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

I mentioned arimidex increasing UTI's to my gyne and she seemed surprised by the news.  I didn't know what to say!

Then I went to the uri-gyne and asked her about it.  she said that if there was any effect it was slight.

I'm post-menopausal so theoretically I have little estrogen to begin with, maybe that's the difference?

Don't go looking for SEs. If you are fine now, there is no reason to think that you won't stay fine.

it's encouraging to hear some of the good posts about this drug. I 'll be starting it the day after Christmas. 

I don't have any significant problems, but I'm on arimidex brand. I don't know if that makes a difference, but it seems that those of us on brand have less SEs.

Paula

If a UTI is the only problem I have, I know it is worth it.  After one year I have few issues.  I have an autoimmune problem and have been taking Methotrexate for the skin condition.  It is hard to tell what is causing what.  I just want to stay on top of issues.

I feel so blessed that I had my cancer found early and my one year was good.  I try not to look at all the side effects.  As I stated in my prior post my mom has continuous problems due to bacteria in the lining of her bladder and she can't take penicillin.  I didn't even think about Arimidex causing the UTI; however, the antibiotic I am taking seems to be helping.  I will talk to my oncologist about it if it starts again.

Hi to all,

I dropped out of the forum for the past six months or so. It was just too time consuming. At that point my onc told me that I no longer needed to take AL after I complained about all the side effects I managed to accumulate within a year.

The good news after 6 months without - almost no sign of carpal tunnel anymore. Very rare as opposed most of the time. Knees good most of the time. Cholesterol, could be lower but that is also me - I haven't been that careful. The doctor had warned me that the SE might stay, but I was fortunate that it really made a huge difference.

I hope that all of you can soon drop this miserable drug or replace it with something equally effective but less damaging to the rest of the system.

Dassy

Hi Timbuktu,

I had generic most of the time, eg made by Tevah because I live in Israel. Some of these SEs are accumulative I believe. (I forgot, hot flashes also became more common when I took the drug, and now I rarely have them). I am definitely thrilled to not have the almost chronic pain from the knees and carpal. I am not in my prime(will turn 62 in May) and some of the system is definitely showing signs of overuse, without the help of AL. I hope all of you can soon become "ex-users" because you won't need it anymore.

Keep up your spirits,

Dassi

I am wondering if the side effects of Anastrozole take some time to show up? I started today.

Yes, it takes time for the Se's to show up.  My dr says they reach their peak at 6 months and then decline but I've never reached the point of decline.  The longest I've gone straight was about 7 months.  I have stopped taking them for a anywhere from a few weeks to a month and then, each time I return, the side effects are much better.  My dr says that I might have to go through the entire 5 years this way, starting and stopping.  The strange thing is that each time, the side effects are different.  Very strange.  The first time my hands were the problem.  Trigger fingers, etc.  My hands became like claws and it hurt to even turn a page in a book.  When I went off and then on again my hands were fine, it was my ankles that killed.  Very unpredictable.

Thanks for the response. I wish I would have known. I would have started 2 weeks earlier instead of waiting until after Christmas. Anyhow, I guess you just have to work with the SE, if you get any or try a different AI. We'll see as time goes on.

Gosh, I didn't even have chemo (although they call these chemo pills) and I was real scared to take the first one after everything that I read about it. We have to keep remembering that everyone's case is unique. What happens to one of us may not happen in all of us. Next time I say that, I am going to say it to myself in a mirror.

Hi Denilynne et al.

I began anastrozole one week after I finished RT and about 2 months post chemo. Everything was fine until day 7 then I got some stiffness. I exercise quite a bit, which helped a lot, but the bone aches continued to increase and have become pretty debilitating. My MO plans to switch me to femara tomorrow, so we will see if that helps. If not, then likely I will move on to Tamox. I'm only 1% ER+ and PR- so hormones are not likely to be the driver of my BC. More likely my HER2+ status. A lot of women have no or minimal issues, and I hope YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! These are good drugs in the BC arsenal so I feel lucky to have them available. Keep us posted. 

Best to all of you---let's make 2014 OUR YEAR---OKAY????

 I do agree with Lago, fortunately, I had read only some things so was sort of un informed about SE and while I did blame every ache and pain on the meds......after a time realized that I should not make them the culprit and to consider all other dumb things...

for me that was a side effect of a statin not thy AL

Ditto what Lago said!