Starting Arimidex today (July 15, 2015)

JaneQPoppy, I started taking it at night going to bed and I was not able to fall asleep. After a few weeks I started taking it in the morning, and fall asleep a little better, I wake up a lot, but I think that's because of the expanders.

I take it with my coffee in the morning, no food.

So far, so good, just started my third month. A little achey in the thumb area but I had that before the arimidex. Can complain about much.

I'm still reading this thread along with a couple others along the sames lines. I haven't really posted as it seemed this one wanted more of the positive experiences. I have posted on a few of the others that deal with side effects. I have been on anastrozole for 4 months now and have my share of side effects. I am doing this one month by one month seeing what gets worse, what gets better and I can do to lessen the side effects.

Jane,

I've been on arimidex now for 3 months and I'm doing just fine, no SEs to report. I was very scared before I started but the ladies here assured me I'd likely be just fine and in my case they were right

Jane, Occasionally I get a stabbing pain in the breast, but it seems to be the nerves repairing, not from the AI. I also have some pain on occasion going around my ribcage to my back. I occasionally massage my lumpectomy area and find sometimes that irritates it. I think that is just the continued healing. Your surgery was around the same time as mine was so healing might explain some of your discomfort.

These are the side effects that I have noticed. The first month Anastrozole was manufactured by Accord. The next 3 months by TEVA. I made notes of the level on a scale of 10 at the 6 week dr appt and at 3 months. I have varied times and found no difference. Things that are 2-3 are a nuisance. Anything at level 5 I find a concern.

Bone Joint Pain 5-6 of 10 at 6 weeks, 4 at 3 months. (Prior to medication I had arthritis in my knee, hips and big toes at a 2-3 level). On Anastrozole I for the first time have stiffness and pain in my ankles, wrists, thumbs and one outer pinkie. The original areas have worsened. I started Gently Yoga 3 weeks ago and the level has lessened to a 2-3 but still all areas effected.

Hot flashes 2-3 of 10 at 6 weeks, 3-4 at 3 months. I never had them with menopause. I find it wakes me at night so insomnia, fatique and depression. I think these are all related to the hot flashes and getting up in the middle of the night.

Weakness 3 at 6 weeks and none now.

Fatique 3-4 at 6 weeks, 4 at 3 months.

Insomnia 4 on a scale of 10 both at 6 weeks and 3 months.

Depression 3 out of 10 at 6 weeks, 4 at 3 months. Some may be related to the insomnia/hot flashes and having dealt with cancer. Since dx I think I was worried and depressed, but since Anastrozole its not so much worry/depression but total loss of joy. I d haven't experienced it since a few weeks on the drug. I used to be a joyous person, but I can't find that anymore. Lack of joy is not me.

Constipation 2 at 6 weeks, none now. (V8 and dried fruit works wonders)

Headaches none at 6 weeks, 2-3 at 3 months. I never had headaches before in my life.

Dizziness none at 6 weeks, frequently feel light headed now.

Dry Eyes 2-3 out of 10 at 6 weeks, 3-4 at 3 months. I am using Liquid Tears and it seems to help.

Short Term Memory/Mind Fog 5-6 out of 10 at 6 weeks and 6-7 at 3 months. This is the one that bothers me the most. It wasn't even on the list of side effects on the comparison chart on this website. I have mentally juggled details and schedules for all of Nike's websites and now frequently have problems getting out the door with my glasses, keys, driver's license and credit card. i was also driving the other day and couldn't recognize where I was. I drove a couple more blocks I figured it out. It was a route that I have frequently driven for years. It might be due to the fatique and insomnia, but a definite difference that is noticeable to people other than me.

Bone Density - my baseline is -1.4 which is osteopenia. Have upped my calcium.

Cholesterol unchanged, but needs to be closely monitored. I had some mini strokes a few years back and need to reduce my overall cholesterol below normal. I'm not doing too well. I am afraid this might change it along with quitting my statins when I found that long term use of statins increases my chances of breast cancer considerably.

All the other potential side effects I haven't experienced at this point.

I've been trying to track my side effects along with looking for other reasons for what is happening. I looked at all the hormonal therapies and side effects along with doing quite a bit of reading of side effects from lack of estrogen. I found reading about lack of estrogen very helpful in understanding that it isn't the pill that is causing me the issue. It's from not having enough estrogen for my body's functions. In other words, since the pill is doing this job, so this is what is happening to my body. I'm trying to address each of those one by one.

So I'm trying Yoga, taking some naps, have signed up for a clinical trial on Accupuncture for Hormonal Therapy Women through the Army of Women (Dr Susan Love). I don't know if I am accepted yet and may end up in a sham accupuncture group or potentially the real accupuncture group. I figured I have nothing to lose and may help move treatments forward. My MO recommended accupuncture but insurance won't cover.

With my pathology of mucinous cancer, my MO said to consider AI, but did not fall under the recommend. Being ER+ 100% I want to try. I'll go month by month. I am hoping my body will adjust to the lesser side effects and I find solutions to address the ones of more concern.

Hi Jane,

I do find that having a list with documentation over time carries a lot of weight. I try to figure things out on my own and they help me solve it. My PCP addresses my other health issues and won't tell me what to do cancer wise referring me to my MO. My MO won't tell me what to do about my other meds that conflict with cancer health and refers me to the PCP. I finally set up a meeting with my PCP to update him on my health post cancer treatments and about what meds I have dropped that he prescribed. We discussed the irony of my stroke meds increasing cancer and my cancer meds increasing strokes. It's sort of choose your own poison. We had a serious discussion of tradeoffs with me flat out saying I don't want cancer, but my ultimate goal would be to get off all meds. I stopped my statins and blood thinners, still keeping the low dose aspirin as it helps both and will monitor cholesterol every 4 months. My MO says the most important thing I need to do to fight off cancer is to excercise. If my side effects from AI interfer with that I should drop the AI. He is willing to work with me to resolve my issues.

Unfortunately my MO is changing hospitals so need to decide whether to follow him and create a third set of medical records or try another recommended MO at the current hospital. I am realizing that the changes in the medical field almost require you to be the manager of your health care. In another month or so, I will make an appt with the new MO, my updated side effects in hand to check them out. The hospital running the acupuncture trials is where my MO is moving to. I also plan to check them out.

My follow-up schedule is very similar to yours. I just plan on a few more done at my request as I gather more information and have more questions. At this point I have maxed out my out of pocket costs so I want to work out all my health issues as much as possible this year. I think the schedule is completely normal. That is the least that they want to see you with their questions that they want to follow up on. If you have more to discuss, understand or get checked out, you can be the one to initiate.

Per no issues during menopause, I wonder if we had more estrogen than many so had no side effects. Having more may have also led us to get breast cancer. I wonder if studies have been done on that.

For gentle yoga, I checked on a few places in the area, then went to Groupon to see who had introductory offers so I could try a variety. I do the Gentle Yoga 3 times a week, but find I the Monday instructor doesn't match my body needs as well as the older instructor does on W and F. I'm trying a few others at the center while my $30 special lasts. I have bought a few gentle yoga DVDs and some yoga props that I found useful in class to supplement. I figure I will do a combination of class and at home supplemented by walking and excercise bike. I found the environment is very important to my enjoyment. The class is on a upper floor building with 3 walls of windows. The views are tree tops, clouds, the sky and birds. I found it really gets me in the mood. I am also setting up a yoga center for myself in the livingroom looking out on my forested backyard. For walking, I try to get to the local nature reserve trails that are 15 minutes away. I am trying to indulge my senses to keep going forward. As my health improves, I will decide month by month what meds to take, tracking it all the way.

I hope all your complications are cleared up. I also hope you are one of the lucky ones without side effects or ones that are manageable. I am lucky to be in a position in life where I can focus on myself and what my body needs. Though once we go through all of this, what other choices do we have? Wishing you well.

Jo (Where in Texas do you live?)

Thanks, Marie. I will be following up on that. I'm hoping to find a mix that works for me over the long run. I have more than 50 lbs to loose and am focusing on just feeling better overall. My favorite part though is the meditation at the end. I figure its my reward for all the rest.

Jo

hi! I've been on exemestane for two years now with no major problems. I do have stiff joints when I get up in the morning, that's it.

I take with breakfast .

JaneOPoppy- started anastrozole spring of 2013, had allergic reaction (itchy eyes and face) along with pulmonary problems(result of radiation damage). Held off meds till pulmonary disease cleared up. This took approx a year and on and off predisone! Started letrozole spring of 2014 - didn't have problems till this past winter - terrible stiffness, aches pains in legs especially at night. Stopped letrozole for a month in June/July then started exemestane July 13, and here it is end of July and my aches and pains are worse. During my 30 day break of meds, I was so much better, better sleep resulting in a better day.
And yes, I am ready to scream.

hi Ladies, I was dreading starting anastrozole after my experience with tamoxifen and effexor. I am happy to say so far so good after 2 1/2 weeks - nothing. I get a little weak and fuzzy headed but that started with effexor and has taken ages to improve. Non of the inability to go back to sleep or the upset stomach that lasted a month that I had with tamoxifen so keeping fingers crossed. Hope the other starters are doing well..

still waiting for results from my baseline bone density test last Monday.

I have been taking Arimidex/Anastrazole since October 2014.  I take it in the morning when I wake up.  I feel fine. No side effects.

Good luck. 

Hi - I've done just over 2 weeks on Arimidex and so far, I'm happy to report no change or obvious SEs. I have joint/bone pain most of the time in my lower legs and ankles, but that started with the Taxol (last 4 sessions of chemo) and has never really gone away. So I really can't put it down to the Arimidex.

I try to take some exercise every day - at least walk a couple of miles and am restarting Pilates. I put on about 12lbs during chemo so I guess that doesn't help the joints much and I am working on getting it off again.

Hello JaneQPoppy:

Yes, still reading, but not so frequently.
It is interesting reading responses regarding Arimidex and like many, I was almost adamant I wouldn't take it BUT, I thought I at last would try it and started taking it almost a month ago. My MO said I shouldn't have any problems (I am 64) and I figured it's just a milligram pill so jumped right in.

My MO suggested I increase my water intake, so I have done that and, he also said taking it before bed was best, so I do that too. I eat a yoghurt for supper a couple of hours before I take the med and I drink half a glass of water or more, with the pill. Sure, I get up a few hours later to keep my bladder happy but am able to go right back to sleep.

I did read somewhere on this thread that compounding agents can sometimes cause problems and that Teva seemed to be the least problematic - I was happy to see my scrip filled with Teva so that was a relief too.

You started your regimen a week before me - how are you doing?