Arimidex, Synthroid

tbayer

My 2nd round with breast cancer...chemo, radiation, oophorectomy 11/14 - 6/15. Started Arimidex mid Aug. Found out I am hypothroid the end of August ( 62 TSH)! Started Synthroid 75mcg. The 1st 2 months of Arimidex seemed OK, hot flashes less than chemopause, minimal achy joints, mood stable.

So, the past 1-2 wks ( about 8 wks on synthroid) my hot flashes have significantly increased, feeling hot in general, slightly wired, taking longer to fall alseep at night. I'm thinking my symptoms are hyperthyrpoid. My family practitioner wants me to stay on the does, ride it out and get labs rechecked in 2mo. My TSH is now 3.2. Said it may not be the thyroid, perhaps it's just the "menopause".

My anxiety during active cancer treatments had gone away. I don't really want to feel anxious or "jazzed" as my doctor said, just to get my TSH in normal range.

Any suggestions? Anyone with similar symptoms with synthroid and arimidex? I saw an old post on American Cancer Society site of woman who took synthroid x 20 yrs for hypothyroid without problems and when she started Arimidex she became hyperthryoid.

Lily55

CAn you try another kind of thyroid medication? 

MEG2

Hi tbayer...not sure if this will be helpful or not. I take both Synthroid and Arimidex; have been taking the synthroid for approx. 15 years, many years prior to BC diagnosis. I never really had any SE's from the synthroid but am aware enough to know when the current dosage is no longer effective. Any symptoms that I have now I know are related to the Arimidex...hot flashes, dry mouth, red and irritated vaginal tissues, joint pain (this one is minor for me and usually in just fingers and toes) all listed as SE's of Arimidex (either on the packaging or on-line). My MO warned me about increased menopause like symptoms with the Arimidex - I started in mid-June and the symptoms have gotten worse as the time passes. So much so that I may ask to try another option at my next appt.

Your issue seems to be the opposite...however, in general my PCP monitored my thyroid levels every 3 months in the first few years of diagnosis then every 6 months and now every year unless I feel the need to be tested. This seems like a fairly standard protocol so what your Doc is suggesting doesn't seem out of the ordinary. That being said everyone is different and it could be one or a combination of both drugs, stick with it until you get it right RX dosage for you.

Mary

bevin

Hi there. I have on synthroid for years taking 1.25. If your level of TSH is 3.2 then you are normal range. Hypothryoid is over 4.0 uM/L. Normal range is generally .4-4.0 uM/L

Anything below .4 would be hyperthyroid.

For me, side effects from anti hormonal increased over time. so they got worse and worse as my estrogen depleted. This was over a 2 year period where they then finally settled down.

Good luck, keep us posted.