Arimidex

keller
keller Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Anyone having side effects from Arimidex??

Comments

  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    Yes!!!! I took it for about a year and a half and finally the side effects became too much. For me it was night sweats (my hair would be wet each morning), I could not sleep (had to resort to sleeping pills), hot flashes, depression and finally it caused swelling in my feet and legs. After finally going to my Onc and revolting... we worked on switching meds. I should have done it earlier. I now take Aromasin, it is a cousin of Arimidex... and it has been a blessing. I still have hot flashes... but the depression and night sweats and swelling have gone.

    Let me know if I can help.

    Take Care... God Bless....

    Susan
  • Sharon345
    Sharon345 Member Posts: 26
    I had been on Tamoxifen for 3 years but since I had a hysterectomy during the second year I requested my doctor to switch me to Arimidex which he did. I was fine for 4 weeks and then I got a bad headache every day and nothing I took for it helped. Intercourse was a major problem too. It had gotten a little uncomfortable after the hysterectomy but it was impossible while taking the Arimidex. The hot flashes were also much worse. I thought my body would get used to the new medicene and waited 2 months before I asked my doctor to put me back on the tamoxifen. After 2 weeks on the Tamoxifen I was back to normal.
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    I'm currently on aromasin (exemestane). Both reduce the amount of estrogen like substances produced by the body fat and andrenal glands. Both have to wait until the ovaries shut down before the drugs will work, since both cannot compete with the estrogen put out by the ovaries. Both have similar side effects and positive effects on reducing the spread and reoccurance of cancer. I get hot flashes and sore joints (esp. my feet and shoulders) mainly. Bone density has to be monitored. I'm not in the danger zone, but even with a high calcium diet and regular exercise I'm still losing bone density. The pill I take is very very small and tastes sweet, but it is definately powerful medicine. I stay on it only because it is supposed to be much more effective than tamoxifen.
  • mrsbetty2
    mrsbetty2 Member Posts: 24
    I have been on Arimidex for 3 months. I get tired easily and my legs bother me. But it is managable. I go back to Dr. next week and i am going to tell him about the side effects. If it doesn't get any worse i can live with it as long as i don't get the cancer back.
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    wow..I didn't realize there were so many side effects that I don't have with Arimidex...mine are different; I have weak muscles in my body,hard time walking(not all the time),weight gain that I can Not shake off,dizziness..some think I am drunk when I am walking cuz I lose my balance,scratchy throat,increase of phlegm(yuck)BUT I can not be on Tamoxifen .I am Thankful I am ALIVE and can survive the side effects...Life goes on and I am enjoying it.....If there is a will there is a way!

    Bunches of hugs to all,
    Cindie
  • sissasmom
    sissasmom Member Posts: 1
    babs49242 said:

    wow..I didn't realize there were so many side effects that I don't have with Arimidex...mine are different; I have weak muscles in my body,hard time walking(not all the time),weight gain that I can Not shake off,dizziness..some think I am drunk when I am walking cuz I lose my balance,scratchy throat,increase of phlegm(yuck)BUT I can not be on Tamoxifen .I am Thankful I am ALIVE and can survive the side effects...Life goes on and I am enjoying it.....If there is a will there is a way!

    Bunches of hugs to all,
    Cindie

    Ive been on it for 2 and a half years. I think Im becoming depressed, Ive just developed lots of headaches,and I get swim headed, dizzy, easy. But having been on it so long, Im not sure if its med related.....God bless all