Arimidex side effects??

cruf said:

Hi! I was on Femara then aromasin for 1 1/2 years following 5 years on Tamoxafin. I never had any problems with cholesterol. Have been on a low fat diet for about 20 years and never had a problem. Didn't have a problem on the Tamoxafin but once on the aromatose inhibitors, My chol. went up as did my weight. I've been off all BC meds for 1 month and will have a blood check next week to see if cholesterol goes down. I had many other side effects on this med esp joint pain and haven't seen any decrease since stopping it. I'm 55 and also feel like I'm 90. I work on my feet all day and ex. /walk 2-3 miles 5-6 nights a week. Don't know what else to do to stop hurting, esp. my feet. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Hope things work out better for you. HUGS!! Cathy

Arimidex won't help your cholesterol. Tamoxifen might raise HDL and possibly lower LDL, however, it might also raise Tryglicerides. Arimidex is known to cause joint pain. I am on its cousin exemestane (AKA aromasin). I notice that my joints are much more likely to get injured now and I have been to the podiatrist for inflamed toe joints in the last year. The good news is that he came up with a fix. He cautioned me to find out what I was doing that stressed my toe joints (mainly lunges and yoga moves that bent my toes a bit too much). He had me stop those until my toes were back to normal (we are finally getting there after 3 months or so). Also he put me on naproxin for pain and inflamation. Finally, I had to wear a budin splint on each foot daily from morning till night. The splints look like ovals with a strip of elastic tape in a loop for the toe. I didn't see how any of it would do any good since I was continuing the aromatase inhibitor, but it is actually working. I still go to the gym, I just avoid the moves that bend my toes backward. I'm off all pain meds for the most part. I'm still wearing the splints. And the front part of my foot no longer hurts!!! I've decided that the medicine makes my joints more likely to become inflamed. That means I had better exercise regularly, but carefully so it is not to excess. That way my muscles will prevent future joint injuries. Research I have read has mentioned eating fish and walnuts that contain omega-3's. I have noticed a bit of an improvement in my joints when I eat salmon twice a week. But trying the splints and following the doctor's orders outlined above helped more. Hope that helps.

I have been taking Arimidex for 2 years, and when you read the patient information that accompanies the rx, it describes some of the side affects as being: body aches and muscle pain, trouble sleeping, tiredness/fatigue, flushing and hot flashes, and weight change, to name a few. I also have some depression, but when I tried to take an antidepressant, it made me really sick to my stomach. I have had swelling in my legs and feet too, and my cholesterol has increased as well. I am going to be 58 this month, and while I think that some of this is normal aging, I really think that after reading the subjects discussed on this network, the Arimidex is responsible for most of it. It is such a tiny pill, but it seems to have an impact on my everyday activities. I too feel like I am 90 at times, and get discouraged, but like most of us, wouldn't get off the drug and live with the fear of the bc returning. Stay on this site, I visit several times a week to update myself on what women are asking/learning, so I get a better idea of what is normal, and what is not. Hope this helps, and welcome Mrsbetty2. Take care, and live one day at a time, that is the best way to conquer the side affects.
God Bless,
bev49

Well I'm on Femara, and the side effects are getting worse every week. I now have 2 thumbs and 2 pointer fingers that are so painful I have a hard time typing. I type for a living, and I will not give up my job or my quality of life for this drug. I am seeing oncologist on Thurs, and will discuss either options, but I think they are do the same thing, or going off the drug for a better quality of life. I know there are risks, but there were risks 20 years ago, and people did survive. I know I might offend some,but I do believe when our time is up on this earth it is the Lord who makes that decision, not a drug, and not us. Sorry if anyone is offended, but that is how I feel. I hope that everyone who is having problems with this family of drugs is blessed with better health. I feel like the chemo, surgery and radiation was easier than this. I am 65 and feel like I am going on 90.

Blessings to all