Arimidex Angst

Hippiechick58

Hello all, I have much anxiety over taking this Arimidex. I started it yesterday and am already obsessing over the side effects. The one I am most concerned with is the joint pain. I am sensitive to joint pain, as I had it all during chemo. It was the taxol and the neulasta I received after each round of chemo that caused it. It was so bad it usually sent me to bed for 3 or more days! Do any of you fine ladies (and gents) have experience with Arimidex? Did you get joint pain as well? I know I read a lot about the hot flashes, but they are second nature to me. I've been flashing for 15 years now, so I don't think that will cause me any problem. I am really interested in hearing from those of you who have first-hand experience with Arimidex. Thank you in advance.

Dianne

roseann4

Yes.
I have been on it for 2 years and feel good. I take it at night and have no obvious side effects. Not everyone does. I was very nervous because so many women suffer with it but I have been fortunate. Hopefully you will, too.

Roseann

disneyfan2008

sorry you are anxious
I was taken off tamox last month and just got back from Dr but still not putting me on anything else..I am not sure if Armidex is like Tamox..perhaps that is one of my options in month or so...

I hope you find some info here from others...


Denise

gagee

disneyfan2008 said:

sorry you are anxious
I was taken off tamox last month and just got back from Dr but still not putting me on anything else..I am not sure if Armidex is like Tamox..perhaps that is one of my options in month or so...

I hope you find some info here from others...


Denise

Sorry to tell you I had a
Sorry to tell you I had a lot of problems on arimidex. Joint pain is now full blown arthritis in most of my joints. See your doc right away and not wait as long as I did. Maybe it could have slowed it down for me as I hope it will for you.

My prayers are with you. Diana

CypressCynthia

Been on arimidex for 2 years
Been on arimidex for 2 years and doing fine.

csr771

Joint Pain
I am sorry to tell you that I had to stop taking arimidex. I believe that it was exacerbating my arthritis. I took it for appoximately two weeks, but noticed a lot of problems in my hands. I have arthritis in my knees and hands. The problems with my hands prior to taking arimidex was minimal. In two weeks I could hardly open a bottle of water. I called my onco and was told to stop taking it and see what happened. My hands started to feel much better. I was switched to Tamoxifin and seem to be tolerating it better since I have been on it for a couple of weeks now.

Lighthouse_7

csr771 said:

Joint Pain
I am sorry to tell you that I had to stop taking arimidex. I believe that it was exacerbating my arthritis. I took it for appoximately two weeks, but noticed a lot of problems in my hands. I have arthritis in my knees and hands. The problems with my hands prior to taking arimidex was minimal. In two weeks I could hardly open a bottle of water. I called my onco and was told to stop taking it and see what happened. My hands started to feel much better. I was switched to Tamoxifin and seem to be tolerating it better since I have been on it for a couple of weeks now.

I had to stop it too. Sorry,
I had to stop it too. Sorry, but the joint pain was quite bad. I hope you will be one of the lucky ones who can tolerate it.
There are a lot of women who have no side effects.
I wish you all the best, it is very hard I know to take something that scares you.
I'm sure you will make the right decision for you, and if it causes SE's try something else.
Hugs,
Wanda

cabbott

No problem
Well, I was on the cousin of arimidex (exemestane AKA aromosin) with pretty much no problems after I discovered I had a vitamin D3 deficiency. As soon as that was corrected I had no problems with inflamed toes (initial problem) that were certainly a problem when uncorrected. I'm an active person and like walking, exercising, and the like. Vitamin D3 deficiency is quite common in cancer survivors and is easily correctable. Research is continuing about whether it is a result or a by-product of having cancer. But it can work better than ibruprofen at calming inflamation when you are low on it.

Low D3 is not the only cause of joint pain on this med however. Genetics also plays a big part in who can tolerate the aromatase inhibitors like arimidex. Researchers are just now starting to do experiments to see how to easily tell in advance who will be able to take it with no joint pain and who will have to forgo this option. I would expect that in 8 years or so they will have a simple blood test to check for it. But for now, we have to take it and see. You just may be fine. If not, talk to your doctor about checking your vitamin D3 level. If he or she won't, get another doctor that actually is up on his research readings on cancer and vitamin D3 and inflamation problems. If vitamin D3 doesn't fix the problem, you can try one of the other aromatase inhibitors. If none work satisfactorily, you are probably going to have to try another kind of treatment.

aisling8

Lighthouse_7 said:

I had to stop it too. Sorry,
I had to stop it too. Sorry, but the joint pain was quite bad. I hope you will be one of the lucky ones who can tolerate it.
There are a lot of women who have no side effects.
I wish you all the best, it is very hard I know to take something that scares you.
I'm sure you will make the right decision for you, and if it causes SE's try something else.
Hugs,
Wanda

I was nervous
to begin, but I finished rads last May and began taking Arimidex two days later on my birthday. Figured I'd remember that way. The first few months I felt fine, but then the prescription went generic and then stuff started hurting. My onc gave me the "pure" stuff so I could see if the culprit is indeed the generic, but there's no difference.

My biggest complaint is my feet -- they hurt and I know it's the Arimidex because I didn't have chemo so it's not lingering neuropathy from treatment. But it's a weird pain because you can work through it and still do whatever you want to do like hike or walk or do Zumba. Sometimes my fingers ache, but again, I can work through it (and have to cause I'm a court reporter).

Things could be way worse. I don't have hot flashes. Sometimes I'm cranky and have no patience, but then I think wait, that's just me:)

Good luck to you!

xoxo
Victoria

Double Whammy

cabbott said:

No problem
Well, I was on the cousin of arimidex (exemestane AKA aromosin) with pretty much no problems after I discovered I had a vitamin D3 deficiency. As soon as that was corrected I had no problems with inflamed toes (initial problem) that were certainly a problem when uncorrected. I'm an active person and like walking, exercising, and the like. Vitamin D3 deficiency is quite common in cancer survivors and is easily correctable. Research is continuing about whether it is a result or a by-product of having cancer. But it can work better than ibruprofen at calming inflamation when you are low on it.

Low D3 is not the only cause of joint pain on this med however. Genetics also plays a big part in who can tolerate the aromatase inhibitors like arimidex. Researchers are just now starting to do experiments to see how to easily tell in advance who will be able to take it with no joint pain and who will have to forgo this option. I would expect that in 8 years or so they will have a simple blood test to check for it. But for now, we have to take it and see. You just may be fine. If not, talk to your doctor about checking your vitamin D3 level. If he or she won't, get another doctor that actually is up on his research readings on cancer and vitamin D3 and inflamation problems. If vitamin D3 doesn't fix the problem, you can try one of the other aromatase inhibitors. If none work satisfactorily, you are probably going to have to try another kind of treatment.

No problems - Vitamin D?
I've had no problems. I was scared to start it, too. In fact, I put it off until I returned from a visit to my kids. No problems so far and it's been 4 months.

Interesting about Vitamin D, tho. I was Vit D deficient prior to diagnoses and I did not pay attention to it. I was very sporadic about taking Vitamin D, primarly because of the size of the tablets and because I really didn't think it was such a big deal. Got cancer and got serious about getting it up as both my oncologist and primary care physician got on my back (rightfully so). Now that I'm within normal range (did 50,000 IU weekly for a month and am now religiously taking 2000 IU daily - AND sitting in the sun for a brief time now and then), I wonder if that's why I'm not having side effets on Arimidex. I had never heard about it effecting joint pain on meds, just that it was important for your immune system. Interesting

Suzanne

sbmly53

Keep a journal
so that you know if the pain is different from what you usually have and what the duration is.

I have fibromyalgia and have been flashing for a few years. I have been on Arimidex since last June (both Arimidex and generic - no difference to me). I noticed after about 6 weeks that I had 'different' pains and increased hot flashes. Both eased up within a few months and so far so good.

Sue

Hippiechick58

sbmly53 said:

Keep a journal
so that you know if the pain is different from what you usually have and what the duration is.

I have fibromyalgia and have been flashing for a few years. I have been on Arimidex since last June (both Arimidex and generic - no difference to me). I noticed after about 6 weeks that I had 'different' pains and increased hot flashes. Both eased up within a few months and so far so good.

Sue

Thank you ladies, for all
Thank you ladies, for all the good info. I am also Vit D. deficient. I take 1,000 IU's a day and it helps to bring up my numbers. Interesting connection there. Today is day 3 and so far so good (keeping fingers and toes crossed!) Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Be Well,
Dianne

cahjah75

Hippiechick58 said:

Thank you ladies, for all
Thank you ladies, for all the good info. I am also Vit D. deficient. I take 1,000 IU's a day and it helps to bring up my numbers. Interesting connection there. Today is day 3 and so far so good (keeping fingers and toes crossed!) Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Be Well,
Dianne

Dianne
I started Arimidex generic early Jan 2011. I have had osteoarthritis since 2000. I've also had hot flashes for the past 15 years. My experience with the Arimidex is that my joints hurt a bit more and hot flashes are worse. My gyn put me on Prozac and it's helped a bit with the hot flashes. My arthritis in my knees is already severe. I saw a neurosurgeon yesterday because I have lumbar spinal stenosis. Since I'm on a weight loss plan under the guidance of my gyn I will see the neurosurgeon in September to see if I might need surgery. I will eventually need a new left knee. My goal right now is to stay on the Arimidex and lose weight. It won't be easy but I have to do this for my health.
{{hugs}} Char

Hippiechick58

cahjah75 said:

Dianne
I started Arimidex generic early Jan 2011. I have had osteoarthritis since 2000. I've also had hot flashes for the past 15 years. My experience with the Arimidex is that my joints hurt a bit more and hot flashes are worse. My gyn put me on Prozac and it's helped a bit with the hot flashes. My arthritis in my knees is already severe. I saw a neurosurgeon yesterday because I have lumbar spinal stenosis. Since I'm on a weight loss plan under the guidance of my gyn I will see the neurosurgeon in September to see if I might need surgery. I will eventually need a new left knee. My goal right now is to stay on the Arimidex and lose weight. It won't be easy but I have to do this for my health.
{{hugs}} Char

Oh, Char, I am so sorry you
Oh, Char, I am so sorry you have to suffer so! I have to, like yourself, lose weight for my health. I have a fatty liver, high BP, high Cholesterol, and am a heart attack waiting to happen! We can do this! WE CAN do this. One day at a time we will lose the blasted weight! I wish you luck with your knee. Please keep me posted.

Be Well,
Dianne