Arimidex vs tamoxifen side effects
Common Questions and Answers about Arimidex vs tamoxifen side effects
arimidex
Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here, though I am sorry that you are struggling with side effects from the result of breast cancer medication.
I am also a breast cancer survivor, however as I am triple negative, the hormonal drugs are not effective for me so unfortunately I cant speak from experience.
However, that doesn't mean that I cant find out some interesting information for you in relation to libido and Arimidex.
the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms, weakness, mood changes, pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, swelling of arms/legs, and headache. Fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) occurred more frequently with ARIMIDEX than with tamoxifen (10% vs 7%).
As for the burning...I,personally,have never been able to use anything but Ivory. Allergies.
It is of course her decision re whether lowering the risk in her case is worth enduring the side effects. If she does choose to take an AI and the side effects of Arimidex are intolerable, she could see if she would do better on a different one. However, in at least one recent study, Arimidex came out ahead of the others in preventing recurrence.
Best wishes to both you and your wife...
Well, for me Arimidex was so very horrible, I barely lasted three days on it. I was in an almost catatonic state of depression two hours after I took the first dose, and then got just about every other bad side effect soon after.
Femara, in comparison, relative to the other, was not so bad at all and I lasted almost thirty days.
But not every woman has the same problems, or any at all. Many though do have some problems.
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...
Thank-you sooooooo much for getting back to me.The headaches have been so very disconcerting ,and worrisome that I have been reluctant to start the arimitex ! I know that
a side effect of that is also headache !! Oh well I guess I have no other option. Any thoughts? How bad are your side effects and do they disappear eventually?
Shortly after I started the drug, I started having hot flashes and bad leg cramps. My doctor then prescribed Effexor for those side effects. I started at 37.5 mg and worked up to 75mg which I took for 5 years. A month ago he changed my prescription to 37.5 mg and said to stop once the medicine ran out. I took my last pill 3 days ago. I feel horrible. I have nausea, dizziness, a swoshing feeling when I turn my head from side to side and just feel bad overall. I have been cranky and moody.
Thank you for the quick response it's so therapeutic when you start to lose patience and get discouraged. I went for my yearly pap yesterday and spoke to the OB/GYN about the problem. He seems to think another Aromatase Inhibitor will just bring on the same problems & suggested Tamoxifen saying his experience has been there are fewer side effects. I finally saw a integrative MD two weeks ago who checked my Vit. D (no MD has done this yet); and it was low.
I had tolerated the Tamoxifen very well for two years - few side effects. I was switched to Arimidex in late 2008 and have been on it since. I am a pretty healthy (other than the BC) - 52 year old. I am physically active and appropriate weight for my body type and size.
I have stiffness in the morning mostly - or if I sit at my desk for a long time. Once I am up and about it takes a couple of minutes - but I am pretty unaffected once I get rolling.
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 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?
You might discuss this with your Oncologist .... usually most side effects of Chemo will disappear after the drug has been discontinued. You should keep in mind however that you MUST weigh the side effects against the positive effect of taking the drug. Often you can be switched to another drug with similar benefits and lessen the side effects. All the drugs in this class can produce the same untoward effects but not all persons will experience all of them OR to the same degree.
But if one has had a mastectomy and chemotherapy, and there were zero nodes affected/involved, is there really any benefit to taking Tamoxifen? Right now the side effects are just making me downright cranky (and yes, I am on Effexor) and honestly the body changes courtesy of forced menopause are not helping the attitude any.
Can cancer spread even if lymph nodes were negative?
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