Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

I just switched to Arimidex from Femara.  Many hot flashes and knee pain with it.  Also had tried Aromasin and my hair really began to thin out.  Yuk.  Hoping Arimidex works the best.  Have been on it 3 weeks so far.  Tried the other for 4 months or more each.

For me the bananas were not working. I will try the tonic water, it can't hurt.

DMD,

Hmm...my rash sounds different than yours.  I have it on my upper back and down the middle of my back.  Then a little bit on my lower tummy.  It's a little itchy, but not terribly bad.  Its light red blotches. 

I really don't want to switch off Anastrozole.  I wonder if the brand name would be different than the generic for me?

I have started taking the generic Anastrozole knowing that it could make my bones thinner but they monitor it with bone scans.  It has a slightly better result than Tamozifin, plus I am postmenapausal so I opted for this one.  I have been on it 3 weeks and have had much pain in my back.  Has anyone else has this SE?  I can't imagine going 5 years feeling like this.  Does it get better with time?  Thanks.

The one aggravating SE I have noted is being so stiff in my joints.  If I sit for too long I feel like an 80 year old lady trying to get up and walk with my back straight.  It is aggravating!

Ritaz - I was prescribed Gabapentin when I got the shingles (during chemo) and then again by the pain clinic about 2 months ago - I am supposed to take 3 per day but I am horrible about taking medication except at nightime so I have a ton of it left.  Based on what you said, I am going to try my best to take it regularly and see if it helps with the hot flashes.  Thanks so much for the info!

Just checking to see if everyone is OK.... any of you affected by the storms? Hoping all is well with all of you. Thinking of you and remembering you in my prayers.

Teri

Re: leg cramps, a product at Health Food stores called Hyland's Leg Cramps with Quinine works well, dissolves quickly under your tongue. However, it contains lactose.

Just want to suggest again that Vitamin D levels be checked with your blood work.  I've had tremendous victory over joint pain.  I'm doing around 5000 iu's/day, 4000 with a Vit D3 pill and the rest in my multi and Calcium supplements.  I still get occasional mild hip pain but I had that pre-BC. 

Also want to mention that it might be a good idea to check the manufacturer of your generic Anastrazole as it could be the filler one mfr uses can cause a reaction.  Perhaps you could try a different manufacturer before giving up on this particular AI.  Just a thought.

Maybe get and use a prescription sleep aid to help you get back on track. If you are hot you can't sleep, and when you can't sleep, you can't think straight, manage your emotions very well....everything gets off kilter. I took Ambein for a long time after my diagnosis....I had to sleep in order to stay (somewhat) sane!

Do.....and let me know how it goes.

I am new to this board.  I found it when I was looking for info on Arimidex side effects. I had posted on another thread and then saw that this one contained more information, so I'm re-posting here.  I had a mastectomy on February 28, 2011.  Fortunately, I did not need chemo or radiation and was given Arimidex.  I have been taking it since March 29th, just a month.  About two weeks ago, I started to experience aches and pains and thought it might still be from the surgery but it moved to other parts of my body.  I have AFib and recently my heart has been racing.  I am also hyperthyroid and have Barrett's esophagus.  I also have been so fatigued, I can't stand myself, and now, for whatever reason, Warfarin is not doing its job.  In addition to all that, I have been having really strange, disturbing dreams.  Reading this board, as well as other sites for Arimidex, could it be possible that all these symptoms/occurrences are caused by Arimidex?  I am very tempted to stop taking it without discussing it with my oncologist - but would discuss it with PCP.

 Please tell me I'm not crazy or influenced by what I have read.  Believe me, it's really real.

Hello Emell, my situation may be similar to yours -- I had a bilateral mastectomy, didn't need chemo or radiation, started Arimidex (though I'm taking the generic) 12 weeks ago. I, too, have had "strange, disturbing dreams" and I would add, "exhausting," as if I'm living another life at night that takes equal energy to my daytime. I doubt if it's the drug, but don't know. I've attributed it to the crucial awareness of mortality, which I -- like most people -- had been able to deny while going about my life. I think accepting the dreaded CANCER, whatever our prognosis, requires a great deal of psychological integration, so I'm not surprised my dreams are working overtime. Nonetheless, they don't promote happy sleep. Sometimes I wake up earlier than I need to and wish I could doze for a while, but don't because I don't want to have to deal with whatever I've been dreaming!

marybast - I'm not happy that you are experiencing the "strange, disturbing dreams", but I'm glad to hear that it's not just me!  I read where others have insomnia but nothing like this.  Thank you for posting and letting me know I'm not imagining it and it is happening due to the med.  The dreams wake me and I am disoriented when I do wake but it dissipates quickly.  Since I've never experienced anything like that before, I blame the Amiridex (generic also).

enjoyful - is the fatigue somewhat like carrying around a 100 lb. weight?  I seem not to be able to function due to the feeling and must force myself to do the simplest task.  I do belong to a gym but hadn't really been serious about it prior to my diagnosis.  I think I'll go for the initial training and see what can be worked out for me.  These pains seem to be getting worse the more of the Amiridex that I take.  If exercise will help, all to the good as I should exercise anyway, other than the exercises I did and do after the surgery.

Thank you both for responding.  It's helped me greatly - especially the strange dreams part.

And thank you to everyone who shared on this thread.  I think I was frightened at what was happening to me.  Now I know it's more or less "normal".

NativeMainer I agree that if you think you have shingles contact your doctor ASAP but don't expect miracles. I came down with shingles last Saturday. Got the prescription (antiviral called Valtrex) & started taking it that night. My shingles continued to progress till yesterday! My GP thought I'd be OK when I saw him on Monday saying that I caught it early… but it tripled in size since I saw him.

I think it has started to dry up today but it burns like a really bad sunburn. Forget the patch. I would need jumpsuit of that patch that covers the left side of my body from lower back/lower tummy, upper thigh, up to my part of my left foob. Granted I don't have the blisters in all those area but it does burn in all those areas.

Shingles are not an SE of Arimidex. We get them because chemo messed with our immune system.