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Femara vs Arimidex

GrandmaJ
GrandmaJ CSN Member Posts: 209
in Breast Cancer #1
Anyone switch from Femara to Arimidex with less side effects ? I've got hair loss, insomnia, joint pain, weight gain and severe sweating from Femara, but doctor thinks I'll have the same ones if I switch to Arimidex, but I think I'd like to try !!!
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  • roseann4
    roseann4 CSN Member Posts: 992 Member
    #2
    I take Arimidex.
    I have been on Arimidex for 3 years. I am one of the lucky ones. No significant side effects for me. Others have posted similar issues to the ones you described. No harm in trying.

    Roseann
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  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 CSN Member Posts: 191 Member
    #3
    I'm on Arimidex
    I've been on Arimidex for not quite a year. My hair seems to be falling out, but I have a lot of it. My hairdresser's watching it for me. I've been an insomniac most of my life. I just take Lunesta to help. Arimidex did make a bad situation worse. Nighty Night tea by Traditional is wonderful to help calm you down at bed time. I but it from Amazon- boxes at a time. It has passion flower in it.

    Joint pain is worse. I was told it would probably be a SE for me because of oseoarthritis. Stiff every morning. Hip hurts after sitting too long. Knees and other joints just start hurting sporadically like they're playing games with me. I rarely take anything for the pain since any one pain is rarely for a length of time.

    I haven't gained weight, in fact I lost weight, which may be due to the fact I cut down my sugar intake.

    No night sweats. I didn't have hot flashes from menopause either. I just need the bedroom cool at night to sleep. I got lucky there. But I'm dry as the Sahara (if you know what I mean!)

    I've heard each person handles each drug differently. I'll stay on Arimidex as long as I can stand it, because there aren't many choices and I'm going to be on it for 7-8years. Don't want to run out of choices by then.

    Deb
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