Armidex to Aromasin

tlgio17

Hi ladies, I have been on Arimidex now for about 8 months and have very bad arthritis like pain in my hands and feet so my MO decided to switch me to Aromasin. The side effects when reading about the meds sounds excatly the same so hoping to find out if anyone else made the switch and how it went for you. I have also decided to take about a 3 week break before starting it. Hoping some of these side effects go away and that I am not always going to feel 40 yrs older than I am.

Thanks for any feedback, etc.

Appreciate it!

Traci

Runrcrb

Traci,

I switched from arimidex to aromasin last summer. Also took 2-3 weeks between the two.

I still have some joint pain but less than on Arimidex. Mostly knees and shoulders. Exercise helps.

I felt very lethargic while on arimidex to the point that i had thyroid tests done and saw an endocrinologist (after i booked the appointment I realized it was probably the arimidex but follwed through anyway). I don’t have that with aromasin.

I do have hot flashes still despite Effexor. Mostly manageable.

JKL2017

Tlgio, I don't have any answers for you but I am in a similar position at the moment. I just completed a year on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) & will be taking a month off before starting Aromasin. My perceived SEs were bad enough that my MO suggested the vacation in order to determine which (if any) of my complaints are attributable to the AI. I am taking my final anastrozole on 5/31 (to hopefully be SE-free for a trip I'm taking in June). I'd love to keep in touch & compare notes during this transition; hopefully we'll both find Aromasin to be an easier drug to handle.

Good luck to you!

(Edited to correct a mispelling)

tlgio17

Hi Runrcrb,

Thanks, glad to hear that some of the joint pain subsided on the Aromisin and that the fatigue is better. I have horrible insomnia so hoping making the switch might help that as well.

Hi JKL2017! I would love to keep in touch and compare notes. I also have a June vaca! So I planned my "break" around that as well, lol. I will most likely start the new meds around June 20th. Lets keep in touch and see how we do. Good luck as well, hoping we both report good news~

Thx,

Traci

Runrcrb

Traci, I posted this in other threads but will share here. I too had insomnia and thought it was related to other stress (long story). I had to go off all meds for surgery last Dec and added them back one at a time. Slept great till I added aromasin back so I know that was the culprit. I started taking it in the morning and now sleep quite well.

JKL and Traci - Enjoy your vacations - both the travels and the no AI. I'm off to the Grand Canyon next week.

KRWS

hi! I was lucky to have been diagnosed very early so the tumor was small. Drs tested the tumor oncotype, a reLatively new genetic test. My score was very low (18/100) so no chemo or radiation. I started anastrozole in May last year.. I was fine for the first 5 months but then the aches & pain hit like a ton of bricks. Worst was the exacerbated carpal tunnel ( pain, burning swelling kept me up at night) but also shoulder & neck pain. Called my dr and she switched me to exemestane in December after a 3week break of no AI. Didn’t see muchof a drop in pain until a few months went by. The PT & OT helped getting joints to calm down

Hate to tell you but the aching has returned on the Aromasin, but to a lesser degree than before. It’s so tiring! Tendinitis that started last fall is still with me, swelling in hands at night (CT syndrome) and the new issue is with my hip muscles- really tight and aching. Plus I get tired mid afternoon, at first I thought it was me but it’s in the side effect list.

Exercise does help but difficult. I used to walk 2 miles a day & now I barely manage a 1/4 mile. So keep active! It’s my goal but it’s an uphill climb. I just have to do things slower, and it takes longer!

Dr is thinking of switching me to tamoxifen, but I’m not so sure I like that idea.

So hang in there

Moderators

KRWS-

Welcome to BCO! And thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It's so helpful to hear from others who've been there. We look forward to seeing you on the boards!

The Mods

tlgio17

Hi KRWS, thanks for shaing and I hope the SE's get better for you as well. My hands are very stiff and hurt in the am and my feet bother me as well, so its not been fun. Hoping that the switch lessens some of that but we will see.

Good luck on your end as well!

Traci

timetoride

Hi Ladies, I as well am in a two week holding pattern before starting my 3rd AI which will be Tamoxifen. I like, KRWS above, had low Onc Type score 28/100O score. Docs suggested both Chemo and Radiation due to a intramammory lymphnode found by tumor site but since my onc score was fairly low I chose to go with radiation only.
I'm 52 and postmenapausal. I skirted right thru it till I learned what a Aromatase Inhibitor was. I started on Arimidex Jan 1, 18 after stage one lumpectomy in Oct-17, and loss of 10 Aux lymphs then followed with 23 radiation treatments. My radiation ended Dec 15th. I am PR positive and have had bad SE's with the two AI's I've been on so far, which are Arimidex 3 months and and Letrozole for 2 months. The Letrozole being worse. The joint pain is off the hook with the Letrozole. And nothing helps relieve it. I feel like I'm 80. Before I found out I had breast cancer last year I had an accident on my horse and broke my tibbia plateau (tibbia-knee). This is how how I found out I had breast cancer. I usually have a pretty high tolerance for pain, got through the leg pain pretty quick, had my children natural, but this joint ache and pain and is terrible. I'm going to try the Tamoxifen in two weeks once I find what my normal is again and honestly I'm scared to death. My quality of life has depleted bad on them. My hands and fingers ache so bad, and sleeping.... whats that? I do wake up with some of my fingers stuck bent and its excruciating to unbend them. My hands are my work, Nothing helps to combat the pain that's induced by the hormone pill. l feel fuzzy almost all the time...perhaps its from the lack of sleep or fatigue. My passion is trail riding my horses and caring for them. Enjoying family, our animals and my granddaughter on our ranch. I've waited so long to get back in the saddle and find my courage and confidence again, it seems like I'm being knocked off again with the hormone side effects. Its been really hard keeping up with what I had planned on. I was so active, healthy and looked 20 years younger too. I can't bend over because my back hurts so bad. Nothing that would normally help to combat arthritis aliments work. I live on Ibuprofen sadly. I'm going to try the Tamoxifen because my Oncologist thinks I will have less side effects in the joints from it... But then there is all the other side effects. sigh.. I quess it's pick the least evasive and which one provides you the best quality of life. And try to member we are alive and moving forward. I just feel alive in a different capacity, if that makes sense?
I'm glad I found this post. I thought I was going nuts. I hope you all find a better outcome with the next AI's you try and that there is a happy medium for us all to live healthy lives surviving breast cancer. If the Tamoxifen does not seem better then what i'v been on, I would go back to the Arimidex. I can handle the hot flashes and even the lack of sleep but feeling the constant joint pain is no quality of life for me at the levels they are at. I've also looked into other homeopathic and self healing and awareness groups. They say and claim allot these days. I will keep posting as well. Thanks for sharing. Its good to see i'm clearly not alone.

Kim

Anonymous

I am having a much better experience overall with Aromasin, compared to Arimidex, which gave me joint pain, trigger finger joints, bloating/weight gain and mood swings.

I hope the switch is better for you.

I still dislike taking these drugs, but I'm committed to hanging in there as long as I can on them.

Claire

Molly50

I too have done better on Aromasin (Exemestane). Armidex (anastrozole) caused flu like pain and panic attacks after 4 months on it. Exemestane I just have an increased appetite and some minor joint pain which I take claritin and Tumeric for.

JKL2017

Only 2 more Anastrozole before I begin my AI vacation! (Can you tell I am counting down the days?) My MO says it takes most people about 2 weeks to get past the SEs, so I will be going to Colorado in mid-June, hopefully SE-free.

We will be staying in my DD & SIL's rustic cabin on several acres of beautiful property backing up to a national park (their property even has a river running through it). The cabin will be full of family that I love, the days will be sunny & mild & the nights will be crisp & cool. It is truly Heaven on earth! Traci, where are you off to?

Yesterday I saw my orthopedist & got my first ever cortisone shots in my arthritic knees; I plan to be ready to hike on this trip. Am I silly to believe that anything is possible while I'm off the AI?

Maybe the key to remaining on an AI is taking a yearly vacation from it. Anticipating my month off has done more for my mood than any drug possibly could!

Runrcrb & Claire, thanks for sharing your experiences on Aromasin. I'm not expecting to avoid all SEs but it gives me hope to hear that you're having an easier time on it than you did with Anastrozole. KRWS & Kim, I'm sorry you're both struggling. I'm crossing my fingers that you'll both find something that works better for you. This is truly the most challenging part of cancer treatment isn't it?

Runrcrb, I hope you had a wonderful time at the Grand Canyon. My BFF & her DH just returned from there. They took a group of 12 down into the Canyon & then hiked back out. My 68 yo body can't even imagine that! (Guess I'm the oldie on this thread.)

Here's hoping all my sister vacationers are feeling upbeat & optimistic & that when we begin Aromasin we find the SEs to be few! And Traci, thanks so much for starting this discussion. It's so nice to be focusing on something positive!

tlgio17

Hi ladies!

Timetoride: Sorry about all the struggles you have had w the AI's. I hope Tamoxifen is better and keep us posted!! I can totally relate to being alive in a different capacity. Well said!

Claireina and Molly50: thanks for sharing your positive feedback on the switch to Aromasin, am hoping for similar results and me posting a few months down the year that I am doing better w SE's. I have read a bit on Claritin and Tumeric, so keeping that in mind too if it helps.

JLK2017--Wooohoo on the AI vacay! And your real vaca that sounds absolutely peaceful, relaxing and perfect. Exactly they kind of vacation we all need from this journey we have been on. I am 2 weeks into my AI vacation and so far feeling better, mood and joint pain. Still have some issues w hands, but definitely rest of body isnt as bad! I am leaving on June 13th for Las Vegas w my son. He is only 15 but has been bugging me to go because he has always been a fan of magic, and they have the best shows out there, so we are going to lay by pool, see shows at night and dayside do touristy things like zipline and rides. Really looking forward to spending time w him and just enjoying it!

Keep in touch and let me know how you feel off the AI, etc.

Ill be starting Aromasin around 6/20 or so.

Traci

JKL2017

Traci, I'm so glad you're feeling better now that you're off Anastrozole! I hope that trend continues & that Aromasin is a kinder drug for all of us making the switch.

Your Vegas vacation sounds like fun! My son, too, was a huge magic fan. His first post-college job was working for a video game design company in Las Vegas & he loved the two years he lived there! (I think he took the job just to prove me wrong for telling him that he was wasting his time playing those games when he was younger. LOL) There are also some amazing non-magic shows in LV - he might enjoy The Blue Men. The best part will be having this special time with your son!

Wishing you a wonderful vacation!

Gussy

Hello all - I began anastrosole (sp?) this a.m. and started reading this thread. Oh dear. I will wait and see what happens. I did see this article http://www.ascopost.com/issues/october-15-2014/tes... and wondered if anyone has done any research on it and/or has used this treatment. My PCP advocates it but I was unsure. I may try it if the SE's get too bad.

Gussy

AKColleen

Traci...I've come to the conclusion that we are all so different in how our bodies tolerate these AI's. I began Femara could only tolerate 6 months due to GI issues and consitipation!! I took 4 weeks off and MO switched me to Aromasin because a possible side effect is diarrhea trying to find a medium spot there! I had no joint pains on Femara or Aromasin but I've had arthritic pains for years so maybe I am just use to it. It's been at least 7 weeks now on Aromasin and my GI stuff is kicking back in. I saw a GI doc who said yes, AI's are hard on the gut. So he is offering a trial of Linzess for my gut problems. I may have to think about Tamoxifen if I can't get an AI to work with my gut! I threw up weekly and could only GO with aid of enema on Femara. I can't live like this!!

Good luck.

JKL2017

Traci, how are you doing? And how was your trip to Vegas? Was it everything your son had hoped it would be?

I've been off anastrozole for a little over three weeks & am feeling great! Within two weeks my muscle pain & night sweats were entirely gone, I started sleeping better & I had more energy. I could stay up later & seemed to need less sleep. I was also having fewer hot flashes & less frequent painful dry eyes (I had both of these before starting the AI so I didn't expect them to totally disappear.) I felt so good I was even able to complete a three hour hike in Colorado that took us up to almost 12,000 feet (& to a beautiful waterfall)!

Cortisone shots helped my (arthritic) knees a lot but all other improvements are directly related to my AI vacation. Did all of your SEs disappear after you stopped taking anastrozole?

How are you feeling on Aromasin? I have filled my prescription & will begin taking it on July 1st. Fingers crossed for all of us making the switch!!!

tlgio17

Hi JKL2017!! Thanks for checking in. We had a wonderful busy vacation and my son loved every minute. I am so happy to hear you are feeling well being off the meds for a few weeks and were able to take an amazing hike, thats awesome!

I also have been on the break still and have been feeling better overall. I still have some foot pain and stiff hands, but the fatigue is less and I sleep better. I am starting Aromisan on Sat so will be right there with you!

Definitely fingers crossed. Lets check in with each other and see how we are doing soon!

Take care and here's hoping we both report positive results vs side effects.

Traci