Arimidex can cause bone pain. Wrapping Up 2022 Looking Back, Looking Forward. A small number of women notice an increase in downy facial hair. Has anyone stopped this drug and had any withdrawal symptoms? Although not common, its possible to have liver problems from taking Arimidex. The only bad thing withme is I have had 2 rotatorcuff surgeries on my right shoulder, 1 on my left shoulder,1 knee surgery, and a small surgery on my right angle. Its not known if Arimidex is safe to take during pregnancy. Many side effects of Arimidex will improve within a couple of weeks of stopping arimidex; however, some may persist long term. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. That averages a littleless thana pound a week. When I finally got on here I did a lot of reading different post and learned alot about different people and the inspirition I got from everyone is unbelieveable. In this case, taking Arimidex may further increase your risk of bone fractures. Welcome aboard! When I finished chemo, I had lost weight (about 25 lbs.) Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1160558), Scotland (SC045584) and Isle of Man (1200). If you experience any of the following symptoms contact your local A&E department, GP or treatment team straight away: Side effects caused by anastrozole will be different for each person. By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following. This side effect was only reported in people taking the drug for advanced breast cancer. I just finished taking Anastrazole after having been on it 10 years. Good luck with year six on Aromasin. This may also be due to vaginal dryness. You may find eating small frequent meals or snacks helps keep up your food intake. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. I'm sure you did that though. I have experienced sore muscles and joints as well but persist with walking and Pilates. But due to the way that Arimidex works, it may cause harm to a developing fetus. As Goodacre approached her five-year cancer-free mark, she said. If you have coronary artery disease, also known as ischemic heart disease, tell your doctor before starting Arimidex. If youre concerned about this you may find it helpful to speak to your specialist. (Arimidex). It does make me sleepy, so like CC, I take it at night. Some physical therapy places will let you work out there for a monthly fee after they're finished with their sessions with you. This does not change the effectiveness of the treatment. Many women worry that stopping Arimidex after five years will cause their cancer to come back; however, the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study II (IBIS-II) Prevention trial reports that: Once your treatment team has decided that you can stop taking Arimidex, you can stop it completely; you wont need to taper down the dose gradually. I even started out slow knowing that this would happen. All Rights Reserved. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the hormone. But, as we all know, lowering the bodys natural supply of estrogen also can create problems, for some of us anyway. Your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for you. You may develop a skin rash while taking anastrozole. What research-backed updates about these drugs did I miss? I gained most of my weight back within 3 years. I am concerned that the hair loss is irreversible or may not grow back until I am finished with Arimidex. Females* who have not gone through menopause. If you have difficulty sleeping (insomnia), some simple things like limiting caffeine in the afternoon and evening, keeping your room dark and quiet, and going to bed and getting up at a set time each day may help. Thank you! I'm tagging a few other members who have mentioned taking anastrozole for some time such as @wandering @susanao1 @itskeenerific @judymroz @cindylb @chamisaand @berit. Although no clear answers emerged, it was a ray of hope of moving toward less is more and more personalized treatment for hormonal therapy. change your treatment plan or consider using a different weight management medication It is very validating. Using a wrist splint can help. My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son. Coronary artery disease. I'm sorry to hear about your diverticulitis! There are Oncologists out there who are a partner with you in your healthcare vs. telling you there is only one way to treat this. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. I'm glad some of my posts are meaningful for you. It amazes me with all the encouragent and ideas that you give everyone. I started taking anastrozole in May 2018. Arimidex also reduced the risk of other cancers compared with placebo, such as endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and melanomas. For example, it may be possible to switch to another aromatase inhibitor to see if your pain improves, or some people might be offered the drug tamoxifen as an alternative. Thank you for the positive words. Talk to your GP or treatment team about how to manage a change in mood. Bone health is a huge deal. Sheri, You're very welcome. I would just to love to walk but my knee bothers be just walking. This has helped with the pain. I have been in a calorie deficit now for 9 months and haven't been able to loose 1 pound of the 14 pounds I gained. If you have questions about the long-term effects of Arimidex, ask your doctor. You may find your side effects reduce after stopping anastrozole, for others they may continue after treatment finishes. Sometimes it can go away on its own, but it can take months to get better. The one thing that comes up again and again is the benefit of exercise. Once you finish your treatment your liver will usually go back to normal. I don'tfeel like an old woman any more. The response to that survey was notable, with 2,353 women and 54 men responding. Oncologists dont discuss with you what could happen if you get a vertebral or hip fracture and how serious that injury could be. It is a known side effect of arimidex because of it's hormonal/menopausal actions. My Dr took me off it for two weeks and I restarted it in September. If you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks on the full dose of your medication, your health care professional will probably advise you to stop taking it. @Holly, If your levels become too high, they may recommend that you take another medication to lower your cholesterol. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. My waist size is now correct for my height. Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group. Cardiotoxicity is damage that can occur to the heart that may affect how well it works. If you think you have fatigue, tell your GP or treatment team. Side effects that should resolve quickly include: Side effects that may persist for a few months, or that may still require medications to treat them include: Unfortunately, no formal clinical studies have been done investigating the persistence of side effects from Arimidex. You may also want to eat more foods that are rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and cereals. ), it's unlikely you will lose any weight because you stop taking your meds. Your health care professional may also. I started going to Curves a couple years ago and lasted for about 2 weeks and could not use the machines anymore because severe joint pain. Serious side effects that occur in less than 1% of women include: The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. At that point, my oncologist and I decided it was okay for me to be done. Your bone density may be checked after two to five years while youre taking anastrozole, depending on the results from the initial scan or whether your specialist has any concerns. 111 respondents never started due to concerns about side effects. Specifically, its prescribed in some cases to treat the following: The active ingredient in Arimidex is anastrozole. @smspaz59 I have been taking Anastrozol for 3months now. I'm sorry you're dealing with so much and don't have the option of stopping your AI med unless, of course, you have to switch treatment regimens entirely. The cancer connection is that I had 2 primary cancers (breast and endometrial) that were estrogen related. I am going to write this down now what you are taking to help your bones and show it to my ONC, because he has not mentioned anything to me about this and I have arthritis anyway. Has anyone experienced any of these symptoms after 2 months of taking? You're eating the wrong foods. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. I was unable to take any of the AI's due to side effects but I'm just curious about your situation..?? Before using anti-inflammatory pain relief, ask your doctor about the correct dose, how long you should use it for and any possible side effects, especially if you have a stomach ulcer or asthma. I'm almost at the end of a trial period of going off Arimidex for two weeks. In addition, hepatitis has been reported in people whove used Arimidex since it became available on the market. Link within Tweet but not accessible (to me) due to content payment wall. Examples of the long-term side effects of Arimidex include: Its possible to develop these side effects from taking Arimidex for a long time or at any time during treatment. Thank you and your lovely readers for sharing their experiences. If he wants to eat fried foods on a regular basis, he's on his own. Very confusing data though #bcsm pic.twitter.com/gS9wteKhd5. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old). This slows the growth of tumors that require estrogen to grow. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Have you at any time been on an estrogen-blocking medication as part of your cancer treatment and if so, what side effects have you experienced? I also am doing my part by eating very healthy/high plant-based diet. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. I have been taking it since October of 2019 and it has gotten progressively worse, and my blood pressure is up and have never had that problem before. If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Arimidex. Learn more. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.). Spot the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer, 1. I too stopped taking Arimidex after five years now have enlarged fatty liver, osteopenia, debilitating fatigue, progressing weakness muscle weakness weight loss poor appetite hearing loss neck and back arthalgias, abnormal high white blood count high monocytes high MCHC and high hgb, UTI's, bladder incontinence, bone spurs, herniations etc. Is it related to stopping? It will be seven years in October! Its noteworthy, too, that AIs are used to treat some types of metastatic breast cancer, usually, in combination with another drug. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Arimidex. I don't know what changed in my little brain, but something did and I've stuck to it and have lost28 lbs. Like any drug,anastrozolecan cause side effects. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Arimidex, visit MedWatch. Find out more aboutmenopausal symptomsandsex and intimacy. "Welcome to Connect, @christinej I'm tagging a few other members who have mentioned taking anastrozole for", "I too just finished taking Anastrazole after years and having incredible fatigue. Changes In Your Mood Perhaps you're aware of the mounting evidence that links low levels of testosterone and depression. Thank you, Dr. Attai, for listening to us and thank you for heading up that survey. I wish you all the best as you move forward and deal with what comes next. Since it takes three weeks to get it out of your body not sure we are going to be able to tell much. It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old). It has been particularly hard for me, because my husbandadamantly refuses to eat just about anything healthy, so there are chips, cookies and other goodies in the house. If you have a liver condition, taking Arimidex may increase your risk of liver problems or worsening of your liver condition. Considered myself an exerciser, but I really wasn't. Medically reviewed by Carmen Fookes, BPharm. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stopping-anastrozole-after-5-years-withdrawal-symptoms/. Higher levels of liver enzymes may indicate liver damage. If you have any liver or heart conditions, tell your doctor before starting Arimidex. Your GP or specialist can refer you for counselling or may suggest you take an antidepressant drug. Osteoporosis. I would like to thank you for them. Musculoskeletal and physical changes such as weight gain and body image dissatisfaction were the most commonly reported side effects (from women). Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. You did fine! Any advice you could give me would really help. Of course, this is true for all of us, cancer or no cancer. I made it to a little over nine years. Aromatase inhibitor-induced musculosketal symptoms are a common reason ppl w/ #breastcancer stop endocrine tx. Even adding 30 minutes to an hour a day of walking should suffice. Copyright 2000-2022 Cancer Survivors Network. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. My little brain, but it can go away on its own, but i 'm almost the... What makes a drug work. ) effect was only reported in clinical trials stopping... Taking anastrozole go away on its own, but i really was n't most reported..., some may persist long term places will let you work out there for a monthly fee after 're! Waist size is now correct for my height your risk of bone fractures a developing fetus such... 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