Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Thought so!!

I don't have an answer as to why; but my oncologist is not starting me on Ameridex until I complete my radiation. 

Effexor is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor aka antidepressant). See Effexor.com for more info. Paxil (paroxetine) is also an indication for hot flashes. That product is marketed as Brisdelle (not Paxil). Again a look at Brisdell.com is helpful. 

Agree with NativeMariner, Neurotin is a wonder drug. It also helps with sleep!!

I decided to stop chemo aand my mo is thinking of putting me on this. Was on femera 4 years ago, when it stopped working went to infusion. Lurkinng re se'

thanks we will see dr. presented the information to me have to decide what I want to do.

Martessa--Welcome to
the world of Arimidex!I, too, had some
hair thinning when I first started taking it, lasted a few months, then went
away.A couple years later during a stressful
time my hair thinned again, but for a shorter time.The hot flashes and night sweats are par for
the course, but they can be leveled off with certain antidepressant meds, or
with gabapentin (neurontin).Talk to
your docs about this and the depression.Depression is very common and you are in the peak time for depression to
kick in or get worse.I had depression
prior, wound up with an antidepressant dose 3 times what I was taking before
bc. The gabapentin was a God send for the hot flashes at night.The aches and pain can also be helped a
lot.First, try to keep moving.Walking is the best.Try not to sit in one place for too long
without getting up and walking around a little bit.Taking over the counter loratadine (Claritin)
helps a lot of women with the joint aches and pains, no one knows why.The dryness of the private parts is part of
the drug's work, too.There are
lubricants that can be used, both over the counter and prescription, and also
some women have talked about using coconut oil for that.I never did anything about it, myself, as I
am not sexually active either, but it did make the annual Pap test a lot more
uncomfortable!Hang in there, it does
get better, and when you are done with Mr. A, all this crap goes away over the
course of a few months.

deblsg, just seen this post. If youre still watching this thread, I found exercise definitely helps. Im not a fitness freak by any means, but to keep moving is what a lot of people here have found is helpful. Feeling like 90yrs old, trouble getting out of chairs is very common. For some of us, me included, the aches and pains tend to recede, though the timing can be different with each of us, the 4 month in area seems to be quite common. Hang in there.

Check out breaking news at top of this page. They're finally addressing depression, fatigue and neuropathy as legit issues for BC survivors!

Ladies, saw my shrink today, a routine check-in regarding my sleeping med and Cymbalta. I've been on Cymbalta for a few years now and wanted his take on it's effect with Arimidex. I'm not really having any SE from Arimidex yet. He thought the Cymbalta is probably keeping some of that in better control which I was glad to hear. My PS keeps me on the Gabapentin which I think is helping as well. The aches and pains I do have are ones I had before and the ones associated with the reconstruction is being treated well with PT. So far, so good!  Just hope it lasts...

Oh my, I just started Arimidex on Sunday and have had a lot of test that I thought might make me lose weight but I gained. Thanks for the heads up.  

MeMa 4,   I know how you feel...I was thinking of only taking a half.  As it stands know I only take it five days a week.

Lihuejan--the
Ignore button lets you block the posts from someone whose posts you do not want
to see, whose PMs you do not want to accept. When you put someone on Ignore
when they post to a thread you see a message thatthe post is not being shown because you are
ignoring this person.You can take a
person off "ignore" status any time.Basically, it's a way to not be speaking with someone here on the
boards.

I finished radiation 3 days ago and started Ameridex about a week before radiation ended. I am tired. I am working from home now; but tire from 11am or if I am lucky I last until 1pm. At this point I don't know if it is the radation or the meds. I am continuing meds until I get a better idea of what is causing this. Of course it could well be both. I would appreciate feedback from those who finished radiation and are taking Ameridex to see what their experience was. How long before you started to get your energy back post rads? I had some joint pain in the shoulders the first week of meds but that appears to be gone. Of course increased "warm" flashes. Thank you for your input. It will help me get through this. I had surgery May 7 and 12, no chemo. Very early Stage 1. 

More on that creaky feeling:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20140131?utm_source=Personalization&utm_medium=accounts&utm_campaign=82