Switched from Arimidex to Tamoxifen?

scout5000
scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Has anyone been switched from Arimidex to Tamoxifen? I have been on Arimidex for 16 months and have been suffering from severe back, hand and shoulder pain. My oncologist tried me on the other AIs but they were even worse. So now he is considering Tamoxifen. I am wondering if the pain will really get better.
Thanks,
Scout

Comments

  • bluwillo
    bluwillo Member Posts: 113
    #2
    Yes, it will!
    I was on Arimidex for about 2 months,had hip pain so bad I woke up every hour all night long, just to turn to the other hip! Called the doc, he put me back on Tamox. Hip pain gone! Be sure and check the interactions of any other meds you're taking.
  • Miss Murphy
    Miss Murphy Member Posts: 302
    #3
    Yes!
    Scout, I started off on Femara and then tried Arimidex. I was on the AI drugs for about 16 months and was miserable with severe muscle, bone and joint pain. Last October (09) my onc switched me to Tamox. I do have some side effects but it's way more doable for me. So it's worth a try for you, I would think.

    Hugs, Sally
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #4
    Tamoxifen
    Many women are switched to a hormonal therapy that works for them. Tamoxifen is an older drug that works very well and doesn't have the same side effects as aromatase inhibitors.

    If you have a choice, why not? No reason to feel miserable if you don't have too.

    Best wishes to you,

    SIROD
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #5
    bluwillo said:

    Yes, it will!
    I was on Arimidex for about 2 months,had hip pain so bad I woke up every hour all night long, just to turn to the other hip! Called the doc, he put me back on Tamox. Hip pain gone! Be sure and check the interactions of any other meds you're taking.

    There are many on here that
    There are many on here that were switched to tamox because of the side effects from Arimidex. I hope that whichever you take, that you have minimal side effects.

    Good luck, Angie
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #6
    SIROD said:

    Tamoxifen
    Many women are switched to a hormonal therapy that works for them. Tamoxifen is an older drug that works very well and doesn't have the same side effects as aromatase inhibitors.

    If you have a choice, why not? No reason to feel miserable if you don't have too.

    Best wishes to you,

    SIROD

    I too couldn't take AI's. I
    I too couldn't take AI's. I actually tried all three. Femara, Arimidex and Aromisin. I just got my script for Tamox that I'll fill after the New Year. He agreed that my body needed a break.

    Wishing us all luck because the side effects of AI's were not good for me.

    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #7
    I was switched too
    Just over a week ago. I had the same side effects...bone aches, pains everywhere, and the worst for me was the constant headache. Switched me back to Tamoxifen and am feeling better already!!

    Best to you,


    Patti
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    #8
    Thanks
    Thank you everybody. You have made my day! There is hope for a less painful life.
  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #9
    scout5000 said:

    Thanks
    Thank you everybody. You have made my day! There is hope for a less painful life.

    was taken off arimidex over a week ago
    and I feel a lot better. The pains are still in my wrist,knuckles,shoulder,ankles, and feet. i feel like I have advanced arth. and don't know what they will do for me. I had so many side effects the onc wasn't sure of some of them herself. I am so sorry I even went on the stuff. Don't know what to do if she puts me on something else. See her Jan. 6,2011. This has been such the nightmare. Thank God the surgeon got the cancer and none in nodes.

    Hugs and Prayers,
    Diana
  • b7pima
    b7pima Member Posts: 16
    #10
    Arimidex
    I was on Arimidex for three months and every joint in my body was screaming with pain. I had trouble sleeping and walking. I got switched to Tomaxifen and feel a whole lot better.
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    #11
    gagee said:

    was taken off arimidex over a week ago
    and I feel a lot better. The pains are still in my wrist,knuckles,shoulder,ankles, and feet. i feel like I have advanced arth. and don't know what they will do for me. I had so many side effects the onc wasn't sure of some of them herself. I am so sorry I even went on the stuff. Don't know what to do if she puts me on something else. See her Jan. 6,2011. This has been such the nightmare. Thank God the surgeon got the cancer and none in nodes.

    Hugs and Prayers,
    Diana

    Diana, I hope you have
    Diana, I hope you have relief from your pain. Your onc will probably try you on the other two Aromatase Inhibitors. In my case, taking a hormone therapy reduces my odds of recurrence by 12%, chemo reduced it by another 12%. So I am too scared to go off of the meds completely. I am struggling to figure out what is best for me. I am hoping that Tamoxifen reduces my pain because my quality of life is pretty low right now. However, I never want to go through chemo again.
    Thanks for your help.
    Scout
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    #12
    b7pima said:

    Arimidex
    I was on Arimidex for three months and every joint in my body was screaming with pain. I had trouble sleeping and walking. I got switched to Tomaxifen and feel a whole lot better.

    Thanks for the hope.
    Good luck to you!

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