For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing

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  • mommacain
    mommacain Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2012

    Itching has finally stopped. I have stopped so many meds made so many changes I have confused myself. But so delighted the itching stopped.

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited November 2012

    mommacain:  Glad to hear you finally have some relief!

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited November 2012

    Mommac, happy you got some relief.

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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited November 2012

    Been on my Arimedex break predicted for 11 days. No real changes in achiness, stiffness. My back and legs in particular. Shoulders and hand could be more from PT for pre-frozen shoulder. I see MO on Thursday. Think he will put me back or or switch to femara or?? Wish I had miraculously felt much better once off the AI!!!

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  • hwhranch
    hwhranch Member Posts: 149
    edited November 2012

    Lisa my doctor switched me to Tamoxifin and the pain has subsided quite a lot.

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  • MENA1954
    MENA1954 Member Posts: 194
    edited November 2012

    Ladies, can someone please explain to me how CLARITIN ( allergy med) works for pains and aches?

    Thanks,

    Mena

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  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited November 2012

    mena- i don't know HOW it works i just know that when i had neulasta shots after my AC chemo i took claritin that day and every day for a week-no pain--( 1 time i only took for a few days and had horrid horrid pain so went to a full week)

    that's MY story..sorry that i cannot offer better help!

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited November 2012

    MENA - Funny story about Claritin.  I go to Univ of Michigan for treatment and they often have visiting Oncologists there from other countries that see you first before your regular Oncologists.  I had a delightful Japanese Oncologist during chemo that was very thorough and extremely nice.  I was about 2 weeks into chemo when he told me "crarilin" would help my Neulasta and bone pain.  I had absolutely NO IDEA what he was talking about.  Finally, I remembered reading about Claritin on BCO and got what he was saying.  I still laugh about it.

    Anyway, he said they have no idea why it works, but it works.  He said some doctors have theories, but it won't hurt you so he recommended taking it.  I did and pain went away!

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  • MENA1954
    MENA1954 Member Posts: 194
    edited November 2012

    Denise-G  As I was reading the word " Clarilin "  I laughed!  I understood the joke you were making...

                     Anyway it's an interesting thing to know. Just clarify for me what kind of pains does it exactly help with?

                     I have pains in my knees and under my feet, but I think those must be from the Cholesterol Med I am

                     on.

                     Although at this point, I am not too sure anymore  where all my pains come from.  I can't sleep so that

                     makes me achey all over.  I really feel like an old lady...LOL!

                     So, my next question is "  Would CLARITIN help with those pains also?" I mean how would Claritin

                     know  what is causing the pains? Right?

                     Mena

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  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited November 2012

    i found that the claritin worked on BONE pain....

    it has been said that if, for example, you have a previous injury or a weakened spot, pain will settle there and i believed it!

    just use regular claritin- i even used walmart brand --not the decongestant one tho!

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  • Skittle
    Skittle Member Posts: 400
    edited November 2012

    Haven't been on this thread in a while... Curious... has anyone on arimidex/anastozole had any ganglion cysts?  Popping (out of socket it feels) thumb joint?  My right hand has suddenly gone a bit wonky and am wondering how common?  (have appt next week, so will see what mo says.)  sigh

    Thanks, all.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    I have 2 trigger fingers in my left hand first thing in the morning but goes away after moving it around for a few minutes

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  • C-squared
    C-squared Member Posts: 514
    edited November 2012

    Skittle~ The tendon in my thumb pops every time I move the thumb.., very uncomfortable!  I have awaken in the morning to the end joint of my thumb in a bent poition and can't straighten it without using my left hand to help.  I'm right-handed and needless to say, I can barely hold a pen to write.  I've given up.., I stopped the Anastrozole last week and have an appt with the onc next week. 

    Lago~ are you left or right handed?  Any trouble with trigger fingers prior to the "ESD"?   btw, no cake for me???

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Yeah that sounds like trigger finger. It kind of snaps into place. Mine doesn't hurt that much. No problems ever like this prior to ESD (estrogen sucking drug). I know some folks have had it so bad that they needed a cortisone shot. That usually fixes it.

    If your talking about hands… I'm a righty. Otherwise much more left of center Tongue Out

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited November 2012

    OMG......I knew that some women experienced hair loss as a side effect - in fact, I met a woman who said she lost more hair on Arimidex than she did on chemo!



    So when I started the Anastrozole on September 5th, I also started taking Biotin, 500 mg a day.



    But now I seem to be shedding alarming amounts - I have a lot of hair, but it's all over the shower , the towel, the sink - YIKES!



    I'm even losing NOSE HAIR!



    Anyone else having this SE?

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Blessings I have seen 3 women I know have this issue pretty seriously. I think the only reason why I haven't is I've been taking biotin for years, even through chemo and restarted minoxidil once chemo ended. I was on it before because my hair line started to receded several years before. After chemo a lot of that hair grew back so I actually am doing better than pre chemo.

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  • Skittle
    Skittle Member Posts: 400
    edited November 2012

    Lago, C-squared--thank you for quick responses.  Sounds like everyone's so different with se's.  (Me, too, left of center.  Cool )  but , sigh, right handed and that's the one that hurts.  boo hiss.

    Blessings--sorry to hear of your hair struggles.  I've kept mine so far, lucky...  Didn't know about the biotin.

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited November 2012

    My hair is growing in very thick.  It was thick, but fine before all this stuff started.  I am taking 5000 mcg biotin daily as well.  I haven't much S/E's (thank God) thus far other than joint pain, especially in my right hand in the midlde of the night and I am left-handed.

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  • Msbelle
    Msbelle Member Posts: 235
    edited November 2012

    I've been taking Anastrozole for 3 months now. I started spotting yesterday and my hot flashes stopped several weeks ago. Anyone else have this happen? I'm thinking I am no longer post menopausal. I see onc next week.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Msbelle call your gyno. This could be something else other than you coming out of chemopause. My hot flashes were mild on chemo and went away while on Anastrozole. I do get them from time to time but not like I did on chemo. I too went into chemopause but it stuck. No spotting.

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited November 2012

    Despite regular use of Minoxidil and Biotin, my hair thinned considerably after 2 1/2 years on Arimidex. I now have to wear a hairpiece to cover the balding spots. Also vaginal atrophy has been terrible. The achiness is mild in comparison to these other side effects although I've been having back/hip problems over the past few months as well.

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  • dassi52
    dassi52 Member Posts: 206
    edited November 2012

    I just saw my regular MD today for something totally different. When I mentioned all the SEs that I had found out about in the forum, she  told me that one of her patients suffers terribly from itching due to Arimidex, but her onc (who's also my onc) says she must continue taking it. Has anyone heard about itching as a SE and what people did about it? If anyone has a good idea, I'd pass it on through my MD who is a very caring as well as excellent doctor.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    dassie there are SE that are not as common on these drugs. One is water retention… which I got yet I don't see it listed anywhere online. My onc said to talk to my PCP about it. He told me that one of the less common SE on anastrozole is fluid retention. I'm on a small amount of diuretic.

    If the itching cold be to dry skin. Having less estrogen in your body will dry everything out. Get a good moisturizer. I also wash with Dove body wash and add 1 part hair conditioner to 2 parts Dove body wash for bathing.

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  • mommacain
    mommacain Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2012

    Yes, my itching started about 2-3 weeks after starting Anastrozole. Super horrible for 2 weeks. Stopped taking Anastrozole. No measurable relief. I have been looking up and testing my other meds for answers. Local Dr prescribed prednizone with no relief. Itching down to a 3 or so but still not gone saw Dr this morning he is referring me to dermatologist. I need to get this solved. Sorry I don't have answers to the cause or what will help. Can't even verify the Anastrozole is the culprit.



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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited November 2012

    Msbell - my onc said very important to contact them if you think you are out of chemopause.  He tests me every 2 weeks with blood tests sent to Mayo Clinic to make sure I am still in menopause.  I think you should call him right away.

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  • nwest125
    nwest125 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2012

    I think my arimidex is now messing with my brain lol. this week  I have forgotten to buckle up  , took the wrong exit on my way home from work, and forgot to leave my lunchbox in the frig. in the breakroom at work, what is wrong with me ??????  :)

    Nancy

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  • sherryh16
    sherryh16 Member Posts: 120
    edited November 2012

    Has anyone experienced heartburn?  Last couple of days I've had mild heartburn symptoms.  Been on anastrozole since 10/1/12.  Other than a few minor aches and pains, no real side effects so far--except heartburn?  Any suggestions to relieve the pain?

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Sherryh you can always try Prilosuc (Prilosec) but I recommend you discuss this with your onc. One of the issues with taking drugs like Prilosuc is long term use is not good for your bones.

    Also don't eat to close to bedtime and don't lie down after you eat.

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  • Gayle56
    Gayle56 Member Posts: 277
    edited November 2012

    I started getting heartburn with the chemo.  I use Xantac and it seems to have taken care of the problem.  Of course, you should double check with your doctor.  The trick with the Zantac is to take it about a half hour before you eat so that the hearburn doesn't even occur.

    Gayle

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  • MENA1954
    MENA1954 Member Posts: 194
    edited November 2012

    After beign on Nexium for more years that I care to remember and getting Osteoperosis, I now take Zantac and although I need to pop a few tums throughout the day , my Heartburn is more or less under control.

    All PPI's such as Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex etc.  block the production of acid completely, thus not allowing the body to absorb Calcium.  Zantac or prevacid are a happy medium... for people like me that live with heartburn all day.

    There is NO free ride anywhere.  Taking something usually interferes with something else we are taking, its like a catch 22!

    Mena

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