Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

mimi1964

I find I too have very brittle nails and have to keep them cut short and I have ridges.  They break and split at the base of the nail bed. I also find that my skin is drier than normal and my eyes are very dry, to the point that it feels like my eyelids are sticking to my actual eye.  It is really uncomfortable.  Does anyone have any recommendations of what they are doing to solve any of these problems.

Jean0078

For dry eyes, my opthamologist suggested "Systane" eye drops. YOu can get them at Costco but I imagine most places like Walgreens etc. They helped me. I use them as needed.

zumbagirl

I switched pharmacies, and my Anastrozole went from 116.00 a month to 46.00 a month. Much Much more reasonable, thank you for letting me know it should be cheaper than I was paying.

mcgaffey

I had very dry eyes for a spell and used eye drops. I just realized awhile back that they are no longer dry. The only thing I am doing differently is my diet? I eat many more veggies and no fat. But that shouldn't make the difference? I have 4 months to go. My anniversary of my diagnosis is today, 5 years out, Valentine's Day. I will never forget it.

KittyDog

I use refresh for my dry eyes.  cheap and works fine for me.  I can't take claratin but I do take zyrtec ever night.  My trigger finger thumbs has gotten the best of me...going to take the risk and ask for a shot.Just hoping it want need surgery.  I am dealing with the middle fingers well but the thumbs are keeping me from sleeping. Just to pull the blanket up hurts enough to wake me up.  no other problems at this time,

DivineMrsM

zumbagirl, glad to hear you got a better deal on the Arimidex elsewhere.  Isn't in something that there is that much of a price difference between pharmacies?

NativeMainer

i've been taking claritin (generic version) with the Arimidex for a couple of weeks now and am feeling less achy and tired.  I  did find out my Vit D had dropped under 30 again, and have doubled my supplement and that is probably helping too.  Great tip I found here!  thanks! 

MamaV

My eye doc gave me a script for restasis for dry eyes. Helps a lot!



Not sure I want to try Claritin ... I take so many pills already!

buddy1

I've been on the eneric Arimidex for about 2 1/2 years now.  The first year or so the SE were rough.  They have got much better.  I cant even remember the last hot flash.  I mentioned this to my Onc.  He said yes its normal for the SE to lessen.  I was just concerned the medicine was not working as strong as it use to.  I notice the joint and bone pain has got much better also.  I hope this for all of you too. 

mimi1964

buddy1 that is nice to know that the SE decrease with time since mine started 6 mos after I began taking it.  I just feel like they want to give me a pill for everything these days.  But somethings are too much to deal with.  Wish there was a magic pill to make the SE of headaches go away because I really don't want to change to a 3rd medication.  So at the time I am just dealing but some days it is a bit much.

Gingerbrew

I got some real SE's last night, My legs were so twitchy that I took lorazepam to get off to sleep. My knuckles are at the beginning of hurting.    The headache has come and gone. I do not usually have headaches.

keepin on keepin on

Ginger

Bogie

Anyone have tried Cymbalta with the Arimidex to combat joint pain. Muscle ache, anxiety. If so, did it work?

Nancyb7912

I take Cymbalta I'm not sure how bad the pain would be without it so I keep taking it. I still have the pain, though.

sebm9

Hi everyone, I'm so excited by the success people are having with the Claritin! For me, Claritin does not cause any drowsiness. I take the 24-hour tab, so once a day. I usually take it in a.m.

(I take 35 pills a day, including vitamins, supplements, and prescriptions, so try to space them out.)

I only take Benadryl during the height of allergy season: my worst allergies are when oak/grasses/mulberry are prominent, according to pollen.com (a great website which gives you not only a specific pollen forecast, like a weather forecast, for your zipcode, but also tells you what the allergens are. It helped me identify what I was allergic to). When I was taking tamoxifen, I wasn't supposed to take benadryl -- but did anyway because i couldn't function during high hayfever season without it. Benadryl definitely dries out my eyes and sinuses more than Claritin.

I've had very dry nails, esp. as the nails grow out from my taxotere 2 years ago. I have to file most every day and have had some vertical splits. I learned that Omega-3 fish oil, and plenty of water throughout the day, are the best cures. Indeed, nail breakage improved rapidly once I started. The Omega-3 fish oil capsules are also fantatic for making your hair silkier. I used Penguin Cold Caps during chemo, so did not lose my hair during taxotere/cytoxan, but it got quite dry at the ends, and the fish oil has restored it to original condition.

Hope this helps! And again, I'm so glad others of you have also found some relief with the Claritin for the achiness!

Susan

stage1

MamaV, I remember your support when I was complaining about the ridges in my fingernails, the doctor at that time had nothing to say, but age had something to do with dryness.  Well, he was no help! So, after studying it myself, I think that vitamin B has a lot to do with it.  Runs in my family, I have aunt taking vitamin B12 shots...but I want to share with all of you ladies that have the dry and ridged nails, I found a wonderful product that is actually helping...Nutra Nail Naturals (essential oil therapy), found at Whole Foods.  I apply morning and evening and it is a mix of natural oils that seem to absorb into the nails quite quickly. I must try the Omega 3 fish oil to work from the inside, also.  Thanks for sharing

serenitywisdom

Hi everyone,

I need advice.  Today I took my first Arimidex pill.  I am also still on Herceptin but that should finish in about 2 months.  Are there any natural supplements people take to avoid joint pain and other side effects.  Anything I can do proactively?  I already do not eat sugar and flour as part of  my food plan .  However I have gained 35 pounds since getting surgeries and chemo this past year.  The docs tell me it is due to steroids, decreased activity, stress  and thyroidectomy I had in between the mastectomy and chemo.  Help!  I do not want to gain any more weight on arimidex.  Advice greatly appreciated

TinaT

serenitywisdom - I am one of those who has lost weight on Arimidex.  I haven't changed my diet, but I am exercising more to try to counteract the stiffness so is it the Arimidex or is it taking better care of myself?  Don't know.  But, I haven't had to deal with steroids, chemo, and thyroid problems.  Anyway, I guess I'm saying that you shouldn't assume that the Arimidex will make you gain more weight, that's not a given.

Best wishes!

MamaV

Stage1-thanks! I'm gonna get some!

dogsandjogs

What are you taking that has steroids in it?  

Stress makes me eat more and then I gain weight.

I did not gain weight after my parathyroidectomy, but my arthritis got a lot better. Go figure!

However, all the bone pain is now back due to the Aromasin

dogsandjogs

What are you taking that has steroids in it?  

Stress makes me eat more and then I gain weight.

I did not gain weight after my parathyroidectomy, but my arthritis got a lot better.

sebm9

Hi serenitywisdom: nice to see you on this list also! :-) 

Jean0078

I took a steroid  while I was getting chemo ( Taxol). There were several drugs I had to take one hour before each treatment. The nurse said everyone maintains their weight or gains on that, I took Anastrozole for 4 weeks before quitting and lost 12 pounds. I completely lost my appetite. I was feeling fine then-no side effects until the depression and anxiety kicked in and just couldn't do that. Off until March 7th when I see the Doc and see what he has in mind to try next.

Anonymous

Jean - you can take almost any anti-depressant with the AI's.  Not the elast bit surprising so many of us use them, as when we take ALL the estrogen out of our systems, emotions go bonkers - really, I hope you'll try an anitdepressant so you can take an AI.

SerenityWisdom

Suggest you have your Vitamins D blood levels checked - if low, take Vitamin D3 until you get the levels up to about 50.  That really helps reduce joint pain.  Also, many ( I include me here) are helped by glucosamine, Fish oil, and moving - exercise, walking....

GabbyCal

serenity wisdom - Yes, I believe there are things you can do proactively to control/minimize SEs on Arimidex. Like you, I wanted to be proactive. I went the exercise route and lots of other ladies on the radiation boards have shared that the most effective thing to prevent stiffness is daily exercise.

My RO and MO also recommend exercise. Your activities need to be adjusted for your recovery. I'm still on orders not to lift more than 5 lbs on my radiation side. I do lots of gentle stretching for range of motion and lots of walking. 

As to gaining weight, I don't think that's a common SE from AIs, but you're likely anxious to get back to your pre-BC weight. If you're looking for effective anti-inflammatory diet guidelines, I can recommend: SuperfoodsRx Super Health by Dr. Steven Pratt.

MamaV - Thanks for the tip on the NutraNails. I'm looking forward to trying it to see if it will get rid of the ridges. 

Jean0078

Sunflowers: I am already on a max dose of antidepressant and have been for several years due to history of depression and anxiety. I also take an anti-anxiety pill on a regular basis. My Vit D is fine, I have taken fish oil forever and already excersise as much as possible. When that depression kicked in, I just couldn't go to that dark place again. I will not change anti-depressants as it took me two years to find one that I could take. I am very meds sensitive. Will see what Dr, says after radiation is over. Meanwhile I am back to my old self after quitting the Anastrozole.

Anonymous

Jean

I too have been taking an SSRI ( finally found the right one, whew, years ago) which is why I wouldn't start on Tamoxifen - just couldn't face going on Effexor ( one of the ones I tried and HATED years ago) - 

I remember reading - & no, I can't remember where,( age, and CRS !!) but will try, that the meds Arimidex (anastrozole) amplifies  is most of the SSRIS.  There was a post years ago, here on BCO, about what interactions with different AI's were -and I think it's true, it's as if I'm taking 25% more than I am of the SSRI I take.

HOWEVER - the first few months on Arimidex, were, DIFFICULT.  It is SUCH A SHOCK to the system to go without ALL estrogen - I know my own depression really got bad years ago when I had a hysterectomy at age 43.

I also know many bc friends who had to have their antisepressants "tweaked" when they started treatment.  Expecially it seems with adding another small dose of another kind of medication.  Don't know details, cuz I haven't (yet) needed it - but there are several ways to approach it.

I too am very sensitive to meds - took me SO, SO, SO long to find the right antidepressant, I shiver just thinking of having to go thru that...

Wishing you all the best - I really kow what you mean about the "initial" depression on Arimidex, it was brutal, but for me, did ease quite quickly.  Sometimes even just stopping, and starting again helps - it did for me, but that was because of physical SE's.

serenitywisdom

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions since this is my first week on Arimidex.  I wondered why my skin, especially legs was so dry and after reading,  I just realized what to do -massive amounts of moisturzing cream.  Which ones are best?    Also I slept in today till 10:30 and couldn't figure out why I was so tired.  Is that from Arimidex?  I first thought fatigue  was because the docs put me on ace inhibitor and beta blocker for my heart due to herceptin problems and thought fatigue was from that.  Do most people get really fatigued from Arimidex?? How do you counter the fatigue?   Thanks for suggestions and I am now taking about 3000 mg of Vit D/day  to get that level up.  It has been chronically low and apparently low Vit D pre disposes us to breast cancer.  At least that is what one my MD friends told me.  Take care everyone. 

stage1

I am using shea butter on my face, coconut oil for hands, anything without parabens for body lotion.  I bought a lot of stuff from www.100percentpure.com .  My fatigue has subsided after rads, ended mid July.  Finally feeling better, the mid afternoon fatigue is gone, as long as I get 8 hours sleep.  But I think rads caused fatigue, not arimidex for me.

eha

There's a lot here to relate to.  I recently finished the fve-day radiation course and have a visit with my medical oncologist later this week. He will be prescribing an aromatase inhibitor.  Without it I still experience occasional hot flashes and have osteopenia, borderline osteporosis.  Yet I hear that it is a better choice for my age and diagnosis than tomaxifen.  If activity can help the joint pain I seem destined to experience, it will gve me an excuse to go to the gym more often, which is a good thing.  I guess I'll find out - reading these posts help and I will share my experiences as well.

Jean0078

On my "vacation" from anastrozole until March 7. Has anyone used or discussed with their Drs, the possibility of gradually working into the full dose? For example taking a half pill for a couple months and then the whole pill? Just trying to get other ideas. I think I might do OK if I wasn't plunged into no estrogen so quickly. I am just barely into menopause at age 63!! One of the reasons I may have gotten BC was long exposure to estrogen said the Dr. My Mom was 60 or little over.