Arimidex side effects

Burning sensation in joints ,specifically in knees started after 4 yrs of Arimidex use besides muscle pain,fatigue and weight gain inspite of exercise and diet control .Frequent fever lasting 2-4 days with lot of weakness.So far so good as long as I am protected of relapse.

I have been on Arimidex since 2005 ,will be completing 5 yrs in 2010 .After 4 yrs ,I have started having burning sensation in my joints ,more so in my knees .I have been doing exercises prescribed very regularly ,I have added at least 7 kg in 4yrs .I have a controlled veg diet.Fatigue and body ache are the other side effects since the beginning of the drug.

I have been on Arimidex for nearly four years. I have suffered with dry mouth, mouth ulcers and peeling and sore lips I have tried mouth wash lip balm but nothing seems to work the symptoms seem to be getting worse. I have spoken to my GP who just prescribes cream for the ulcers.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Would appreciate any remedies

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, age 53. I had excellent medical care at NW Cancer Specialists, Dr. D. G., Portland, Oregon. I endured Chemo (8 treatments) I had a lumpectomy and 36 radiation treatments. I also took Arimidex from 2004 - 2009. My doctor suggested exercise would lessen the side-effects and he was right. I followed everything my doctor told me to do, it was very difficult at times, but we are talking about my life and the quality of my days, his suggestions worked. I began a regime of walking, up to 3+ miles a day, water aerobics 3 times a week and I joined Curves. I also took vitamins: Costco multiple vitamin, vitamin E & C, Calcium + D(Viactive), Melatonin (natural sleep aid), probiotics, and fish oil. I also drank up to 6 glasses of water a day. I am now "cancer free" and not taking any RX.

I have been taking Arimidex since April of 2005. I have two more years before I can be taken off of the medication. I had breast cancer, diagnosed Oct. 2004. I had a lumpectomy following with chemo and radiation before I started taking Arimidex. I have severe hot flashes, can't sleep at night. I am up and down all night long. I can't remember things I am always having to make list and writing dates down and sometimes I get confused. I have joint pain, leg cramps and hair loss. My biggest problem is I can't sleep. I am always tired.
A. from Florida

I have taking Arimidex for 2 yrs still have my monthly period on, is this normal or side effects?

After five years on Arimidex, I went off 2 weeks ago. About a week after going off, I have developed a thrush-like symptom. I haven't gone to my doctor yet about it. I was just checking to see if anyone else has had this experience.

Does anyone have ringing in their ears due to the arimidex? I have just over a year left to take this drug and I CAN'T WAIT to stop. ( I was a stage 0 (.9 cm tumor/0 lymph nodes)....treated with Chemo (adriamycyn, cytoxin and taxotere), then radiation and now arimidex. ) I was almost 41 when this started, I'm 45 now and want my life back. Don't get me wrong, I want to be cured, but sometimes the side effects are disheartening. This sure does sound whinny and I am sorry. I am happy to be cured, but so tired of all the side effects!!!!!!!!! UGH Thanks, dpr

Fatigue, flashing in the left eye, worsening migraines:
I have been on Arimidex since July, 2007 (after lumpectomy in January 2007, chemo, a mastectomy in same breast in August, 2007 followed by radiation) and seemed to be tolerating it quite well, except for the fact that I wanted to go to bed at no later than 9PM every night.
Recently, however, I had noticed retinal problems in my left eye (could also be a result of my nearsightedness and my age --61) and worsening migraine attacks which I could not relieve completely with my usual medications. I did research on Google and found that Arimidex could indeed lead to worsening of headaches and perhaps lead to retinopathy as well.
This morning I decided not to take the pill and called my oncologist's office to find out what he thinks about stopping it for a while.
I have also made an appointment with a neurologist since I haven't had a brain MRI since 1987 (to rule out other causes than migraine for my headaches).

The joint pain is not bad, but I hate the thinning hair! I used to have thick hair and now you can see my scalp in spots. I'm wondering if Nioxin or Rogaine for Women will help at all or if my hair will grow back in normally after I stop the Arimidex. I also have had back pain and stomach or digestive pain I never had before. My doctors have run tests and have found nothing wrong.

I took Arimidex for 3 years suffering through the pain and stiffness that it caused, only to find out that it didn't work for me. I guess you can say that is a really bad side effect.

My 89 year old independent mother-in-law started low dose Arimidex after mastectomy 6 months ago. She experienced sever bone/hip pain (requiring a middle of the night ER visit). She was advised by the oncologist's office to discontinue Arimidex. Several weeks after stopping the Arimidex she began to have night sweats, becoming increasingly severe.. She is uncomfortable, to say the least. Is this truly a side effect of stopping arimidex? Have others experienced this side effect post arimidex? Should we look into some other cause?

hot flashes, joint pain especially in neck, right shoulder and legs. It is like having flu-like symptoms on a daily basis.

I experienced hot flashes, muscle and joint pain (especially leg), severe vaginal dryness, hot flashes, constipation, headache and severe body coldness. I am always cold. However, the worse side effect is depression and mood swings. These are life altering and effect all of my relationships.

Hi, I was diagnosed Sept 06 with a small breast tumor following a routine mammogram I had a Lumpectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed in Oct 06 In January 07 I started 15 sessions of radiotherapy and then was started on ARIMIDEX which i have taken religiously each day for a year even though I have felt WEAK ,slight ACHES in my knees, TIRED, and WEARY, SINUS infections, BOWEL PROBLEMS, METALLIC TASTE all of which eventually in December got me down so much my GP signed me off work with depression and I am now taking fluoxetine to lift my mood I am convinced the Arimidex affected me and has played a big part in the way I was feeling for the last year I told my breast care nurse about this she advised me to stop taking it for 1 month I have not taken it for 4 days and feel a different person already having more energy and feeling like I can cope with life and full time work again Has anyone else experienced the same side effects as me? from Rose SNY

My Aunt is 61 and had a one sided Mastectomy in January of this year. She had been suffering for about 8 years with the menopause (she took HRT for 18 months a few years back). She was told her cancer was hormonal and once she had the tumour removed (behind her milk gland) she was advised that she didn't need any chemo or radiation. She had 6 lymph nodes taken and all were clear. She was originally put on Tamoxifen for 4 months and then switched to Arimidex. She has suffered with hot flushes and extreme coldness (she had this beforehand) but has increasingly suffered with very painful indigestion/heartburn/acid reflux or possibly IBS. She has tried all the over counter indigestion medications to no effect. Is this normal? I am trying to get her to go to the DR about it - but she is very apprehensive. Is there another drug she could try other than Arimidex and Tamoxifen? Are these stomach problems normal? I would also say she seems to suffer with depression and tiredness. She doesn't sleep well because of the hot sweats etc. She also bloats out quite a bit and is still numb from where they took the lymph nodes under her arm. She also says her scar gets sore. Her mastectomy was Jan 3, 2007. She obviously didn't have reconstruction and doesn't intend to.

Is there anything I can get for her to make life easier? I am at a bit of a loss as to how to help her. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

August 20th 2007

I have been taking Armidex since May 2006. I have stopped taking it
as of August 06, 2007. Armidex is a steroid, and my body has
signifigantly changed due to the Armidex. It also was making me
very tierd. I feel 100% better being off this drug. If anyone else has had
the experience with Armidex please email me. Thank you.

Does Arimidex cause hair loss?

Bad Breath and metal taste in mouth

I have been taking arimidex for 20 months. At 34, I now have signs of oesteoporosis and even now experiencing a fracture because of this.

Doctor had recommended arimidex because it is considered as a superior drug that is new and effective. During my research I realized and felt this was not for me as it was noted that it is not effective in premenopausal.

i am wondering if arimidex can cause mood swings. does anyone out there have an answer. thanks.

It is nearly 2 years since having a bilateral mastectomy with affected axillary lymph nodes removed on both sides. This was followed by AC and CMF chemo and radiotherapy, all completed a year ago.
I was put on Tamoxifen but after a while I had side effects such as aching of muscles and joints. I was then put on Arimidex, but by April, I could no longer function through loss of sleep caused by the aches etc. I came off it for 3 months to go on overseas.
I resumed taking Arimidex and now after 3 months, I began to take them every other day to see if the symptoms would lessen. They didn't in any way, and now I have decided not to take anymore until I see the specialist in January for my check up.

I am unable to take anything stronger than paracetamol and then in moderation as it brings on IBS which is not any fun either!
Barb
4daisy@tpg.com.au