Tamoxifen/Arimidex Side Effects

MaryGVGC
MaryGVGC Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I started taking Tamoxifen in December 2004 and have coughed ever since. Stayed on it for two months, started Arimidex and am still coughing six months later. Has anyone had this side-effect? The cough is very annoying to me and to all around and is a very hard cough.

Comments

  • roxanne53
    roxanne53 Member Posts: 154
    Hello,
    I am on arimidex, too. I have the cough and it has gotten better over time according to my mother and husband. Still have it sometimes and it is annoying and rough. Don't know why it has gotten better. Just has. My voice will loose its strength and start to sound horse or scruffy. That goes away, too that just comes and goes.

    Just have to stop talking and rest it abit. :)
    Hee Heee Some people enjoy the break from my chatter. ;)

    I have other side effects from the drug and can't afford to be without it. I take it, you are ER and PR positive. I am also Her2neu positive.

    I watch my side effects to know if things get worse or better and my tolerance to them over time.

    This what I know about the cough based on personal experience. This may be helpful the possibility exists of less cough. No guarantee though,ya know.

    Take care and hope it gets better for you.
    HUGS
    Roxanne
  • holly2
    holly2 Member Posts: 1
    Hi. I'm new to this site. I found it when searching for "tamoxifen cough". I have been taking tam. for 4 years and have been coughing the whole time. It is really bad sometimes - it even makes me vomit sometimes. It does get better and worse for no known reason, but no doctor can verify that it is related to the tamoxifen. Has anyone found any literature on this subject? I'm so glad to have found this site!
    Thanks, Holly Baxter...one more year of tamoxifen to go!
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    holly2 said:

    Hi. I'm new to this site. I found it when searching for "tamoxifen cough". I have been taking tam. for 4 years and have been coughing the whole time. It is really bad sometimes - it even makes me vomit sometimes. It does get better and worse for no known reason, but no doctor can verify that it is related to the tamoxifen. Has anyone found any literature on this subject? I'm so glad to have found this site!
    Thanks, Holly Baxter...one more year of tamoxifen to go!

    Hi, I am new to this site. I have only a mild cough which started six weeks into Arimidex and radiation. Mild cough continues after radiation. My biggest problem was the joint and leg swelling, and pain. After three months on Arimidex I asked my doc to switch me to Tamoxifen. After two weeks on Tam, swelling is decreasing, except in my R. hand which remains very painful. I will let you know if the cough get worse on Tamoxifen. Thanks for the info.
  • dsuehol
    dsuehol Member Posts: 1

    Hi, I am new to this site. I have only a mild cough which started six weeks into Arimidex and radiation. Mild cough continues after radiation. My biggest problem was the joint and leg swelling, and pain. After three months on Arimidex I asked my doc to switch me to Tamoxifen. After two weeks on Tam, swelling is decreasing, except in my R. hand which remains very painful. I will let you know if the cough get worse on Tamoxifen. Thanks for the info.

    HI, I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and 10 months. I started on Tamoxifen and started having breathing problems and they found that I had a blood clot in my leg and small pieces had broken away and logde in my lungs. They put me on Arimidex after that. I am having very bad hot flashes. They have tried everything and nothing seems to work. I am also having the joint pain. I feel like this drug is slowly crippling me.My knees are the worst. I have a hard time getting up and down. I am thinking about giving this drug up. I am afraid that the longer I stay on it then the more crippled I will become. I do plan on talking to the doctor about getting off of it and seeing if there is anything else.
  • ltaber
    ltaber Member Posts: 2

    Hi, I am new to this site. I have only a mild cough which started six weeks into Arimidex and radiation. Mild cough continues after radiation. My biggest problem was the joint and leg swelling, and pain. After three months on Arimidex I asked my doc to switch me to Tamoxifen. After two weeks on Tam, swelling is decreasing, except in my R. hand which remains very painful. I will let you know if the cough get worse on Tamoxifen. Thanks for the info.

    I am having severe hand and foot pain and swelling, joint pain, severe stiffness all over, especially in the morning. Symptoms began shortly after I started taking Armidex. I have now been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Did your doctor explain why our hands and feet become swollen and painful? Have you learned anything else about Arimidex Side Effects?
  • ltaber
    ltaber Member Posts: 2
    dsuehol said:

    HI, I have been on Arimidex for 2 years and 10 months. I started on Tamoxifen and started having breathing problems and they found that I had a blood clot in my leg and small pieces had broken away and logde in my lungs. They put me on Arimidex after that. I am having very bad hot flashes. They have tried everything and nothing seems to work. I am also having the joint pain. I feel like this drug is slowly crippling me.My knees are the worst. I have a hard time getting up and down. I am thinking about giving this drug up. I am afraid that the longer I stay on it then the more crippled I will become. I do plan on talking to the doctor about getting off of it and seeing if there is anything else.

    I, too, am having severe joint pain, all-over stiffness, painful and swollen hands and feet. I have just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have called the manufacturer of Arimidex. Their data shows that 30 percent of the clinical trial group shows these symptoms. I am now on two very, very strong medications to see if we can stop these painful symptoms. Have you considered seeing a rheumatologist or another type of MD to evaluate these symptoms? I hate to stop the Arimidex unless it is absolutely necessary because it has also been proved to be effective in reducing recurrence rates.
  • kaki48
    kaki48 Member Posts: 3
    ltaber said:

    I, too, am having severe joint pain, all-over stiffness, painful and swollen hands and feet. I have just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have called the manufacturer of Arimidex. Their data shows that 30 percent of the clinical trial group shows these symptoms. I am now on two very, very strong medications to see if we can stop these painful symptoms. Have you considered seeing a rheumatologist or another type of MD to evaluate these symptoms? I hate to stop the Arimidex unless it is absolutely necessary because it has also been proved to be effective in reducing recurrence rates.

    do you have any information on how arimedex helps with not having a reoccurence. I had stage 1, no lymphs nodes invovced. four chemo treatments, had two lumpectomy and then a mastecomy. On ariimdex andmy bones and joints ache I feel 80 years old. DOes this get better. Been on it six months. NOw back is starting to hurt too.