User Reviews for Arimidex oral

Had stage 1 breast cancer and is HER2 Positive. I started this drug July 2015; and I have had the worst joint and muscle pains. My knees is where the worst of the pain is. I also have problems with my hands and opening and closing them on a daily basis. I also developed a rash on my lower leg that happened after starting this medication. This may be too much information, but it is a task for me to sit on the toilet without my knees being in constant pain with I try to get up. I have expressed joint pain to my oncologist, only to be ignored. I have an appointment in about 2 weeks; and after reading all of these statements that have confirmed what I been experiencing for the last year, I will advocate better for myself. I am so grateful for all of you women and your stories. I have already gone through the unthinkable with having Breast Cancer; and I don't want to have this kind of pain for the next 4 years. My quality of life is at 60% on this drug; and I want to have a better quality of life. Read More Read Less

Had dbl mastectomy last October from Stage 1 infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Lymph nodes clear. Surgeon started me on Anastrozole one month prior to that. No chemo or radiation needed. Surgeon ordered bone density test for baseline purposes and said I should have it done every year. I've now been on the drug for almost 10 months. Have a few "power surges" every day but they are not intense. Started losing hair early last year, before diagnosis so I don't know that I can blame this drug for that issue. Two months ago, I developed symptoms similar to carpal tunnel or tendonitis. Went to orthopedic doctor and he gave me a brace an cortisone shot, which didn't help. Don't know if hand problem is due to this drug or not but it is listed as a side effect. Have noticed increased hip joint pain. My sleeping problems are due to discomfort from my implants because when I change positions in bed, I can go back to sleep. I think I'm more fortunate than most of the ladies in these reviews BUT I've only been on the drug for about 10 months. Read More Read Less

Stage 1 breast cancer, no lymph node involvement, lumpectomy. Four weeks of radiation. One month off to heal, then began Arimidex. Four months so far. I was already taking two meds for RA, so the oncologist said that should help with any joint pain (none noticed!). Already on a med for osteopenia, so that should help with any bone thinning. My hairdresser recommended using Bosley hair shampoo and conditioner to help with hair thinning. It doesn't regrow hair, but it keeps hair from falling out. It has worked amazingly as one RA drug had already begun hair thinning which has now stopped. New hair re-growing since using it. Two side effects of Arimidex noted: 1) tingling/mild numbness in fingers and toes, off-and-on, and 2) weight loss -- so far about 2 lbs. per month. I can certainly live with that. Oncologist thinks that will even out soon. Overall, very happy with lack of side effects! Read More Read Less

I have been taking Arimidex generic for 4 years and 10 months. I had stage 1,estrogen receptive, clean lymph nodes and had radiation. I have experienced roaming joint pain, hair thinning, fatigue, no libido, memory loss, severe hot flashes, trouble staying hydrated, and depression and weight gain. I tried effexor and I did sleep better, but didn't like how it made me feel. It was VERY DIFFICULT getting off this drug! Dr wants me to continue 5 more years, surgeon says stop NOW ! Breast cancer took my mom 26 years ago, but no BRACA Genes! Decision time settle for a reduced quality of like and live in fear of making the wrong choice or suck it up - Take the Effexor, Diet More, Pray More, Keep working out very often, and be with my loved ones ! Read More Read Less

Don't take this drug! Bad side effects, and some of them last years after taking the drug! I took it in 2008 and most of the side effects went away, but the arthritis is still there. You can't put back cartilage when it is gone. Do not take this, please!

this medication has caused significant hair loss, took it for five years, hair never came back. not bald, just horribly thin. arthrites, simply unbelievable. i am alive, its been 9 years and i am happy for that, would love more hair, less pain, however i am very happy to be alive and it probably is the reason. hard choices.

I had lumpectomy and all margins came back clear. That was followed by 20 radiation treatments. I have only been on this drug for 3 months. So far I feel lucky that I have not experienced the severe reactions that many of you have described above. My major concern and one that I don't see anyone has listed, is a rash on my thighs and knees. It's worse at night when trying to sleep. I could scratch all night. I know it seems silly to complain, but I'm finding myself in the tub some nights at 3 am. Has anyone else experienced this?Read More Read Less

In 2013 I had mastectomy, chemo & radiation then took tamoxifen for a year until I couldn't tolerate the leg cramps & blood clots during reconstruction surgery caused by tamoxifen. Got switched to arimidex in December 2014 and within a couple of months my jaw started popping & I had to push it with my hand to be able to chew my food. At the same time, my left thumb started popping until it eventually swelled up & couldn't bend. After about 3 months, my left thumb improved then my right thumb started popping & froze. After about a year, those symptoms slowly went away and then my hip flexor suddenly became the painful body part. It's been 1 1/2 years and all of those painful symptoms have faded away (knock on wood). The only side effect that hasn't gone away is the 30 pounds I gained. Now I feel good enough to go Latin dancing for several hours twice a week (before arimidex I had lost 30 pounds after intense salsa dancing for 3 months), I also jog 30 minutes a day, and go to the gym 2x a week, eat half of what I used to, and still can't lose ANY of the 30 pounds. My blood pressure doesn't want to go down so I will have to add another blood pressure medication to the one I started taking 3 months ago. My oncologist told me that none of these symptoms are side effects from arimidex. She is lying to my face. I've spoken to other women who've had the same symptoms from arimidex. Now my onc says instead of taking it for 5 years, new studies say chance of non-recurrence is much better if I take it for 10 years. Not sure what I'll do. I'd rather take something natural.Read More Read Less

Began taking Megace 8 years ago to prevent recurrence of Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma. Experienced quick 25 lb weight gain, night sweats and irritability, but maybe some symptoms result of total hysterectomy (instant menopause). Switched to Arimidex and lost 20 of the 25 lbs fairly quickly. Have not had recurrence of disease or any other noticeable side effects.

I started on ARIMIDEX for invasive lobular Ca: node neg. I had hot flashes. Constipation, joint pain, a lot of fatigue, stomach burning, heartburn, headaches. Yes I dealt with all of this because of the greater good benefits of blocking estrogen in my body. Then at 6 weeks: I woke I the middle of the night with severe head spinning and N

Do any of you know of a practitioner in the Los Angeles area I could go to to receive guidance on alternative therapies. I was diagnosed with Bilateral DCIS in 4/2016 and opted for a double mastectomy (performed 6/8/16) grateful for the early diagnosis and thinking it was over. Unfortunately pathology after mastectomy revealed invasive DC on one side Stage 1, which landed me in Med Oncologist office. He has prescribed Arimidex which i began only last week (thus my ratings above are unknown) but reading all of your posts I am mortified and don't want to risk such a diminished quality of life. I approached my doctor about the many natural alternatives I've read about to get guidance and his response was to suggest I switch to tamoxifen, but as to the natural alternatives he wrote "The alternative medications and lifestyle modification that you list are very interesting and provocative but I am unable to give you any clarity on their benefit as none of them have been studied scientifically." HelpRead More Read Less

I have joint and body pain all over from my ankles to my head. I think my hands and fingers are the worst but then I try to bend down. My knees, calves, elbows...like I said all over. Oh and hair thinning. Not sure if I can keep going. Please help!

My experience with this drug is difficult to determine. After a lumpectomy and radiation for a stage 1-B DCIS I was put on this drug. I had heard about the hot flashes and joint pain, but I had already been experiencing those problems after going off Prem-Pro. It has been 18 months since I started this drug. I take Effexor for severe hot flashes. The hot flashes were 20x a day, now down to about 8x daily and less intense, or at least I perceive them being as being less intense! Also I have trouble with tendonitis in my wrist and heel. The Cancer doctor said, "MY BAD", meaning it was probably caused by the Arimidex. I gained 30 pounds back after loosing 25 before breast surgery. Now I am on Celebrex to alleviate the joint pain, and it does work, but I feel like I am taking too many drugs to know what is causing what. Read More Read Less

Have been taking Arimidex for 6 1/2 months and stopped takin it 1 week ago. The joint and bone pain was agonizing and I would give the pain a 10 at the least. I could not write, or use my hands after just a month of use and it continued to become debilitating and all I could think about. Going to try Aromasin in a few weeks to see if that works better.

I guess the it is effective as my cancer has not returned. Ease of use-easy to swallow. Satisfaction- Terrible. I have been on this medication for 2 years and I am thinking of quitting. I have constant bone and joint pain. Everything I eat makes me sick. Diarrhea is awful. I can't sleep through the night even with pain medication for the joint pain. I have fatigue. I had hair loss. My cholesterol, which has always been 145 is over 200. I was shocked. My blood pressure goes up and down. My quality of life sucks. Read More Read Less

I have all of the side effects of this medication. I am almost 2 years into the treatment. But everyday is a struggle. I have severe bone and joint pain. I have stomach and digestive issues. My hair has thinned. The hot flashes have stopped that goodness. I assume it is working but who knows. It is a daily decision whether to take it today. I do skip it on purpose when my gut keeps me home. Wicked stuff this is.

I started taking Arimidex in October 2015, after 4 months I have horrible joint and muscle pain, overall body pain, weakness in my knees, pain moving my fingers, elbows, knees, and hips. Unsure if it is worth all of this.

I have only been on this drug 2 months, starting to experience joint pain, not sure if it's drug only or combination of that,working in a restaurant, and/or drinking alcohol. No one has given any answers or experience of drinking with this drug. If anyone has answers please do tell.

At first for about a month or less I had bone discomfort at night. This went away fairly soon. No more discomfort except lately I notice indigestion when I lie down to sleep if I get up and walk around it goes away with burping. I am going to stop taking the arimidex at night and I think that will end this problem. All in all it has not been a bad experience. I have had difficulty sleeping but maybe it is caused by taking arimidex at bed time. I will take it in the morning and I think this will make a big difference.Read More Read Less

STARTED ARIMIDEX AUG 2014. FEB/MAR TO OCT 2015 SEVERE FATIGUE, MUSCLE WEAKNESS.SWELLING OF KNEES AND ANKLES AND FEET. FIRST WEEK OF OCT HAD SEVERE BONE PAIN IN FINGERS AND TOES. OCT 10 HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM WALKING. WOKE UP NEXT DAY WITH NUMB FINGERS AND HANDS, FEET AND TOES. PAIN AND PINS AND NEEDLES IN ALL 4 EXTREMITIES. SEVERE JOINT PAIN AND I COULD NOT WALK OR USE MY HANDS. I COULD NOT WRITE. I STOPPED THE DRUG 2 1/2 WEEKS NOW. HANDWRITING HAS IMPROVED, I STILL HAVE NUMBNESS AND STILL NEED A TRANSPORT CHAIR. ALL TEST DONE HAVE COME BACK NEGATIVE. I AM CONVINCED IT IS THE DRUG. Read More Read Less