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

I told both my MO and PCP that prunes were the reason my DEXA now shows I'm back "up" to osteopenia from the osteoporosis the Arimidex threw me in to, and neither of them told me I was crazy...always a good sign I think.  Of course, the MO probably thinks it was the Prolia he had me on, but I believe otherwise! 

I have been eating prunes too.  I usually eat 6 a day.  I was off Arimidex about a month, I just started back up Sunday.  I needed a break.  Hoping this time around I tolerate it a little better. 

Moonflwr912 prunes make me bloated and gassy. I'm slowly trying to do it but I may not be able to.

That's what I'm trying to do. I don't think I could eat 8-9 prunes at once anyway.

I suppose I could try a bit every day to see.

I am getting ready to switch from tamoxifen to arimidex. I just had a hysterectomy taking my ovaries due to the SE of tamoxifen. I was only on the tamoxifen for about 6 months and had alot of changes in my uterus. So my gyno onco decided this was best option. So now I am worried about what the arimidex is going to cause problems with. I really didnt think the issues with tamoxifen would have been that bad but I havent got the best luck or odds with all this bc crap! Ugh!! Is it better to take in the morning or afternoon, with or without food? ((((((hugs))))))

Robin

Timbuktu, other than the crying, any other differences between Arimdex and Aromasin??? I've been off Arimidex for four weeks, at MO's suggestion, to see whether I got relief from my joint painand stiffness. My option is to switch to Aromasin. Tomorrow's the day I' m supposed to decide and switch or stay on Arimidex. I have both pills with me. My joint pain is a little better, but not the relief I had expected or wanted. I'm a little worried about new SE with Aromasin...



What has your experience been?



Thanks!!

The Arrimidex caused a lot of joint pain with me.  My hands were like claws.  I had trigger fingers.

Most of it disappeared when I went off.  The Aromisin was a relief at first.  Then my legs were in such pain I could barely walk.  I went off of it for two months and now I'm going back on the Arrimidex.  My onco tells me that some people have to get through the 5 years this way, taking vacations and switching meds over and over again.  

My Sloan onco suggested Tamoxifin.  I'm afraid of it because there are strokes in my family, it doesn't work as well as the AI's and can cause uterine cancer.  My local onco said he didn't like Tamoxifin for me.

The Ai's are really new meds.  I don't think they know what the long term effects will be.  But I want to do what I can to prevent recurrence.  Good luck!

LorAll,

Once you are post-menopausal, your ovaries are essentially no longer making estrogen, and only a little bit of estrogen is synthesized in your body by an enzyme called aromatase.  It makes sense to switch from tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor (AI), such as anastrozole.  This is because an AI, unlike tamoxifen, will block the ability of aromatase to synthesize any additional estrogen.  Tamoxifen prevents estrogen from binding to the estrogen receptors in your cells, and if you have so little estrogen in your body, it is more efficient to use an AI to knock out estrogen production rather than block estrogen binding.

By the way, the tamoxifen was not only protecting cells in your breasts from the effects of estrogen, it was protecting all cells in your body from the effects of estrogen.  An AI will continue to do this by preventing your body from making any more estrogen.

If you have osteopenia, you should do all you can to improve your bones.  Take Vitamin D, eat lots of green leafy veggies and yogurt, and do some weight bearing exercise.  Maybe your doctor can advise on exercises that you can do with you hip and back problems.

Feel better.

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM).  It is structurally similar to the estrogen molecule and binds to the estrogen receptor.  At a high enough dose (the dose given clinically) it essentially prevents estrogen from docking with the ER, thus preventing estrogen-triggered events in the cell, in particular preventing cell growth and division of ER-positive breast cancer cells that might still be in your body.  The relationship between tamoxifen and increased uterine cancer is that tamoxifen can have an estrogen-like effect on epithelial cells in the uterus; driving cell growth and division rather than blocking it.

AIs do not have an associated risk of uterine cancer.

Estrogen does strengthen bones.  Precisely one of the reasons that as we age and our estrogen decreases naturally through menopause, our bone density begins to decline and we need to be careful of fractures.  Unfortunately, we breast cancer survivors with ER-positive cancers need to accept a bit more risk of fracture as a trade off for preventing a recurrence of the cancer. 

Gonzard, I was on Tamoxifen for almost a year before the appearence of a few, new, small bone mets. My onc. then switched me to Arimidex and Faslodex. I was so afraid to switch as others in a support group I attend had many problems with Arimidex.  I found the side effects to be much lighter than those I was dealing with on Tamoxifen. Less hot flashes, less leg cramps, and "bonus" I sleep a lot better at night. I take it on an empty stomach before bed. I do walk 5 days a week and use a stationary bike on the weekend to keep everything moving. I feel that it helps keep away the joint pain some experience. Good luck with your switch.

lago---I have aneurysms in my family, my dad and his brother aortic aneurysms and their grandmother brain aneurysm. I was alittle worried about taking Tamoxifen also. So far no problem, but I think I will be starting Arimidex (generic) on June 12th if I can find out how much it will cost me. I don't have prescription coverage. Where do you ladies buy yours???

I also was afraid to take arimidex because of se and also the cost of it,.. but was pleasantly surprised at the cost.. I do have insurance and drug coverage but a 90 day supply cost me $15.47! as I have said before that made it alot easier to swallow. And so far I have had no side effects but it has only been one month. 

As I understand it, the AI drugs keep the adrenal glands from converting testosterone (yup, we girls have that, too) into estrogen. Body fat also produces some estrogen, so getting rid of excess body fat also helps in this battle. (Personally, I am making excruciatingly slow progress on the weight loss, but at least it's creeping downward instead of upward!)

I've done well with about the first 4 or 5 months on anastrozole, but I'm now dealing with a lot of fatigue, which may (or may not) be a side effect. It doesn't help that I broke a bone in my foot and have been advised not to exercise while it's healing....  I'll see my MO in 2 weeks for my quarterly check-in, so I'll discuss it with her at that point.

Doxie, my SE's are exactly like yours.  I think I prefer being able to walk!  Just re-starteded the Arrimidex.  I'll see how I feel in 3 months!