Hello everyone
I am about to change from Tamoxifen (started 04 Jan) to Arimidex. Does anyone have any personal knowledge about its side effects. I am changing from Tamoxifen because of vaginal symptoms. I am also worried and depressed and wondered if it is related to the Tamoxifen.
I would be most grateful for any help.
With many tanks
Dee
Hello, I changed after two years on Tamox because I had another scar, two small lumps removed and then changed. the first thing I noticed was the stiffness and soreness in joints, mainly ankles and wrists. After about 6 months that ceased. I put on weight and I get up more often to pee at night, and have horrid hot flushes, but mainly at night.
I get worried and of course depressed, but that’s just living with this godawful thing I guess…!
I wish you the best of luck.
K
HI desnej I have been on Arimadex since the end of July yes there are side effects joint stiffness which is pretty bad in the morning no hot sweats thank god I do get up very stiff but once I get going I am ok I had my mastectomy a year past in January and 8 sessions of chemo. I have been back at work since the beginning of November full time so life is not to bad for me. I dont feel to bad about the side effects as I am still here and I think aching joints is a small price to pay. I just had my first yearly check up 4 weeks ago and they were really pleased with me so I was so pleased to get that over and done with. I have read some terrible stories about ladies having some terrible side effects with the drugs they are taking so minw are not that bad compared to some. You may be one of the lucky ones who have no side effects on Arimadex I met up with a lady at the hospital who has none what so ever I had no side effects with the chemo and some have had horrendous ones. I do wish you all the very best with the Arimadex and hope you get on well with them Good Luck Linda xxx
Dear Linda
Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write so much.Were you previously on Tamoxifen - if so di you have vaginal symptoms and/or depression?
Many thanks
Dee
Hi Desnej I was not on Tamoxifen just the Arimadex I do have a problem with discharge I wasent going to tell you but now I will I have had a terrible dischage(what a subject) I had a smear 6 weeks ago and it was clear I also had a swab done as my gp was worried about this that was also clear. When I was at the hospital 4 weeks ago I told mt ancologist about this and he said I shouldnt be having this as Arimadex makes you very dry down below. Anyway he told me to go back to my gp and ask him to refer me to a gynacologist I am just waiting for the appointment to come through I do have to get this cleared up as it is driving me mad I have to change my underwear 3 times a day so not very nice. The onc also said he has never heard of anyone else having this prob;em with Arimadex. So please dont worry at least I will get it sorted I will let you know what happens. Good luck with the Arimadex I will also say to you that I have just read an article on Arimadex and they say they are one of the best drugs on the market better than Tamoxifen so I do feel pretty confident taking these and hope they do the trick and no recurrencies Love Linda xxx
Hi Desnej, i have been on arimidex since the 7th of jan this year, so far my bones hurt so much, the hot sweats and flushes have intensified, but i had a total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy on the 18th of december, so not sure what is causing what at the moments, but the joints hurt even more than they did on tamoxifen and zoladex, i am going for a dexa scan on the 18th of this month and am hoping that my bones aren’t thinning as i am only 45, but saying that, some women have very few effects, i seem to get every side effect under the sun!!! an asprin would give me a headache!!!
Alisonxxxxxxxx
Hi Desnej
I started off on tamox and zoladex 3.5 years ago - after about 3 months once i was in full menopause i moved to arimidex.
I stayed on Arimidex for about 2 years and then i changed back to tamox. I was using vagifem pessaries (to help relieve a very dry down below area!!) and it was pushing up my oestrogen levels slightly so it was decided that tamox would be better for me, so i changed back to tamox about a year ago.
The main difference in side effects that i noticed were that i seemed to have more aches and stiffness with arimidex, also dryer down below, hot flushes are about the same, night sweats seem worse with tamox, peeing in the night with both, i also found that tamox makes me a little constipated.
oh the joys of these drugs…its not great on either i am afraid!!
take care
LOL
xxxxx
Hi there
Have been on Arimidex for about 5 months now. I find my joints are very stiff when I get out of bed/chair/car but the more I move about the better it gets. It’s not very painful but I walk like a penguin with piles for about 3 minutes before everything gets going. I do have hot flushes at night which are intensified by drinking alcohol - which is a bit of a bummer. If you suffer from vaginal dryness I can recommend Sylk lubricant. A bit every day works wonders!!!
Sharon
Hi everyone. I have been on Arimadex since Jan 07, so over a year now. I get hot flushes and also find I have to use Replens for vaginal dryness, but other wise no real side effects.
There is another post going on this site re ‘Trigger finger or trigger thumb’ several of us seem to be suffering from it and that could be a side effect. Mine has been sorted out by an injection from my GP.
I swim at least once a week and do gentle walks in the countryside near my home so I think perhaps that helps prevent joint pains.
Heidicat x