Aromasin--It's slowly killing me, I think

Dibel....I was on AI's for 3 1/2 year and Aromasin for 2 1/2 years....saw my onc 2 weeks ago tomorrow and he gave me a reprieve from Aromasin for 2 months (yeah)....I was just plain old tired of all the side effects.....after 2 weeks, I'm not sure that I will go back on them when I see him again in mid May....I feel like I will just take my chances!!!  My side effects were joint pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, GERD, swollen knuckes, tendonitis in wrists (had surgery on both wrists), memory, cognitive issues...thats all that I can think of right now...but I know there are more....since stopping two weeks ago, I feel like I have more mental clarity and feel so much more positive....joint pain is also better and I think so is insomnia.  I am 4 years since Dx (stage 3) and figure QOL has got to be worht something....I rather feel good for whatever time I have left, that life feeling like sh**....I'm 53 (will be 54 in May) and too young to feel like cr**....I've tried all 3 AI's as well as tamox....good luck to you.

Can you take tamoxifen?

Dear dibel!!!!! I will be on aromasin for 5 years in June. I am sure my onc wants me to stay on it in definitely since I had bi-lateral breast cancer and I had a single postivie node. I have had every side effect including the horrid weight gain, but I am slowly losing the weight now, new diet. Your onc is right, aromasin seems to be the best inhibitor out there right now.  I know it has kept me cancer free so far. However, I hated the side effects too and wanted to go off of it, but I am scared to do so. For the last 2 months I started taking the aromasin at night, I was under the impression that taking it in the morning was better, but I finally asked if it mattered what time of day you took it and the director of my study said taking it at night is just fine. DUH!!!! I waited way too long to ask this simple question, because since I have been taking it at night, I feel so much better!!!!  Ask your onc this question and see if it helps you, too. The weight gain will always be an issue, but I am so happy to be NED, that I will stay on it indefinitely if my onc recommends it. I sure hope this helps you, God bless you and keep the faith. Kathy

   I do not think the aromasin is killing you, it just feels that way and I am sorry you are having so many aches and pains with it.  I was extremely lucky in that I did not have horrid SEs with it and also in my case it actually was being used as treatment rather than preventative....I was already Stage lV when it was prescribed for me, after doing tamox and arimidex.  It not only kept my cancer in remission, but it took my tumor markers down from the 500's all the way to 18.  For me it was a wonder drug, but we are all different in our response and side effects.  Alas, as everything it quit working after awhile.  Has your onco suggested anything to lessen the SEs?  I will say my prayers for you.  

Just switched from Arimidex to Aromasin 2 weeks ago.  I havve had bone and joint pain for years so that is not a lot different but all I wanted to do today was sleep and eat!  I am going to try taking it at night instead of morning and see if it helps.

   Are you all premenopausal?  Tamoxifen is a premenopausal choice, isn't it? Arimidex, aromasin, and the other AIs post menopause....at least that is what I always thought.  I guess I was very lucky that I did so well on aromasin and did not really have any bad SEs with it, plus it took my CA27/29 all the way down to normal range which it never been after they discovered my cancer had returned. 

Marybe....tamox is for both pre and post menopausal women....AI's are only for post menopause....I've tried them all and had side effects with everyone....no joint pain with tamox, but awful GI problems....joint pain on all the AI's....CTS on Arimidex....tendonitis on Aromasin....joint pain worse of Arimidex...mental fogginess worse on Aromasin....QOL is an important issue for me.....for now I am enjoying the reprieve from AI's....need to get back to feeling good, both mentally and physically, then I will decide what route I want to take....go back on AI's or not....

Joeih, i also wonder what these drugs do to our bodies. i was on tamox for 2 years and they switched me to Aromasin 4 months ago. It took me 10 months to get used to tamoxifen and then the aches and pain settled down. Aromasin seems to be a whole different animal for me. While I can appreciate the others saying that they focus on the drugs keeping the cancer at bay...I feel my QOL is so diminished on Aromasin. My feet hurt so bad when I get up in the morning and my hands are getting more useless daily. My hips and back hurt so much at night that I can never get a good sleep amymore. I am not a complainer but these side efffects are really getting me down. I would take tamox over Aromasin anyday. The other thing that bothers me is when do we know if the aches and pains are from the drugs or the cancer returning. I am really at a crossroads and don't know whether to go back on tamox, get my aches and pains looked at with a scan or just suck it up for anither 3 friggin years. What to do...what to do?

Hi all. I started Aromasin about 2 months ago. I was diagnosed with BC almost a year ago. Very early, not aggressive, but big lump. Had a mastectomy on the affected breast and immediate reconstruction. Chemo before and after the surgery, then had a total hysterectomy. Whew!



Doing great but suddenly have symptoms of Carpal Tunnel: thumb, index and middle fingers falling asleep at night. Fingers feel swollen and achey.



Apparently that's a potential SE of Aromasin. It's happening so fast! I'm a pastry chef and can't afford to lose the strength in my hands. My hands are my livelihood! I try wearing the wrist cuffs at night, but they're damned uncomfortable. I end up tearing them off around 3AM. LOL!



I question the QOL issue as well: What is my risk potential relative to my quality of life?

Hi girls,

I just wanted to add something to this topic. I am of the mind that due to the potency of these tablets that they are most definitely not one size fits all and are not necessarily appropriate, for some, to be taken every day! My Surgeon was quite irked when I mentioned this before. Like all medications and supplements they have a cumulative affect on the body, I believe when the side effects become quite severe, your body is basically telling you...it's just too much!!!

Perhaps a poor comparison, but Body builders who take these tablets too, pull back when they are off their steroid cycle and restart as necessary to keep estrogen low in the body.

We are given very much standardized treatment for Breast Cancer when really it should be such an individualized holistic treatment, I fear this is where we fall down and feel compelled to do "as we are told"!

I also take Aromasin every other day at present and when my side effects worsen I will cut back again.

I hope this helps someone somewhat!

So pleased we have the Site to support and share our different experiences!

Big hugs to all! 😍

I came here tonight because my bone pains are keeping me awake. I have been on exemestane (another aromatase inhibitor) for almost 5 years now. I have experienced all those side effects. They aren’t all the time. They are sporadic. I wonder why because I take the same pill, same dose, every night at same time. Exercise helps. I run everyday. But lately had to bump up my mileage, as the pains were coming back. It was working. But tonight I am very sore... whole body aches. Joint pain. I am on gabapentin too. It’s not helping tonigh.

As for cumulative effects. That maybe true. But are there studies to support EOD treatment? Are there long term studies showing that taking a break gives you the same level of estrogen suppression? Are the risks of cancer returning higher with EOD or breaks? I take this pill to keep my cancer away. Before I mess with the dosage frequency, I would want to know the risks... from studies done. Are there any?

I've had an allergic reaction to all of the aromatase inhibitors. Each one (generic versions) give me hives and swelling of my lip after 3-4 weeks. I am now on the brand name Arimidex; been on it for 6 weeks with no hives, BUT now have horrible wrist pain (only 1 wrist). I've never had joint pain before - it's awful. I'm wearing a brace but it's not really helping. I'm going to stop taking it for a few weeks to see if the wrist pain goes away (want to make sure it's not something else). Anyone know how long it may take for symptoms to go away? I can't do this for 5 years. I can't even open a pill bottle or hook my bra w/ this pain. Ugh. Thanks for listening.