Watch on. I'm not sure if all have finished AI treatment. I am 17 years old. by Drugs.com. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. But its possible that Arimidex, when used with other treatments for cancer, may increase the side effects you have. Because alcohol can also affect your liver, drinking alcohol and taking Arimidex may further increase your risk of liver problems. Has anyone stopped this drug and had any withdrawal symptoms? anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara) and exemestane (Aromasin). I also am doing my part by eating very healthy/high plant-based diet. If you already have high cholesterol, taking Arimidex may make your cholesterol levels even worse. I am going through a similar thing and am taking a three week break from Anastrozole as I had such severe knee and leg pain, wrists, hands, etc. If you struggle to maintain a healthy weight, ask your GP or specialist about being referred to a dietician. If you feel dizzy, avoid driving. If you have any side effects, whether theyre listed here or not, talk to your GP or treatment team. I was on Arimidex for 5 years gain a few pounds but I really had a hard time losing weight I worked with a trainer at a gym and followed weigh watchers diet I tried so hard but would lose and gain the same 10 pounds no matter what I did. Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and specific drugs used for ovarian suppression are types of hormonal therapy. Vaginal dryness (tends to be the result of vaginal atrophy). Juliany, I'm sorry you are dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and I'm sorry to hear you are going through a probable relapse. Many Side Effects Of Arimidex Will Improve Within A Couple Of Weeks Of Stopping Arimidex; However, Some May Persist Long Term. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. Dizziness. And its unclear how often it occurred or whether Arimidex was the cause. Feeling well physically and mentally every day is important to me. 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. That averages a littleless thana pound a week. For example, both can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Read above my replyto Suzanneand you will know my situation. Wrapping Up 2022 Looking Back, Looking Forward. But that might be from chemo, as my hair hasnt been the same since then. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. I've been taking lexapro 20mg for three years. Side effects caused by anastrozole will be different for each person. They may be able to recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), to help ease your headache. Donna, Doris. Side effects after stopping anastrozole. However, I decided to stop a wee bit early. Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Arimidexs side effects. The half life of Arimidex is 30 to 60 hours. Link within Tweet but not accessible (to me) due to content payment wall. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. You may also experience side effects caused by other treatments or individual circumstance, such as the menopause. When Someone Dies, How Do You React to the Phrase, She Got Her Wings? I'm one of the ones that will never stop taking AIs, with other therapies qs well. This has happened to me too. Donna, Cynthia, I replied to your response but not knowing exactly what to do I did it wrong so you can go back and read it. Im convinced the drugs make weight loss harder and weight gain easier. 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. 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. (Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.) Enjoying what I'mdoing is an added bonus. It really helps combat the fatigue and soreness. I started taking anastrozole in May 2018. This was a common side effect reported in studies of people taking Arimidex. We need less harsh drugs that cause fewer side effects to begin with! It can usually be relieved with mild pain relief like paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. Finally, doctors are listening, validating and trying to come up with side effect management strategies. This weight gain can be even greater when it occurs suddenly as a result of breast cancer treatment. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Arimidex for early breast cancer treatment include: Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Arimidex for advanced or metastatic breast cancer treatment include: In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. Last updated on April 26, 2022. So, did I start feeling better and if so, when? In fact, despite the benefit, the side effects cause many of us to stop taking these drugs early or even to opt out of starting on one at all. Some side effects (such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) will persist for as long as you take Arimidex, and you may need to take medications for these. Any of the mild or serious side effects listed in the sections above may occur after 5 years of treatment with Arimidex. Its not known if Arimidex is safe to take while breastfeeding, or if the drug may be present in breast milk. Last medically reviewed on November 18, 2021. Takeaways from American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 (ASCO) via Dr. Susan Love Foundation. Live your life to the fullest - one day at a time. A lack of oestrogen over time can causeosteoporosis. My blood pressure was sort of creeping up and my pcp was frowning at me and threating more meds. If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Arimidex, they may have you switch to a different treatment. If youre male and your doctor has recommended that you take Arimidex, talk with them about the drugs possible side effects. Amy, Everyone is different in what they are willing/able to tolerate. Has anyone experienced any of these symptoms after 2 months of taking? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/arimidex. I have been off it 2 months. To hear from us, please sign up below. How soon do the side effects of Arimidex start? Good luck with year six on Aromasin. I never got to fully live out my pre-menopausal days because of cancer. In addition, after stopping the meds, although I definitely felt better, there are lingering effects and frankly, I don't think anyone has any idea if I will ever be free of those side effects. Cardiotoxicity is damage that can occur to the heart that may affect how well it works. Thats it. Of course, this is true for all of us, cancer or no cancer. Anyone lose weight after stopping lexapro. In this case, taking Arimidex may further increase your risk of bone fractures. I feel a little cheated. I was already recommending #acupuncture based on prior results of S1200 (https://t.co/saffgzH4Lw). 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. Also, it really can increase joint pain which could make you not want to exercise as much and increase weight. There are three aromatase inhibitors (referred to as AIsfrom here on out) that have been FDA approved: anastrozole(Arimidex),letrozole(Femara) andexemestane(Aromasin). Nor have my lashes and brows, I might add. People with breast cancer have a higher risk of blood clots such as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is important because determining who will and who likely will not benefit from extended endocrine therapy (EET) is a big deal. You won't know until you try it how it will affect you! (& other questions you might be wondering about). Higher levels of liver enzymes may indicate liver damage. Before you start taking Arimidex, talk with your doctor about its side effects. And yes, I still have a fair number of pounds to lose, but I have made progress. Side Effects That Should Resolve Quickly Include: Chest Discomfort. How to maintain your dignity when youre a cancer patient 6 tips. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. How much does Arimidex increase survival? I was dx with stage 2, multifocal DCIS, HER2+ and estrogen positive 6.5 cm mass, in February. A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Among the participants, 1,920 were randomly assigned to anastrozole for five years and 1,944 to placebo. OR a BMI of 30 to 40 with or without health issues for the gastric balloon procedure. Arimidex is only approved to be used in females whove gone through menopause (stopped having periods). If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Arimidex, theyll decide if you should continue using it. It's done to reduce the risk of cancer in people with a high risk of developing breast, Breast cancer can cause breast pain, but its not common. Stopping abnormal, heavy bleeding. 2. Nancy, you are so great for starting this blog and helping so many people. Women were considered high risk if they had two or more blood relatives with breast cancer, a mother or sister who developed breast cancer before the age of 50, or a mother or sister who had breast cancer in both breasts. You may wish to discuss this with your treatment team or GP, or ask the pharmacist who dispenses your prescriptions if they can supply you with anastrozole from the manufacturer you feel suits you the best. I know that doesn't work for everyone (the husband thing), but it does here. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Arimidex, visit MedWatch. 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've done personal training, nutritional counseling, meal prepping, cardio, HIIT workouts, and my blood work is all in the green. 4. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. It does this by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which converts these androgens into estrogen. trixie1313 @trixie1313 Hi Trixie. I too am experiencing extreme fatigue. Support you can use. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. Is it related to stopping? Generally it takes four to five half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from the body, so in the case of Arimidex this would be 150 to 300 hours, or six to 12 days. My Dr took me off it for two weeks and I restarted it in September. 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). The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. 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. If you think you have fatigue, tell your GP or treatment team. But the biggest indicator to whether or not someone will maintain their weight loss, Dr. Grunvald said, is if they have a . Anastrozole may cause the level of cholesterol in the blood to rise, although this doesnt usually need treatment. To clarify, in each color category on the wheel, the darker the color the more data there is to support the recommendation. You may also experience side effects caused by other treatments or individual circumstance, such as the menopause. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY. . My scans are negative (yay) but I am Stage 4, so I am on chemo indefinitely. Very confusing data though #bcsm pic.twitter.com/gS9wteKhd5. A simple walk around the block can really help with this. Source: Tweet below from recent #ASCO21 Conference. I havent written about the drugs we love to hate in a while and thought it was time I did. If you have this condition, taking Arimidex can increase your risk of a heart or blood vessel problem, such as a heart attack. I was osteopenic (pre-cursor to osteoporosis) prior to BC, and diagnosed with osteoporosis along with my IDC. For more about long-term side effects that may last even after stopping Arimidex treatment, see Can Arimidex cause long-term side effects that result in permanent damage? below. This causes pain, tingling and numbness in your arm, hand or fingers. Now, lucky me, I am treating a bout of diverticulitisyuck! sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 11, 2019 Examples include chest pain or shortness of breath. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Personally, I've been on arimidex for 4 yrs and although my hair isn't really thinner from a hair loss point of view, it is very much finer than it was but is also drier than before. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. 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