Arimidex
Arimidex questions and answers
Learn how to buy Arimidex Without a Prescription.
Q: What can you do about arthritis caused by arimidex?
A: Usual anti-arthritics (nonsteroidals for example) can help. Even though studies of glucosamine and chondroitin have been disappointing, some patients still believe in their benefits.
Time sometimes makes them better, but some patients can't tolerate these drugs, and switch to tamoxifen (which can cause similar symptoms but less frequently). Aromasin, another arimidex-like drug, in my experience seems to cause a little less trouble with arthralgias (joint pains).
There is some suggestion that women with these symptoms seem to be the ones who most benefit from these agents-- if that makes you feel any better.
Blessings
Q: What happens if you don't drink Arimidex?
My mom had her left breast removed and her womb removed as well. She's taking Arimedex and she says it's too much pain. She wants to know if anybody has self-experiences of them taking the doses required and those who didn't and what happened. She doesn't want to take them, but before she discontinues them she wants more information on the cause and effects. Thanks.
A: Your mom's cancer is estrogen positive (the reason for the Arimidex). If she doesn't take the medicine to control the estrogen in her body it could cause the cancer to recur sooner.
As for some of the side effects there can be joint pain such as in the hands as well as irritation and mood swings and even hot flashes to name a couple of other side effects.
There are ways to deal with some of those side effects and her oncologist can help her find a safe way to do it without causing more concern for the cancer coming back sooner.
I would tell your mom to have a heart to heart discussion with her oncologist and let them know how concerned she is about the side effects. She may want to try Femara which is in the same class of drugs that Arimidex is but the side effects are supposed to be a lot less intense.
Q: Hello. Can anyone help me with the effects of Arimidex & Exemestane please?
I was taking Arimidex as a follow up treatment after breast cancer, and after 4-5 months started having real problems with my hands, particularly the right hand - swollen fingers, thumb locking and clicking, stiffness in fingers. Also general joint aches and pains and stiffness, which are quite disabling when trying to move after resting! I have now changed to Exemestane at the end of December, but as yet have had no improvement. In fact the pains and stiffness are still getting worse, although the swollen fingers arent so bad.
A: I take Arimidex and receive monthly Lupron injections. My hands and feet are always sore. Are you taking anything for Osteo?
I just try to exercise all I can and drink lots of water- it seems to help some.
I don't know anything about Exemestane. I use
www.breastcancer.org
as a resource frequently.
I hope it helps your symptoms improve... Good luck!
Q: Can you tell me about Arimidex. Have you taken it and does it cause weight gain in some people?
Dear Mister,
Quite likely you will get your wish. Surely, you must be quite pleased.
Hugs.......
A: I was taking Tamoxifen and it did cause weight gain. I also had a recurrence while taking it and switched to Arimidex. A recent study showed that Arimidex is better than Tamoxifen, so I feel good about that. My issue was the weight I gained due to the steroids I was taking during chemo. The weight was very hard to take off, but I've finally lost half of the weight I gained and that alone has upped my energy level, so hopefully the other twenty pounds will be easier to get rid of. Good luck. Hang in there!
Q: My sister is taking arimidex (she is in stage 4 breast cancer). She is tending to get more and more confused a?
A: First some of these answers are scary. Technology for Breast Cancer is so advanced. I have Stage 3B Breast Cancer. She could have what you call "chemo brain" it is where the drugs can make her forget or do wierd stuff. Example she might mean to type the word cat but she actual types cta. It can cause alot of wierd stuff to happen. Stage 4 does mean that is has moved but that could mean moved into the lymphnodes not just the brain, liver, or any other area it could also mean that the tumor is bigger than 2 cm and has attached itself to the cell wall. Good Luck My thoughts and prayers are with your sister and your family
Q: Do the side effects of Arimidex subside the longer you use it?
A: Anytime you have to start taking a prescription drug you should thoroughly research it as much as possible to be able to weigh the pros and cons of the medication. Type in your searchbar, "side effects of arimidex" and read through the listed sites. Are you taking this for menopause? If so, type in "alternative treatments for menopause" and see what else is available, especially if it is more natural. Be informed about your choices and your body! I have a doctor that wanted to put me on cholesterol medication and against his advice I refused it and told him I would see him in 6 weeks. With a diet change and supplements I got my cholesterol down to perfect without medication that could harm my liver! Good Luck!
Q: What is breast cancer survival % rate for follow-up drug(s) vs Arimidex vs no followup drugs?
I have just completed over a year's chemo,surgery,radiation,& chemo again with clean results for treatment for estrogen receptive breast cancer. No mascectomy,but removed 1/2 breast with lumpectomy, leaving a 7 in. scar across chest. I am 64 yrs old and never been sick or operated on before. I cannot find anywhere where it tells me what the % rate of survival is for Armidex for five years vs NO followup drugs survival rate for five years. Tests seemed to all have been done with comparisons of Arimidex and Tamoxifen, but what is the percentage of survival from using these drugs vs not using them. I do want my best survival rate, but am amazed that I can't get this question answered. My oncologist keeps changing the subject and then I forget and can't get a hold of her for another week or so (Kaiser). Thank you
A: One reason that your oncologist is dancing around this subject is because there is no study that directly compares patients who undergo aromatase inhibitor therapy (such as with Arimidex) to patients who get no therapy at all. This is because medical research has already shown Tamoxifen is better than no treatment at all, so to test whether Arimidex is useful, comparison needs to be made to the standard of care, which is Tamoxifen. It would be unethical to randomize patients to no treatment when we know Tamoxifen is clearly better.
So to answer your question, we will have to do it indirectly:
We know that patients who receive Tamoxifen therapy, when compared to those who receive no other treatment, have about a 10% improvement in overall survival (e.g. in early breast cancer, 68% vs 57%). When Arimidex is compared to Tamoxifen, the improvement is by another 3-5%. So overall, we can extrapolate that use of Arimidex vs no therapy, is probably by about 13-15%.
Keep in mind that the numbers can differ depending on the exact stage of cancer you have, and really, there is no hard data to directly answer what you are asking.
Q: Question about Arimidex, if you have taken it, please help me?
I thought this medication gave you joint pains, and leg cramps. My mom had breast cancer surgery and the pain is sharp only on the breast she had surgery on. Is this normal? Has any women taken this pill and had pain only the breast? thank you
A: http://breast-cancer.emedtv.com/arimidex/arimidex-side-effects.html
According to this site, yes breast pain can be a side effect of taking arimidex. Just to make sure this in "normal" breast pain with this med it would be a good idea to discuss this with her oncologist.
Q: how long does it take for Arimidex to exit the body
This drug causes me great discomfort in my joints, muscles and bones and I'm stopping it. How long will this side effect last?
A: Arimidex has an elimination half-life of about 50 hours, which means in 200 hours (~ 8 days) the drug is virtually absent if no further doses are taken. There is a difference though in persistence of the drug and persistence of the symptoms- symptoms can persist long after the drug is totally gone from the body for some drugs.
From my experience most patients with muscle & joint complaints are are better within a month after cessation; it is rare to go on much longer, though possible. If symptoms persist much longer you might want to pursue further workup to look for other causes. The Arimidex may not be the only source for your symptoms- it may have uncovered or aggravated a pre-existing condition (not obvious before you started arimidex).
God bless, best wishes
Q: is thersomething else i could take that does the same thing as arimidex?
A: The best alternative is Femara.
My question is, though, why do you want to change? If it's because of cost, there isn't going to be a significant difference between the two. If it's because of side effects, one might be better than the other, and you'll only know if you try them both.
Q: can I take flaxseed oil 1000mg when I am on arimidex,high blood pressure pills and an anti depressant?
A: No problem whatever. Flax oil is a natural substance that does not interact or clash with any prescription medication. There are isolated exceptions and apparently grapefruit often clashes with prescription medications. People who are on warfarin should not take Coenzyme Q10 and that is another one of the isolated exceptions.
Mixing prescription medications can cause problems in some cases and your doctor is the expert on that sort of question.
Doctors are absolute experts on prescription medication but when it comes to natural medication they seem to know very little.
Q: Arimidex - please any ideas how to combat hair thinning and achy knees?
Hi there and many thanks for any help, it will be much appreciated.
I started taking Arimidex to prevent recurrence of breast cancer last year, having been finally declared post-menopausal and therefore able to migrate to this drug from Tamoxifen.
I was initially happy because I had been previously been very worried that Tamoxifen would harm my cardio-vascular system - I have high blood pressure and also there is a strong history of cardio-vascular disease in my family.
However, this far into taking Arimidex I am more than a bit disenchanted with the side effects, mainly because it is causing my hair to thin and become brittle but also because I am getting very achy knees (sorry, that's the best way I can describe them!).
I haven't been to see my GP because to be honest he'll probably just say, "Wouldn't you rather be alive than stop taking it?" Which, of course, is very true.
But if anyone has any hints re this please let me know - all answers greatly appreciated!
A: I know just how you feel. Even though I am not taking pills yet, I am still in treatment (chemo, after that rads ) my Oncologist "downplays" my issues too. Can't sleep and such, I actually go to my GP because she listens and helps with RX if she thinks it is going to help. Talk to another Doctor. The hormones all have side affects, but I really think that you can't be in pain for the time you have to take them . Hang in there !
Q: What is long term effects from Arimidex?
A: No-one can tell you all the long-term effects. A doctor once told me this is like having mini-chemo every day - but everyone reacts differently. The only known factor for everyone is that it increases our survival rate - so stick with it.
I wrote www,after-cancer.com to give others ideas of handling side effects - and if you have any good ones please let me know.
Good luck!
Verite R
Q: how long should arimidex be taken after breast ca?
had breast ca 5 years ago lumpectomy and radiation, refused chemotherapy, ca stage 1, postmenopausal, +estrogen receptor
A: It's usually five years; that's how long I've been told I should be taking it for.
Check with your doctor.