arimidex vs tamoxifen

Does Arimidex have to actually kill you vs. maiming you for life, in order to be pulled off the market? At 58, I may need a hip replacement because I took Arimidex for two years! DeeDee This discussion is related to <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/260593'>Arimidex Long Term Side Effects</a>.

I would advise you to have a serious discussion with your Oncologist regarding the problems you are having with the Arimidex. There may be another medication that you could switch to that wouldn't cause so much pain and destruction. You might even have to weigh the benefits vs. these severe side effects and have to discontinue the drug on the basis of the findings.

Hi again, First a caution/disclaimer: I am not a doctor, so please don't use any information or opinions I offer to try to convice your wife's oncologist to alter his plan! (They really hate it when someone over the Internet thinks s/he knows better than the treating physicians what is best for their patients, and I don't blame them a bit!

So you are not taking Tamoxifen at all ? How long do you have to be on Arimidex ? Isn't 5 years too long with all the side-effects ? Do you take any calcium or vitamins ? Thanks for your answer, Have a nice day.

I'm not sure but your Oncologist would have the results of any studies that have been done on these particular circumstances. I do know that many women choose not to take these drugs even though their cancer is ER/PR positive. Regards ....

With respect to hormonal therapies that suppress or block the action of estrogen, there is a study called ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination). Updated results were presented at the latest San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (December 2007). I read about it in the Women & Cancer Magazine (Spring 2008, pg. 88). I suggest those undergoing hormonal therapy to look into the convenience of combining the medicine, to benefit from both of them.

Hi - after I finished chemo and starting rads in 2003 I was prescribed tamoxifen, took it for 2 months and my Oncologist changed me to Arimidex (one of the aromatose inhibitors) which I think has a 50% better prognosis for non recurrence than the old "gold standard" tamoxifen. I was thrilled, as it had just come on to the market here in England. However, 4 yrs down the line, I stopped it 4 weeks ago, due to severe bone pain (hips, hands and feet) and the pain has gone!

I have been on arimidex for about 2 months (since Feb. 2009), switched from tamoxifen after 1 year on tamoxifen. My white blood cell count the month before I started arimidex (Jan.) was 4.2. When I had a blood test more than 2 weeks ago (April 8), my WBC count was 3.3. Could this be a side effect of arimidex? FYI -- I was diagnosed in May 2007: IDC, stage 1, 1cm., e.r. +, grade 3, negative lymph nodes. I had chemo (1 infusion TC, 6 infusions CMF) Aug. 2007 to Jan.

Hi, I too was taking Tamoxifen and then was switched to Arimidex and then Aromasen. I am now back on Tamoxifen. I had so many problems with the other meds. I am very sensative to meds and the later 2 did not work. I have a few problems with Tamoxifen but it is better than the others for me. My Dr. said that it is not a problem being in "forced" menopause and the fact that I had a hysterectomy as well. One thing we always have to remember is that we are our own advocate...

We saw a small spot by my liver almost 1 year (June 08) after I started tamoxifen but I continued on tamoxifen until Jan. of this year .. about 18 months of reasonably good health. (The liver spot was too small to start chemo and remained unchanged for many months.) With tamoxifen, I took 10 mg, twice a day with little or no side effects .. hot flashes mostly. (Women who took 20 mg .. once a day .. had bone pain, etc.). If you go on Arimidex .. keep this in mind ..

There are many breast cancer forums around the world, and a quick search found some women were really struggling with lowered libido while taking Arimidex and Tamoxifen. There were also a few women who reported noticeable increases in libido, but most seemed to struggle on the lower side.

I have been on arimidex for 9 months having switched from tamoxifen. For the past five weeks, I have been bleeding and appear to be having a period. Does anyone relate to this? I am overweight, stressed, and too busy to exercise in case there is a connection. Any experience out there with this?

I saw a Professor of Endocrinology in Feb 2008, referred by my bc surgeon, as this guy has an academic interest in side effects of Arimidex. He suggested I continue with Arimidex and Fosamax to prevent further bone loss, but I cannot stand the pain and disturbance to my sleep. Does anyone have any experience of stopping Arimidex and getting a different med that does not have the side effect of bone pain?

Could it be your tamoxifen causing the joint pain? I took Arimidex for 6 months until joint pain started moving thoughout. Switched to Aromasin and the joint pain stopped. 18 month later now my hips are starting to hurt pretty regularily, will discuss with oncologist next visit. Basically blocking all the Estrogen is not a great thing for the joints.

t go into remission so now they are having me take arimidex which works like tamoxifen. Blood work on wednesday to see if it is working --- I had three tiny cancer nodules left after 6 months of Doxil which is what the arimidex is supposed to keep under control -- my CA125 was 214 after the Doxil and was down to 117 after 6 weeks of arimidex so I have my fingers crossed. Apparently tamoxifen works until it stops working and then you can't use it again.....

He is the only onco who will give me anti estrogens instead of chemo. I have low grade cancer and Tamoxifen, Arimidex, etc work great for me. My CA125 gets higher with chemo. Lately my doctor has been forgetting my medicines and things that have happened in the past. I take Tamoxifen 2 years, and when it wears off, I change to Arimidex. Even when my abdomen enlarged greatly, he kept me on Tamoxifen. His assistant has changed from a trained helper to the lowliest person in the office.

Dr. Goodman- my Ca125 appears to be rising & my doctor has put me on tamoxifen. I know this is used in breast cancer pts but what is it used for in ovca pts? My recent PET/CT scan did not show any recurrent disease.

m still afraid of Tamoxifen due to my diagnosis of slight hyperplasia of the uterus years ago. I will give Arimidex a chance since the reps at Novartis who manufacture Femara indicated a switch often worked for other women. I didn't need Lupron so I can't comment on that.

I learned that some weman experienced elevated blood pressure and blood clots while on Arimidex. And Arimidex is known to cause high blood pressure and blood clots. How do know for sure that Arimidex is the cause of my high blood pressure?

I started taking Arimidex about five months ago. Since then I have had many of the typical side effects such as hand/joint pain, neuropathy in my hands, hot flashes, wakefulness at night etc. However, my sight in one eye has also begun to noticeably deteriorate. I know, because I had my eyes checked and a new eye prescription just before I started taking Arimidex. I saw my eye doctor again last week and my vision has deteriorated from 20/40 to 20/70 (with correction) in just a few months.

I started Tamoxifen treatment 3 weeks ago. How soon would a possible allergic reaction appear? I am having some itching and swelling around my eyes and I'm not sure if it could be the Tamoxifen or something else.

Lately my Onco/gyno has left me on Tamoxifen when in the past I would take Arimidex when the Tamoxifen ran out. Whenever it runs out I fill up with ascites. It is usually honey colored when it is drained. This time it was a deep red. I have been loosing blood to the point that I have had to take blood transfusions. Where does the blood come from?

Arimidex vs tamoxifen

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