.  I do not need fractures now in my life.  I am 66 years old, had Stage I cancer with surgery and radiation only.  the surgeon removed 21 lymph nodes which all were negative.   My breast is now malformed from the radiation, one breast is a size B, the other DD.  My breast literally shrunk.  The radiologist/oncologist said this is only the 2nd time in his career he saw this.  Oh well, lucky me.

The best to you.

Maryann 

I can't believe that weight gain is an issue with arimidex.  I took tamoxifen for one year and arimidex for 4.  Weight gain wasn't an issue.  Possibly the weight gain is from other drugs that people are taking with it? 

I did have joint pain and hot flashes, but decided that was better than tumor. We're lucky to have this medication, side effects or not, and when you consider the success of arimidex, that should help with decision making. 

 Arimidex isn't for women with their ovaries.  It is to suppress estrogen production from the  pituitary gland.  It keeps androgens from becoming estrogen and drops estrogen levels to a very low state, almost immeasurable.  

Living without estrogen is a challenge at first, but you do what you must to combat menopausal symptoms.  

Be sure to exercise and have a healthy diet.  It's a tough medication to take, but worth it in my opinion since I am 7 years tumor free.  It may be harder to exercise with joint or muscle pain from the medication, but that did improve measurably for me after about 6 months.  Be sure to talk with your Dr about side effects and work to make them easier for yourself. 

 Good Luck and I hope you will be tumor free. 

 Susan

I, too, had severe side effects from Arimidex.  I took it for six months then was switched to Tamoxiphin and got worse.  I gained 35 lbs, but I believe it was from the Chemo.  I developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was depressed, tired and listless.  I decided to choose quality of life instead, knowing that this perhaps may be the wrong decision and for me it was.  It's been three years and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer again in the other breast.  First time I had a partial masectomy.  This time I have no choice but to have a complete masectomy.  I know many women that have and have not had side effects.  You've dealt with this for 3 years, why not hang in there for 2 more?  The weight will come off eventually.  It took me one year to lose the weight.  This time my doc. says we'll try Femara.  My eldester sister who also had the same type of breast cancer took Femara without any side effects and she was 90lbs.

Think smartly and good luck.

On 4/22/2009 dove111 wrote:

I was on arimidex for 3 years and after having all kinds of side affects decided quality of life was more important than being sick all the time.

 I have gained 45 lbs., and haven't lost anything after three weeks of weight watchers, in fact I gained 3 lbs.  Has anyone else had this issue and has anyone stopped treatment early due to side affects?

 

cindy

 

On 4/22/2009 trehouse60 wrote:

Many women have stopped treatment early due to the nasty side effects. And some, like me, tried only a few doses and said "Uh unh - I ain't doin' this."  If you look back through the messages on the breast cancer forum, you will find dozens of concerns similar to yours.

Be patient as concerns the weight loss - it will happen, but it will take time. The weight gain was quite possibly due to severe estrogen suppression.  Taking Arimidex chemically produces just about the same effect as if you had had a hysterectomy and your ovaries removed, or had gone thru menopause.  More women than not report that they gain quite a bit of weight after hysterectomy - 50 pounds is about the average.  (I speak from personal experience!!)  And just so many women report weight gain when on the anti-estrogen drugs. This seems to be the body's attempt to increase estrogen in the body. Fat cells produce estrogen - the more fat, the more estrogen - so the body starts gaining weight by increasing fat storage. 

It will take perhaps 6 - 9 months for you to metabolize and totally eliminate the arimidex from your body.  As this process occurs and your body goes back to the estrogen production that would be normal for you at your age and reproductive status, your system will less and less perceive the need to maintain the extra fat cells for estrogen production, and you should be able to start losing the weight.  

If you make sure to incorporate lots of cancer-fighting foods - like cruciferous veggies and fresh raw fruit - in your diet, that will also help balance out the effects of the arimidex.  Many foods like broccoli, asparagus and brussel sprouts are also very gentle natural estrogen regulators.  Also increase your exercise as tolerated, as the side effects of the arimidex begin to lessen.  make sure to focus on gentle, low impact exercise, such as walking or swimming  - this will help to strengthen your muscles and bones without overstressing your joints.  It also increases metabolism. 

Make sure to drink lots and lots of fresh pure water.  The body absolutely has to have it to promote weight loss, and for healing from the detrimental effects of drugs.

You might consider getting a rebounder (a 36" mini trampoline.)  It's wonderful exercise for weight loss, and you can start with very gentle bouncing and work your way up to a more vigorous routine as your body heals.  This is an especially way for women who have had lumpectomies or mastectomies to exercise, as it promotes lymph drainage in the arms and breasts.

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/rebounder.htm

Sincerely,

Tre

Thank you Tre,

 You message is very encouraging as I went to the oncologist this week and when I told him I was going off and why, he just sat with squinted eyes and stared at me for the length of my conversation.  When I was finished I said so what do you think?  He responded with, what can I say?  Would you consider trying tamoxifin and I said no. 

 When I left the office, I was second guessing my decision for awhile but have since made peace with it.  I east losts of fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water.  In that respect I'm ahead of the game.  I will continue to work on losing some of my body fat slowly and love myself in spite of it.

Thank you all for this site.

 cindy (dove)

Maryann,

I too have different size breasts from the radiation and a lot of thickening.  I got a prosthesis from a website that helps even out my lopsidedness. 

I was stage 1 estrogen positive -microductal invasive carcinoma - After my lumpectomy and radiation everything appeared to be clear. I was on the arimidex for 3 years and decided this is enough.

 I'm living one day at a time and enjoying every breath!

cindy (dove) 

On 4/24/2009 Goodattitude wrote:

I, too, had severe side effects from Arimidex.  I took it for six months then was switched to Tamoxiphin and got worse.  I gained 35 lbs, but I believe it was from the Chemo.  I developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was depressed, tired and listless.  I decided to choose quality of life instead, knowing that this perhaps may be the wrong decision and for me it was.  It's been three years and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer again in the other breast.  First time I had a partial masectomy.  This time I have no choice but to have a complete masectomy.  I know many women that have and have not had side effects.  You've dealt with this for 3 years, why not hang in there for 2 more?  The weight will come off eventually.  It took me one year to lose the weight.  This time my doc. says we'll try Femara.  My eldester sister who also had the same type of breast cancer took Femara without any side effects and she was 90lbs.

Think smartly and good luck.

 

On 4/22/2009 dove111 wrote:

I was on arimidex for 3 years and after having all kinds of side affects decided quality of life was more important than being sick all the time.

 I have gained 45 lbs., and haven't lost anything after three weeks of weight watchers, in fact I gained 3 lbs.  Has anyone else had this issue and has anyone stopped treatment early due to side affects?

 

cindy

 

Goodattitude,

 In reading your post I feel sad that you had a reoccurence with b/c.  Of course i am very scared this could happen to me also.  However after suffering for 3 years and fearing a stroke, diabetes or heart attack, I opted out of Arimidex.  Everyone has to make up their own mind as to how they want to manage their cancer.  It's true some people have reoccurence not matter what.  I know that's a chance I'm taking.  Many women with my type of cancer have opted to take no meds after radiation and have done fine.  So I will take my chances and deal with what comes day by day.  As for now I am living in the moment and will make decisions based on lots of information from my fellow survivors.  Best of luck and I will keep you in my prayers.

 

 

Cindy"

I understand completely.  It's not easy.  I'll be thinking of you and wish you happiness.