Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

HI Lowrider , thanks for the tip and I am sorry for your dx and resulting mets.  

I am taking a low doese 37.5 mg of effexor xr ( extended release) generic brand. Do you mind sharing if you're  taking 75 mg of the extended or normal release? I wonder if that extending action can cause the heart rate issues. anyway - so bothersome today, I did call Onco office. They said to go off the arimidex for 2 weeks to see if that could be causing it.  I honestly think its the effexor since its a known side effect in their literature, but I'll follow thru w her action plan and see if anything changes. I checked the effexor website  2night- I dont see a lower dose.  Does anyone know if the generic or brand name effexor come in lower than 37.5.? I suppose I could call my pharmacy. That will likely get me the info... Thanks again for all of your advice.

I am currently on femara, having normal side effects, but nothing too terrible.  My onc asked me at my appt last week if the pharmacy had called me about switching to arimidex.  I'm assuming they are asking all willing patients to switch since it is so much cheaper now that the generic has come out.  I think it's pretty much a done deal (that's what happens when you have an HMO, I guess) but he did ask me again, right before I left if it was okay to switch.  I told him I'd have to think about it--I'm not having any more than the usual side effects (besides feeling old and crickety etc) but I'm afraid to switch--what if it's worse?  What do you all think?  Should I put up a fight and kick and scream to keep the femara?  Or should I choose my battles and let this one go, since they are basically the same? 

and Patoo, add a little marshmallow fluff, for energy!

From what I've read, Femara's patent is set to expire June of this year.  As with other drugs, circumstances could extend that date past 2011.

Trish

i just went through this two months after starting arimidex. Period with all features of a normal period including cramps and water retention. Im 54 and my hormones have tested postmenopausal.Doc says it happens, sent me to gyno who wanted to poke around for endometrial cancer, but i swear what i had was a good old fashioned five-day period, and went out and got tampax and pads I thought I'd never need again.

Hi kumanakaya

I had lumpectomy and rads before starting Arimidex, no chemo.  About one month after I started the A (Jan 2010) I became extremely fatigued, and I did think it was from the A.  It is a listed side effect.  My onc thought it was the accumulation of everything I had been through.  As much as I did blame the A, there are too many variables to say for sure.

Sorry, no magic bullet for you other than to say be good to yourself.  If you need to take a nap or go to bed at 8:00 then do.  Take help if you can.  Eventually it will pass.  I've been on the A now for a year, and on occasion, I still become exhausted for no apparent reason.  Cancer is stressful.  My best to you.

I have to be honest and say that having been a runner for over 30 years, exercising doesn't seem to make any difference in my fatigue level.  If I feel tired and go for a run, I will most likely feel more tired when I am done.  I don't care however, as there is no way that I will ever give this up unless I have no choice. 

Wenweb:  I too had surgery and rad only, no chemo...Have you had your vit D level checked? I tested with a 31 - which the gp told me is too low...  I was feeling pretty sluggish and gp upped my D from 600 to 1600 and I've noticed that I have more energy and not feeling quite as tired...

Also, went to see the onc this week and when she asked what was new, I told her that I am gluten free as of Aug 17, 2010 and there's no more pain in my knees, hips and hands.  She couldn't have been more surprised, had never heard of this being an answer to A's side effects of joint pain.  She was very happy to hear of my results and said she was "going to look into it"...I gave all the credit to this particular blog started by the lovely Lowrider 54!!  God, I love these discussion pages...I'd be miserable today without knowing about gluten free...Not an easy thing as I feel I am a gluten free girl in a gluten diet world...Soooooo worth it thou...

wenweb--ask for a copy of your Vit D test results.  The "normal" range is very large, and the recommended range for people with a cancer diagnosis is quite a bit higher that the lab "normal" range.  We should have Vit D levels of at least 60, 80 is better, but "normal" starts as low as 35 in some labs. 

I would also like to know the name of the vit D test. I can't seem to get anywhere with my Onc. He doesn't think my levels are important. Just wants me to take an over the counter muti vitamin and feels that's just fine.

You should be able to get the results just by asking for the Vitamin D test results.  If you ask for lab or test reports the doc MUST give them to you. It's a good idea to get copies of EVERYTHING.  I keep mine in a 3 ring binder. 

Yes, someone please let us know.

Thanks Pam. I will have to look at my blood work the next time I see him. I also need to see my family Dr. to get all my other meds, so may have him run that test.

Kira and Karen, do ask your family doctor. My onc wasn't convinced either, but my GP said he would order it next time for me (coming up in Feb). It will be interesting to see where my levels are. I've been taking 1000 mg a day for several months now.

Oh, sorry, Kira. I have mixed feelings about my GP as well, for instance, he didn't touch me at all at my first post-cancer visit. No exam, nothing. Just asked me how I was doing. He DID look at my labs and when I asked for his opinion on D3 he said he thought there might be something to it and would order it next time. He is a young guy (30's) so maybe he is a little more malleable. I just need him to be a little more thorough. I have decided to talk to him about it this next visit. Maybe I just need to give him permission so he knows it's ok to check me out.