How long did it take for AI side effects to improve?

farmerlucy

Three months into Arimidex after seven months of Femara. I'm trying to manage the SE as best I can. How long did it take for SE to improve for you? My onc says the joint issues should improve, besides that there is the fatigue and the hot flashes. Thanks in advance for some light at the end of the tunnel.

Meganmm

Hi farmerlucy,

I've been on Letrozole for about 18 months. My hot flashes and fatigue are much better, but no relief from the joint pain. I've been taking Co Q10 and Magnesium to help, but not really noticing much difference. Sorry I can't give you any good news....

Jenwith4kids

Hi Farmerlucy,

I switched from arimidex to femara - the arimidex made my feet itchy. They both made my joints hurt and I had hotflashes. Like Meganmm I take magnesium (200 in the am and 200 in the pm). When I slack on that I see an increase in hot flashes. I also believe it helps with the joint pain. This past MO visit she asked me how my joint pain was and I was like, "huh.. I forgot about joint pain" LOL - I guess it has finally gone away ... time or magnesium, we'll never know because I won't give up my mag!! I see her every three months - and I think I switched to femara last May - so maybe 9-10 months or so for the joint pain to let up? I also started a consistent execise routine in January. I am a firm believer in the notion that exercise cures a world of ills (within reason of course! )

Jen

farmerlucy

Thanks Jen! This past weekend I felt so bad and realized I was slipping into a depression and didn't want to get out of bed because of the joint issues so I switch myself back to Tamoxifen. That will have to be good enough. So glad you have adjusted. Hope it is smooth sailing for you fromhere on out. Have a great day!

Jenwith4kids

I keep looking for a "like" button! LOL! Feel better FL.

ps: I also take an anti-depressant - one that is often also prescribed for pain. Maybe that's helping me too? I will never know, because again, I will never give up my amytriptaline!

barbe1958

I added Claritin to my daily meds and it has helped tremendously on my joint pain! I didn't believe it would work, but tried it anyway and within a few days I was thinking "Huh, I'm not too bad!" I have horrid arthritis, degenerative disks, spinal stenosis AND Fibromyalgia and Claritin is actually helping. The last thing I needed was more pain. I'd had a hysterectomy so hot flashes I'm used to and have a fan in my office at work and open windows in the bedroom.

Be careful about switching back and forth to Tamoxifen as one is for pre-menopausal and the other for menopausal women....

wallycat

It took me at least one year AFTER i STOPPED/completed my hormone therapy to relieve some of the symptoms. My SE never got better (some new ones crept up the longer I was on them) while I was on the meds. I did my "time" with it despite the agony.

farmerlucy

Well done wallycat, that could not have been easy. All said and done I'll have four + years on T and not quite a year on an AI.

Meganmm

I've never heard of using Claritin for joint pain....how does it work? I'd be willing to give that a shot.

barbe1958

Megan, it works!!!! Seriously. I believe it's an anti-iflammatory. It's a lousy allergy medication, I know that. For some reason it does work. I recently bought Loratadine which is the active ingredient in Claritin so it's a lot cheaper, but with the same properties and it seems to be doing well. I ran out for a couple of days and saw a HUGE difference in my pain level. Just huge! I have Fibromyalgia as well as spinal stenosis and horrid arthritis so I have a lot of bone pain already and the pain load that Arimidex was adding was knocking me to my knees. I didn't believe in Claritin so it can't be psychological.....not a placebo effect for me as I didn't expect to get relief. Go figure.

Warrior_Woman

I did 6 mos. of Aromasin and switched for the past 2 months to Fermara. I'm still losing my stinkin' hair and that was the reason for the switch. However, when I started on Aromasin I was extremely stiff. I felt creaky when walking and I'm a runner. I was really questioning what it would do to me. I also have insomnia and hot flashes. I'm still dealing with SEs but the aches and pains in my joints stopped after about 2 months? It's hard to recall (because my memory is also shot). But that's my guess. It does seem that joint pain is the big problem for most. I don't have any issues with joint pain any longer. Be well Lucy.

farmerlucy

Thanks WW! I called my onc today and literally begged to stay on Tamoxifen (switched a few weeks ago from Arimidex) until my appt in August. She agreed. I know she'll want me to try Aromasin (sp?), and I will, but at least I have the summer! I never, ever, thought I'd be excited to be back on Tamoxifen. Big hugs all around!!