Has anyone got any advice on the transfer from Arimidex to unspecified generics. Have been on Arimidex for 15 months but have also just moved to another part of the country. In my new location the doctors now refuse to prescribe Arimidex which although has the usual SE of hot flushes, bit of nausea, muscle ache and real tiredness, am getting the hang of it. So now each time I have a prescription I am to be given a generic and not the same one each time. Do not want to be on a see-saw as well. Apparently the Arimidex over 10 times more expensive than generics but at least could they not specify one consistent generic. Would appreciate any suggestions as how to get on with this new complication. Understand the drug should be the same but so many people have extra side effects in addition. Know this might not happen so I suppose can only keep fingers crossed!!
Hi Niffa, you’ll see there’s been quite a lot of discussion on these threads about the various generics. Some ladies do indeed find differences between the manufacturers. (Look in the Going through treatment forum under Hormone treatment) The good news is that they all have the right stuff in them, but the bad news is that have different other chemicals to make the tablets. My suggestion is to try the first generic, and if it gives nothing new (I’m on generic anastrozole, and I know what you mean about getting used to the side effects), then when you take your next prescription into the pharmacy tell them the manufacturer and ask if you can always have that version. If, however, you get new effects that you don’t want, then do the opposite, and ask if they’d get you another manufacturer’s version. Or ask your GP to do that for you. I’ve never had a problem, but others have, and the reports are that pharmacists are very helpful in this regard. If you’re in a town with more than one pharmacy, it’s possible you may have to shop around, but I think that pharmacists are so used to different generics having different patterns of side effects that they’ll take it in their stride. Perhaps talk to them when you get your first prescription.
Good luck - and welcome to the forums. I see you’ve recently registered.
Jane