For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing

sweetandspecial

After menopause your adrenal glands still produce a level of estrogen.  Arimidex, Femara, etc stop the adrenal gland production of estrogen.  Excess body fat can also be an estrogen producer (hence the strong recommendations of exercise to lose excess weight and improve immune system).  I believe when we're done with the estrogen sucking drug the adrenal glands kick back in to produce a nominal level of estrogen (hopefully negating the sexual dryness side effect ).  If I'm wrong someone please correct me.

lago

BosumBlues all I can tell you is my hairline and eyelashes definitely grew and improved on the 5 weeks I was of Anastrozole. I had been on the drug for 5 years.

Anonymous

I skipped a whole lot of pages, so I am behind. I am right at 3 months on arimidex generic. I started taking it after just about three years on tamoxifen, with endometrial cells showing up in my PAP smear. No other symptoms, so both my GYN. And a GYNO ONC said no worries, just switch the drug to arimidex.

So Here I am.  The good....my horrendous hot flashes on Tamox are not as bad or as frequent.  That is a hige plus. The bad. Lots of joint pain. But it does kind of work itself out. I also feel kind of blah, like my zest for life is lessened. I hate that. Sometimes feel like crying more often. I plan to have this conversation with my ONC at out September appt. I think I will go back on Cymbalta.

Effexor for me, whole on Tamoxifen. Helped at first then hot flashes kicked in with a vengeance. I weaned myself off as I thought why bother taking another drug if it doesn't helps haven't noticed hair thinning so far, but AI am watching for it.

I am tired a lot. I hate that, also. But, I slept,horribly with tamoxifen.,I do,sleep,better,on AI so far.

That's my three month update. Between Tamox and arimidex, at this moment, I would probably pick the AI only due to the slightly improved hot flashes. Those really stress me out.

kamm

The adrenal glands don't store estrogen, they make small amounts of estrogen and testosterone.

ohiofan

I have been on anastrozole for 3 weeks.  Still tired (or lazy) and tears are  near the surface at times.  However, I just read the insert with the meds.  Does everyone else launder their underwear and towels separate from others in the family?  I thought that was with chemical chemo.  Yikes, I hope I didn't endanger my family this past weekend!!! I always do my underwear on delicate cycle, but I just didn't think about towels..... 

ruthbru

No, and I never heard of such a thing!

gavinsgrandma

Thank you ladies for your imput, I too have felt more tired since taking AL and I seem to have a constant headache and I am nervous about a witching to Tamoxifen.

Shary.

Spookiesmom

Me either!

checkers

I finally found out my Anastrozole is manufactured in India for Accord Healthcare, Inc . I know a lot of you are against the India manufacturers but the only major SE's I have had so far are the mood swings and hot flashes. These have been controlled by a low dose of Effexor.  My insurance company wants me to go mail order with both meds but because the mail order company does bulk orders they can't guarantee the same manufacturer with each re-order.  I'm not willing to take a risk with having different side effects every three months so I'm sticking with my pharmacy.  If in the future I start having debilitating SE's I'll see if my pharmacy can switch me to Teva out of Israel. 

There has also been a discussion about hair loss while on Anastrozole.  My hair was thick and grew fast before chemo and it's the same after, only curly! In fact, my hair has grown 3 1/2 inches in 7 months! So, not everyone is affected with thinning hair on Anastrozole. Though my eyelashes and eyebrows are still pretty skimpy.

ohiofan

Whew.....glad others aren't separating their laundry!  There was a whole paragraph on the insert! 

This script is from a mail order pharmacy and a different manufacturer from the script I got at Target.  I'll give it a try, but may continue with the Target pills. Both are from India, but under different manufacturer names. I'm having a few hot flashes, but I have had those since a hysterectomy when I was 39.  That I can handle.

Take care!

Ohio (Bonnie)

 

sweetandspecial

What the heck is the separation of laundry all about???  I don't remember reading that anywhere either......

proudtospin

since I retired, all my laundry is mixed and not even splitting dark and light so....this would not be me!

linda505

just found the following paragraph at 

http://www.drugs.com/arimidex.html

Here is what is says.....

Anastrozole can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Patients and caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

So I guess my question is why?? and what about sex? confused.com

Janett2014

It says to do all that for 48 hours after a dose?!? We take a dose EVERY DAY!

linda505

I know janet - what the heck???

sweetandspecial

My thoughts exactly!  Not that there's much sex going on at my house right now (mostly because there AREN'T ANY VAGINAL FLUIDS!!!!!), but really???  I'm thinking I should be living in a bubble for the next 3.25 years, right?  Sheesh!

linda505

sorry the link is wrong - copy and paste this to read the information and it DOES SAY TO USE A CONDOM ughh

http://www.drugs.com/arimidex.html

ohiofan

That's what came with my pills.  So. we think this is a crock??  Sounds like overkill to me, but I wanted to see what you girls were doing.  15 month old GS was here over the weekend and I would feel more than terrible if anything happened to him because of a towel!!!!  Which was washed in hot water and bleach.....

Must call Mo's office tomorrow.

Thanks,

Bonnie

ohiofan

That's what came with my pills.  So. we think this is a crock??  Sounds like overkill to me, but I wanted to see what you girls were doing.  15 month old GS was here over the weekend and I would feel more than terrible if anything happened to him because of a towel!!!!  Which was washed in hot water and bleach.....

Must call Mo's office tomorrow.

Thanks,

Bonnie

annieb4

HAHAHA sweetandspecial that is funny, actually it isn't..the truth actually kinda sucks..Well there is another reason to tell my significant other "sorry babe, no sex "...oh and I can't do laundry anymore either, or for that matter I better not clean or cook or anything else..

sweetandspecial

OK, does anyone know the possible outcome if someone comes in contact with our dangerous (but yet sometimes non-existent) bodily fluids within 48 hours after a dose (which is basically anytime over 5 years right?....lol)?  Will it start sucking their estrogen too?  Will my man become more manly and grow more body hair and whiskers like me?  Is it like the male hormone topical drugs where pregnant and nursing women and young children should not come in contact with the application area and you have to watch for the development of breast tissue in folks that shouldn't have it?  I mean, don't scare the shit of of me because it sounds like something horrible could happen and then not tell me what that horrible thing is! Ack!!

proudtospin

if you are really worried, call the MO but hard to believe that if this was a real concern, we would have been advised~~

could be like the smoking asparagus~~~

linda505

sweetandspecial  - I have tried to find that answer as to what happens to others exposed to our bodily fluids and can't find it - I would assume that it could reduce their production of estrogen and give them the other SE's that we get but I can't imagine that a small exposure on a one time basis could be dangerous.  I guess our sexual partners could experience some issues as that "could" be a regular thing.  So I guess besides having no urge, no fluids that we need to have them wear condoms too.  You think this would be a discussion that would happen when we are prescribed this drug.  hmmm - maybe an email to the makers?

ruthbru

Well, that is just stupid....how would having less estrogen effect anyone else (or more for that matter....I didn't see any warnings that me taking HRT could hurt anyone else, or birth control pills either). I never did anything different for the 5 years I was on it & neither has anyone else that I know, and all our loved ones are just fine. I would throw the warning in the garbage and forget about it. Take the pill like you would take anything else, get on with your day (including throwing all the laundry in together); exercise to get rid of the kinks, wear light clothes, drink fluids & buy fans for the hot flashes, and do interesting and fun things so you have other things to think about!!!

proudtospin

I am with Ruth, try not to listen to obscure rumors that you hear, get on with life!

kamm

Hahaha annieb4! But if your doing the laundry isn't it going to be washed away? Isn't that the point of washing things?  I'm pretty sure that it won't survive the wash cycle! Lol!

Kathy044

Check with your pharmacist. I did. The warning is directed at health care workers to follow precautions just In case there might be a problem with long term exposure to these chemicals. It took many years before a study showed that infusion nurses and pharmacy techs working with chemo drugs were at a slightly increased risk of cancer (bladder cancer?..)  Today of course it is differnent in the infusion room.

ohiofan

Ah...that makes sense, but why not state it that way on the sheet?! 

208sandy

Honestly, in all the fussing and fuming I've done about AIs and the trouble they cause I have never come across anything about separating laundry, etc., etc.  What on earth is going on - I know that instruction never appeared in any package of pills I received and it doesn't even make any sense - what next?

Golden01

I checked my instructions that came with my  Arimidex and didn't find the warning.