itching hands and feet with arimidex

maria26

Hi everyone,

I have a strange problem my palms of my hands are itching mainly left and sometimes soles of feet.  I am having a hard time on arimidex 14 months now with a couple of breaks in between.

I seem to get a side effect worry it is a met go have a test and get so stressed.  Am stage 1 grade 2 no nodes etc so guess I am being a bit silly but would be nice to know if anyone else has had this.  That really helps.  Dont want to stop meds as I am so paranoid it will return.  Had lumpectomy and 15 rads.

Please advise

Maria

maria26

Hi anyone else or is it only weirdo me

Thanks

Aria

maria26

Hi anyone else or is it only weirdo me

Thanks

Maria

doxie

Maria,

Do you have other allergies or a family history of them? I have gradually become allergic to chocolate, coconut, dyes, food additives, and several meds. I could easily blame this on either arimidex or aromasin (which I'm now on). You may well be allergic to arimidex, or it might be something else. An allergist might help by testing what you may be allergic to. I've not gone, because I've been able to figure out what is giving me eczema, hives, or a rash. Really a pain though.

Janetanned

Maria - I developed a rash a few months after starting  Arimidex.  Nothing else was new in my world so we assumed it was a drug reaction.  My rash covered my arms. a little bit of my shoulder/chest, and my calves.  At first I thought it might be related to radiation, since it first appeared on my radiated shoulder/chest area.  When it spread to my arms and legs we ruled out the radiation effect.  My onc sent me to a dermatologist who specialized in chemo reactions.  She felt it was related to the Arimidex.  I went on a two week holiday from the Arimidex and the rash went away.  I resumed the Arimidex and never got the rash again.  Recently I was switched to Letrozol due to other Erimidex side effects.

maria26

Hi,

Jane I dont have a rash but the itch is on my palms and soles of feet mainly.  did you get your rash through itching or did the rash come first.  I have been on arimidex 4 months before it started. It is not intense but very annoying.  I have been very very stressed so wonder if that contributes.

Have stopped the arimidex now 3 days, how long before you felt better.

Really appreciate your advice.

Doxie, 

Thanks also for replying I dont think it is a food allergy and clarityn has made no difference.  It is nice to get some response as I feel quite lonely with all this.

Maria

doxie

You might try Benedryl also. That is my go to med. My palms and feet itch with some reactions, too. If it's the arimidex, it may take a week or so for your body to stop reacting. The drug may be out of your system, but the reaction takes time to cool down. It took 3 months to get over Neulasta, but I had a very serious reaction,.

Janetanned

I don't really remember which came first.  However, the rash was distinct.  It was itchy and bumpy.  The more I scratched it, the more itchy it became.  It did not respond to antihistamines and the cortisone cream only helped for a short period of time.  I believe it took at least a week to start clearing up.  It was all gone by the end of the second week.  It never returned, even after going back on the arimidex.

I was under a lot of stress at the time.  My father was dying and I was responsible for all of his medical decisions.  I don't know if the stress aggravated it or not.  I know I was less tolerant of any discomfort at this time.  Everything irritated me.

It was also during the winter and my skin was really dry to begin with.  However, the derm dr said it was definitely a reaction to something (most likely arimidex) rather than just dry skin.

Hope it clears up for you soon!

maria26

Thank you girls so much.  I am pretty sure this is stress related as I am in a constant state of anxiety which i think is arimidex induced as I am not usually that way.  I have found the arimidex very hard to tolerate gastric problems, breathing probs many tests all clear which all adds to the stress.  I am determined to keep taking it but am enjoying the break I have had a couple of other breaks one of a month so again I worry that something will happen when I am off them.  After the month  break I managed over 4 months until this last gastric attack and now itching.  Even had a very thorough abdo scan on monday and that was the day the itching started so yes when I am sensible I can see the part stress plays.

Doxie my stats are identical to yours can I ask why you did chemo, I guess you must be much younger than me I am 63.

Jane, I think you are so right the stress from caring for your dad must have contributed.  I looked after both my parents and know how hard it is.  I really appreciate you replying as I messaged a few girls who had experienced this itching and not one replied which i understand as people move on but it is girls like you and doxie who are so kind to keep helping out.

Maria

doxie

maria26,

You are so welcome. I wish I had time to help more women on these boards. I'm sure that's the case with many others.

I am younger than you, but was still post-menno at diagnosis. I had a 30 Oncotype score and very high Ki67. My PR was also very low. All put me solidly as Luminal B, so chemo was going to be effective. It lowered my recurrence rate by an actual 7%. Grade 2 tumors are sometimes more aggressive than expected.

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