I have been taking Arimidex for over 2 years and unfortunately I have had all the usual side effects. I have continued with this little white tablet because my oncologist persuaded me to - despite the side effects I am having.
For the last year I have been having terrible problems with my teeth ie tooth ache, crumbling teeth, fillings falling out etc. I seem to be at the dentist all the time at the moment. It is so costly as well as inconvenient and painful.
Has anyone else had this side effect with Arimidex - or are these problems with my teeth just a side effect of growing old? I have suggested to my dentist that it might be the Arimidex but she discounted it and said it was because my fillings were all put in at the same time and they only have a certain life span.
Me too - same problems but didn’t think to ask about Arimidex. Dentist said chemo had no effect on teeth, just gums. Not sure I beleive that as too many here have had problems but I think there’s no money/gain in doing the research to find out.
Chemotherapy doesn’t directly affect the teeth but because saliva flow is reduced, this is where the problem lies. Saliva is so important to healthy teeth as it contains all sorts of buffers (to neutralise acid) and antibodies etc. This is why older people especially those on medication tend to have more decay and why those on chemotherapy are in the same boat. So if you have a filling which is old and starting to crack, without a good saliva flow, it won’t last as long as it would normally. I recommend fluoride toothpastes to my patients such as Colgate Duraphat which contains more fluoride than normal ones. Your dentist may sell it or if not, it is available on prescription which your GP or dentist could prescribe (handy is you get free prescriptions). As with all fluoride toothpastes, in order to get maximum benefit, don’t rinse after brushing.
so glad this topic has started again ,because ive been having tremendous problems with my teeth and they are crumbling away ,i had a very long course of chemos and this caused me blisters and ulcers in my mouth and now im on arimadex with all the other side effects my teeth are in a terrible state ,besides the mastectomy i now have rotten teeth to contend with ,seems cancer has a lot to answer for!!im always rinsing my mouth with gargel etc because im constantly worried my breath smells .my dentist has been very good trying to preserve whats left of my smile but im thinking it wont be too long before i have to have dentures fitted .
My niece is a dentist. I did not think to ask her before. After your replies I decided to write to her to ask her opinion on this and this is her reply. You might like to see it.
'There are many pills and tablets which can affect our teeth and make us more prone to tooth decay, either by containing sugar themselves or by reducing the amount of saliva we produce, for example, it is known that over 200 tablets affect saliva flow. I have looked up Arimidex and there are no known dentally relevant side effects. It could be, however, that another tablet that you are taking could reduce the amount of saliva that you produce, which would leave you at higher risk of tooth decay.
Unfortunately, no dental treatment lasts forever, so it is quite possible that yours fillings etc are just coming to the end of their life coincidently all at the same time. I have certainly found that myself.
Generally I would recommend the following to keep your teeth healthy and reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum problems
• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (don’t use the herbal ones because they don’t contain any fluoride). Just spit the excess toothpaste out, don’t rinse your mouth with water afterwards because it rinses away the fluoride.
• Use either floss or tiny bottle brushes to clean inbetween your teeth once a day, as your dentist or hygienist recommends. (everyone has different sized spaces inbetween their teeth so you need to find out what is best for you)
• Do not snack in between meals. The bacteria metabolise food to produce acid which causes tooth decay
• Drink tea or coffee (without sugar) or water inbetween meals.
I 100% agree with Cathy59.’
I take Adcal D3 so it may be that it is this tablet causing me the problems and not the Arimidex after all. We always blame the Arimidex and this time it may not be at fault. Or it may be just sod’s law that all my fillings are dropping out at the same time.
Slightly of topic, but I notice you say you are taking ADCAL D3.
My Dr went to put me on these last month but then changed me when I picked up the tablets and they said “contains soya”. Being ER+ I am told to avoid soya and therefore did not want to take a tablet twice a day forever that contained it. I am now on a similar tablet without soya.
I am on Calceos. Take 2 a day, each contains 500mg calcium and 400iu vit d3.
How long have you been on Adcal?
Has it got a soya warning on the front of box? This is how I realised.
Hello Lolly73 - I have been on Adcal-D3 for 3 years now - to conteract the side effects of Arimidex. I have looked at the box and on the back it says ‘Also contains small quantities of sucrose and soya oil.’ The leaflet inside says it contains soya oil.
On looking at the small print of the leaflet it says that Adcal-D3 ‘may be harmful to teeth if used for a prolonged period’. These tablets could well also be responsible for my tooth problems, which I thought had been caused by the Arimidex.
Each tablet contains 1500mg of calcium and 400iu vit D3 to be taken twice a day.
Thank you for bringing this soya problem to my attention. I will have a word with my oncologist and see if it is alright for me to continue have these tablets.
Just to clear up this fact, each of my tabs contain 1250mg calcium carbonate which it says is equal to 500mg elemental calcium.
Be interested to hear what your onc says.
I know that some people say avoid soya and some dont, and that there is only a small amount in the tabs, but its not like you are eating a one off thing. Its twice a day every day, so Im not prepared to take that risk.
Two more fillings and bits of teeth have fallen out! With continual toothache I was feeling so low and feel as though I am falling apart! I’ve been to see my dentist again and I reported back to her some of the comments here and without hesitation she said she thought I would benefit from Duraphat fluoride toothpast. We shall have to wait and see if there is any more crumbling of teeth.
I now don’t think it is the Arimidex causing the problem. Poor Arimidex gets blamed for everything! I think it is my lifestyle - sweet drinks, biscuits, chocolates etc as well as the Adcal D3 tablets. (Lolly73-I am going to check the soya content with my oncologist when I see him in November.)
Just to bring you up to date - I’ve been on my prescription fluoride toothpaste for 2 months’ now and copious drinks of water/tea/coffee etc and I have seen a great improvement in my teeth. No more crumbling of teeth so far. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Hi Christine, I’ve been taking arimidex for 4 months now due to s/p bilateral mastectomy due to breast cancer. I am experiencing moderate teeth and gum pain. Cold and warm food and beverages hurts. I take Tylenol and/Motrin as needed. I’very been coping very well since being diagnosed and having my surgery. But for the last few days I am beginning to feel very emotional. I hope I don’t have to loose my teeth sooner than expected.