Generic Anastrazole versus Arimidex?

I started with generic Arimidex (after being on Tamoxifen for 3 years) and I have normal menopausal se's.  Hot flashes, insomnia and such.  So for me it has been managable.  The chemical make up has to be the same between the generic and the name brand, it's the fillers that are/can be different.

srbreastcancersurvivor - Aromasin and Arimidex are both AI's but have different chemical makeups.  Anastrazole is the active chemical in Arimidex. Exemestane is the chemical name for Aromasin.

Hope this helps!

Started using the generic as soon as it was available last June.  No problem, no difference from Arimidex - except for price.  Costco pharmacy ( you don' t have to be a member to use it) has the lowest price.  TEVA is the generic brand I use - they make most of the generic medicines in the world!  As it is FDA approved - the generic has to have the same active ingredients as the brand name - some of the inactive ( filler) ingredients may be different - but I haven't noticed anything changing. 

srbeastcancersurvivor: Hi, noticed your question.

Anastrozole is the generic form of Arimidex, it's not the same as aromasin, although still one of the 3 ALs used in treating ER+ b/c.

Aromasin will be available in June of this year as a generic. Also read that Femara would be available in a generic form this year. This will be great news for the many women with ER+ breast cancer if they are paying the high prices for these drugs

Ok, I don't want to hijack the thread, but: should I worry about where my generic is made? I've seen various rumblings on the board about this. My husband (a nurse practitioner) thinks my onc will order a straitjacket if I start obsessing on this.

Or should I demand the brand name only? I know that will be more expensive. Am I nuts? (feel free to tell me so..)

Thoughts?

janyce

elmcity69 I was just talking to my mom about this the other day. You can ask where the generic comes from. I think Anastrozole is made in India and Israel but not sure where else. I am going to ask next time but…

Even if the drug is made here some of the ingredients are made in countries you might need to worry about.  Not to scare you but (thought I posted this earlier):

The difficult fight against counterfeit drugs  
Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates fake medications on his first assignment for "60 Minutes"

My Arimidex is $21 for the 1st 3 month supply then $100 for every 3 month supply refill after that on my current insurance. I will be on a new insurance when I need a refill so maybe it will be less.

Hi greenfrog,

As you no doubt deduced from these replies, reactions to these drugs are higly individual and are as varied as we are.

I did fine on Arimidex, a few hot flashes, muddled memory at times, and occasional creaky joints.

Switched by my insurance to Anastrozole, and voila, almost immediately I experienced increased joint soreness and plantar's fasciatis.  After 6 months of this I asked my oncologist to check a box that says: No substitutions.

Very quickly, the  new, stronger SE's went away and now I'm back to an occasional hot flash, which bothers me less.  Worth the extra cost to me.

Many women do great with the generic and I hope you do too!  There was a previous thread which dealt with the different mfg's of generics.  TEVA has a good rep.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 208 DCIS, HER2 + ER-.  I was prescribed Arimidex. To avoid getting into the donut hole with Med D I decided to get a generic form Canada, which came from a pharmaceutical house in India.  Now 3 years later I have invasive cancer HER2- , ER+.The tumor was 2 cm.luckily no lymph nodes involved.  But I wonder if I was taking a fake drug.  This time I will cut back somewhere else and spend the money for the medicine from the USA.  Be careful out there.  It is really hard to make some of these decisions, especially when money and your health is involved..  Good Luck

I've also only been on the generic, so I wouldn't know the difference.  I was switched from Tamoxifen after my ovaries were removed.  The hot flashes are MUCH worse, but that could be from the med of the lack of estrogen.  Who knows.  I do have less joint pain-not really in my hips any longer.  Just occasionally in my knees and ankles.  I hate feeling older than 40 because of a med...ugh

I started on generic arimidex several months ago after being on regular arimidex for 3 years.  No difference.

Coming late to this thread too... Was on Arimidex since Jan 2010 - brand name - until the generic came out last summer and my insurance co changed me over to the generic.  Absolutely no difference, as to say, still the same se's - joint pain, hot flashes, weight gain...Have switched to gluten free diet to stop the joint pain - that has helped a bit with the weight gain - hard to gain weight when you don't eat any bread, rolls, donuts, cake, cookies - so, it's not a bad thing...

Good health to all of you - hopefully the AI will stop recurrance and isn't that what it's all about? 

I started on Arimidex in May 2008 and switched to Anastrazole in late 2010 when I found out about the generic form. I wanted to pay $10 per month rather than the $300+ that I'd been paying for over two and a half years. I still have all the same side effects that I had with Arimidex and no new ones. It's mainly stiff joints, weight gain and sleeplessness. So far, it's kept my IBC from recurring, so I'll continue to take it. 

joycek do you have a link to the study? It appears there are earlier studies that show the opposite. I'm not saying this study isn't correct but we know you can't base anything on one study.

Breast Cancer Drug Not Tied to Cognitive Decline: Study
Researchers say finding is 'good news' for postmenopausal women taking anastrozole

Posted: September 2, 2008

Hi alll; I too, would be very interested in this.  I have not noticed any memory issues (seem to be sharper, if anything) and have begun new and stressful job, so I need my brain to work!  I've been on arimidex (Ive been getting brand in canada) and am also interested in anastrozole, for cost.  Just frightened of some of the SEs recurring in a worsened state, as I have read on these boards has happened to a few ladies.  (anyone?)

I have been on arimidex 2 1/2 years now, with no issues.  Most of the SEs wax and wane but the stiffness was enormously helped when I tested my D levels and came up short.  Supplementing with 2,000 IUs made a huge difference to me, as did fish oil supplements.  We have altzheimers' in the family, so very concerned re: memory issues.

 I was in a grey area too, 17 onco score, previous rads, so only chemo and surgery.  I do need the anastrozole!

Hi-- I am a four years survivor and have been on Arimidex for over 3 yrs. I was switched to generic about 9 months ago and did not have any problems.  The cost difference is unreal even with the co-pay it went from $50 to $5.  Mr doctor is very very picky about things, and I don't think he would have switched me without knowing it was bio-equavilent.  I had a great deal of joint pain when I started 3 yrs ago.  Worked with my doctors and they got me to the point that most days I am pretty good.  Hopes this helps, Kathie