Lack of energy, fatigue on Arimidex- anyone else?

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wallan
wallan Member Posts: 1,275
edited March 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Its a newer thing. I am sleeping better.

But in the last few months I am losing more and more steam. I know I am struggling with depression. This lack of energy is new to me. I constantly feel worn out. If I do a full days work or a full days activity (such as going shopping or out with friends) I get headaches and feel even more tired. Sometimes I feel dizzy and nauseous too.'

I just had a full blood work up a month ago and everything is a okay. So my thyroid, RBCs, WBCs etc are fine.

I am attributing this to Arimidex. Anyone else feel this way?


wallan

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited March 2019

    Hi there. So sorry you are suffering from side effects of Arimidex. Both fatigue and depression are known side effects. Also depression and fatigue go hand in hand. Dizziness/nausea are also known side effects. In addition to that dizziness is often accompanied with nausea. Hopefully your MO will be able to work with you to find a solution and/or find a new aromatase inhibitor that you will tolerate better. Good luck and keep us posted.

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited March 2019

    Thanks dtad! I appreciate it.

    I thought it was the Arimidex. I will keep you posted.

    wallan

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  • JKL2017
    JKL2017 Member Posts: 437
    edited March 2019

    Wallan, I experienced those SEs & more during the year I was on Anastrozole. Fortunately, the depression disappeared on its own after 7 months (I think my brain adjusted to the lack of estrogen) but the other SEs continued. It got so bad (& I complained SOOO much) that my MO had me take a month's vacation last June to determine whether it was the AI causing all my problems. Everything except the hot flashes vanished or decreased significantly after only a few days! My MO then switched me to exemestane & I have found that, for me, it is much easier to take. I still have achy knees (I attribute that - at least in part - to arthritis) but the muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, etc are gone! I see that you have already taken exemestane; perhaps you could give femara a try? Good luck - I hope you find something that works for you!


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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited March 2019

    Thanks ladies.

    It gives me serenity just knowing I am not alone. It sucks we all have to go thru this.

    wallan

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  • Joyseeker43
    Joyseeker43 Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2019

    I think I belong in this thread. The first five months of Lupron and Arimidex were fairly uneventful. Hot flashes, hip and back pain. The month of March? Headache. Depression and anxiety. Crying on the way to wal mart. Crying in Walmart. Crying on the way home.Is it possible that the full effects of the meds are finally settling in? I’m considering upping my dose of Effexor. March has been.......well.....tragic 😢

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited March 2019

    Wallan, I started on arimidex and was so fatigued that I was sure my thyroid had given out (family history). Blood tests and an endocrinologist visit ruled that out. Under guidance from my oncologist, I took two weeks off and then switched to aromasin, Worked like a charm - energy rebounded and I could function. Talk to you oncologist.


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  • BadLuck
    BadLuck Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2019

    Wallan - yes, I feel the same way even though I've been exercising like crazy every day which is suppose to give me energy. I keep fighting the side effects of Anastrozole. It's a nasty-ass drug! I was wondering about taking it every other day or cut them in half & only do half doses every day, but my OC will probably be against it & tell me if I do that then I'll have to stay on them for 10 yrs instead of 5 & my chances of getting the cancer would be greater. Dammed if we go & dammed if we font

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  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited March 2019

    hi all, I belong here too. So wallan, you are not alone. I was totally fine for the first 7 months. Noticed side effects for the last 2 months. Deep bone pain for about 3 hours at night. Fatigue is setting in but again mainly in the evenings. A little foggy in the head. No dizzy, nausea, headaches.

    Runcrb, I appreciate your suggestion to switch to another drug. I did switch manufacturers already. I guess I'm stuck in the contemplation stage lol. I keeping thinking it could be worse. I'm totally fine during the day. But i also wonder if i couldn't be better.

    So far no hair loss, cholestrol is great, b/p is fine, night sweats have leveled out to 1-2 at night. I just dont want to trade one set of problems for another. It's a tough call. So i say to myself feeling good 20 out of 24 hours a day is not too bad.

    Bad luck, I'm with you. I'm running on the treadmill for 3 miles, yoga, back to weight training. I'm on my feet at work so total at least 12,000 steps a day. Good grief we deserve to sit down in the evenings! That's when it sets in for me. Runcrb, do you recall your fatigue as an all day event?

    Joy, I'm sorry Walmart makes you cry! Ugh. It's crazy how those feelings come out of nowhere and for seemingly no reason.

    Thanks for letting me ramble. And I concur, it does suck!

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