arimidex and migraine

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figgy652
figgy652 Member Posts: 13
edited November 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi, I have been on Arimidex for about 6 months.  It has not been easy but I have been doing well until recently.  Has anyone experienced Arimidex causing migrane or migrane type headaches?  Lately, i have been getting bad headaches that don't respond to advil etc.  Could it be the Arimidex?

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited November 2017

    I've only been on the anastrozole for 2 weeks and I had a 2 day migraine. I had to use 2 doses of Relpax to stop the pain.

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited November 2017

    I can relate. I have been on Arimidex 6 months. The headaches started about two months in. They got worse until I was vomiting with them. I would have a 2 to 3 day headache once a week and Advil and tylenol did not help. I told my oncologist at my first 3 month check up and she gave me a head CT which was normal.

    My GP says its likely migraines triggered from lowering estrogen due to the Arimidex.

    So, I my GP told me to take magnesium glycinate 300 mg/day. Exercise. And get paracervical massages when I feel tension in my shoulders and neck. He said to make sure I don't dehydrated, get at least 5 hours uninterrupted sleep at night using melatonin if I have to, and yoga and meditation for stress management.

    So this was about 3 weeks ago I saw my GP. Since then, I take 10 mg melatonin a night for sleep because Arimidex also gives me insomnia. Some nights I do sleep 5 or 6 hours uninterrupted sleep. I take magnesium, but not the one my GP recommended yet. Its mixed with Calcium and vit D. I will finish this first. It does help I think. But, I still get headaches, only they are not so strong. Advil nor Tylenol help with these either. At least I am not vomiting anymore.

    I will get the massages and I will get the magnesium. I need to start yoga and I do meditate occasionally. I have always drank tons of water daily.

    So, I think there is hope here. I see my MO tomorrow for my next followup and I will tell her my SE.

    I also get sore hips, low to little libido, hair thinning out, and dry skin. No hot flashes.

    wallan


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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited November 2017

    Wallan., Migraines are a deal=breaker for me with the anastrozole. I also asked a few ladies who were on anastrozole from Teva manufacturing but still got headaches. I also had nausea, hip. back, and leg pain., only after 2 weeks.

    Folks might think i'm crazy, but the Aromasin, even with the steroidal component., and after 4 months, having hair trigger anger., I think I'm going to return to it. I'm going in with more anti=anxiety meds for the anxiety and irritability. Plus will take my blood pressure at home because I felt jacked up and dizzy upon standing.

    I use 75 mg. of Amitryptiline, 250 mg of chelated Magnesium and 750 mg of calcium and 1000 iu's of vit d., at bedtime to help with sleep and migraines. I don't get weekly headaches anymore. Plus I have Relpax and Norco on hand if the migraine is really bad.

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited November 2017

    Thanks Pabbie: I will talk to my GP about that.

    I saw my MO today and she says migraines are not from Arimidex. Go figure! GP says they are and headaches are listed as a common side effect.

    My MO basically said she cant change this drug to tamoxifen because I am post menopausal so I need to manage SE. I didn't ask for tamoxifen. I didn't ask to change meds. Just told her my SE.

    My GP seems more pro-active or at least informative.

    Good news is my check up went well. See MO again in 4 months.

    wallan

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