Arimidex and Lichen Planus

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RobynK
RobynK Member Posts: 37
edited December 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Has anyone experienced getting a horrible rash (Lichen Planus) from taking Arimidex?  I've been taking arimidex for over 2 years and have developed Lichen Planus.  I am not taking any other medication that might have caused this.  I have been tested for Hep b & C and am negative.  I want to stop Arimidex but Onc doesn't believe that Arimidex is the cause.  He has no idea what's going on but insists it couldn't be due to Arimidex.  Anybody else experience a rash from Arimidex after being on it for a period of time?? 

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  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited November 2008

    Hi Robyn:

    I'm on Femara and don't have lp.  But, I did want to tell you  something about this very annoying - and often painful - disorder.  My husband developed oral lp several years ago when he was under severe stress.  No treatment for it, other than extra oral hygiene measures.  Since then, it comes and goes, always depending on his stress level.  Since retirement, it's been almost non-existent!

    The interesting thing is that his brother's daughter and his sister's son have both developed lp on their upper bodies.  Again, it comes and goes.  There is some research to suggest that it could be genetic.  Does anyone else in your family suffer from it?

    It seems doubtful that your lp could be a result of arimidex, but one never knows.  Let's hope others here can give you some info; the info we get from our oncs about se's is limited at best!

    Hope it clears up for you soon.  All the best, Linda

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  • RobynK
    RobynK Member Posts: 37
    edited November 2008

    Hi Linda,

    Thanks for the reply.  Lichen Planus is a terrible condition, and can be caused by stress.  Maybe moreso if it's a genetic traite, I don't know.  No one in my family has ever had Lichen Planus nor have they ever heard of it.  Neither did I until I got it.  It is usually caused by an allergic reaction to a medication.  The only medication I'm taking or was taking was Arimidex.  No one thought that Arimidex was the cause because I had been taking it for over 2 years. In speaking with Astra Zeneca (the makers of Arimidex) I learned that it doesn't matter how long you have been taking a medication, side effects or reactions can occur at any time.  So I have been trying to rule out the causes one by one.  With my Oncologist's knowledge and blessing, I have stopped taking Arimidex to see if this gets any better.  I have been suffering with this since August with it progressively getting worse.  The answer is always another pill/drug.  I don't want to take predisone as I dont' react well with steroids.  So, I have been off of the Arimidex for 3 days now and these blisters are drying up.  It's too early to tell but I'm hopeful that I've found the answer.  I have found one other woman who has come down with Lichen Planus after being on Arimidex for 14 months.  I'm not alone and we all need to be aware that this can happen.  I would think if Lichen Planus was only caused by stress...I surely would have come down with it before now!Smile  Thanks for the well wishes and if nothing else, maybe we can all learn something from this.  I don't know about you but I've learned so much...much more than I wish I needed.  We're all in this together.  We just need confirmation some times that we're not alone!

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  • jokopomo
    jokopomo Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2012

    I have been on Arimidex for 7 years, never thought about getting off of it and my Dr. said there is a new study due so I just kept taking it.  I have had lichen planus for 4 years!! I was looking up what to expect if I came off Arimidex and found this post.  I quit taking it this morning, looking forward to loosing my sore mouth.  Has anyone else had this epiphany?

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  • dacre
    dacre Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2016

    After taking Armidex for 10 months I developed Lichen Planus. It was January in the Northeast so I thought it was just dry skin/eczema. It kept getting worse so after 2 months I went to my Primary Care dr. She gave me some hydrocortisone cream and I went back 2 weeks later. Still the same, she sent to a dermatologist who gave me a different cream and went back 3 weeks later. Still the same, dermatologist did a biopsy on one of the many lesions and I went back a week later and they told me it was Lichen Planus. I truly believe it's caused by the Armidex, as well as the severe joint pain I suffer, and want to stop this medication.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited December 2016

    Hi guys. So sorry you are all suffering. It infuriates me when docs deny severe SEs due to anti hormone treatment. The bottom line is you can get any SE from any drug! Just because it isn't common, does not mean it's not real. I had a very severe life threatening SE from a drug that was also denied by my docs. I'm very lucky I'm here to talk about it and warn other people. Good luck to all navigating this disease...

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