different makes of anastrozole?

[DaisyGirl]

Thanks for the tip Summerb, I will definitely give it a try on my next prescription

Daisy xx

[Guest user]

I changed brands of Arimidex from Teva to Astra Zeneca and it really made a difference to the level of pain . I would ask your Doctor to give you Astra Zeneca , you have a right to it if you are in pain . Also I recommend swimming gently in your local pool to get rid of joint pain . I found this such a relief I did it weekly through my treatment , even swimming 30 lengths by the end . Nothing is great on these drugs but it is a way to cope . Also if you can get to a gym that can help too , any exercise is good .

[rospet]

Hi everyone,

It was good to hear experiences of Lazy Daisy, Scb girl ,  I take fish oil and calcium supplements and I will get some glucosmine . The yoga and other advice sounds good.

Its nice to know that I'm not the only one with aches and pains and I have to say that I feel much better than I did a month ago.  Unfortunately  most things come down to financial economy but I can't complain I've had my money's worth from the NHS this year.All the best to you all and I hope you do as well as me.  xx

[DaisyGirl]

Hi everyone

I have been keeping a record of the different brands of anastrozole, currently taking Teva brand.  The only difference between the generics and Arimidex that I can see is the Arimidex contains macrogol 300 but all the others contain Macrogol 400 and macrogol 6000. 

I have constant joint pain and for the last week the pain in my hands and wrists has increased significantly.  My thumb also swells up during the night and clicks at the joint when I move it and is very painful.  GP has ordered full bloods and x-rays of hands and wrists before referring me to a Rheumatologist.

To counteract all the s/e's I now take:

For joint pain:

Glucosamine - recommended by Onc

Naproxen anti-inflammatory - prescribed by GP

Paracetamol - desperation

For bone density:

Vit d3 and calcium (so don't take cod liver oil) - prescribed by GP/Onc

For hot flushes:

Sage Leaf tablets - recommended by BCN

Venlafaxine (also for depression) - prescribed by GP

and Omeprazole to coat stomach because I am taking Naproxen and Venlafaxine - prescribed by GP

Sometimes it is difficult to see the bright side!

DG xx

[Southcoastbeachgirl]

Hi rospet I was on Anastrazole for 9 months but have recently been taken off it for the second time due to various s/es and am going to start Exemastame in a week or so. I totally empathise with you about the aches in hands arms and shoulders. I have been having physio and my physio recommended Bihar yoga as the best form of exercise to stretch out all the muscles and aching joints. I have been going for 3 weeks and can highly recommend it. It doesn't make all the aches go away but it certainly seems to help. Might be worth a try? It's very gentle and works on all different parts of the body and you do as much or as little as you can manage.
I also take cod liver oil tablets and high strength glucosamine and chondroitin, plus painkillers. With all of that, I find I can generally cope day to day. Hope that helps. All best to you - scbgirl xx

[Lazydaisy1]

Hi - found your post very interesting - I'm sure you've been told that they all come from the same recipe but like you I've found my body reacts differently to 'other brands' and I was beginning to wonder if it was my mind going !! I was on Nastrosa for two years after Anastrozoles license ran out and after I settled I loved it ...... Well that a bit of an exaggeration but you get what I mean. I'm sick of being told that they are 'all the same' but I'm sure you'll agree that give six people the same ingredients for a Victoria Sponge they will all taste different . Nastrosa was brilliant, fiery flashes quickly abated and aches and pains were almost none existent  and mood swings much much less.  Fatigue was a big problem but with Nastrosa there wasnt a problem .

Still back to you which is why you posted in the first place - I think Chemists get the cheapest deal and if that means swopping about with distributers/manufactures they will do it and you and me will be the casualty - it all comes down to profit and shareholders you will be the last consideration . You could request from your regular Pharmacy that they keep to one specific brand . Good Luck Lazydaisy

[rospet]

Thanks for reply,nice to know there is support.  I have tried the number but it is always so busy,however I will keep trying.

[June_BCC]

Hello Rospet

Welcome to the BCC forums. 

Whilst waiting for support and shared experiences from your fellow users maybe you would like to call our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 and talk to one of our staff who are there to offer support and information, lines are open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 10-2..

Best wishes

June, moderator

[rospet]

Hi, I've been on Anastrazole now for 7 months and joint ache really bad in hands arms and shoulders.  Have read that exercise helps but "what" exercise? Am very active, grandchildren, gardening etc.  Also take cod liver oil and calcium tablets.  Would welcome any advice.

[PenguinBiscuits]

Hi M
Many thanks, I have a GP appointment on Monday so I will talk it all through with him. There seems to be lots of things to learn. I will try your tips. All the best and take it easy. PenguinB

[Maryland]

Hi PenguinB....I have been on Anastrozole (TEVA) for 15 months now and the side effects have been many and varied! Hot flushes I sort of have under control now by taking Vitamin E....gone down from 8 - 10 a day to 1 or 2. Dry mouth comes and goes. Worst for me is the joint pain....hands have improved, take glucosamine and chondroitin, but my knee drives me nuts! Apparently it's the reduction of oesteogen and its impact on bones generally, although my DEXA bone scan was good. Have the bones of a 40 year old (am 57)....why oh why doesn't the rest of my body know that?! My hair has grown back pretty weel, last chemo Jul 2012, however the Docetaxol/Anastrozole combo has made it, way, way thinner than before. Since diagnosis I have tried to practise Mindfulness which has really helped, i.e. being here in this moment, right here, right now and dealing with the present. A real challenge not to think about the past or 'what ifs'....I hope that your side effects ease, maybe have a chat with your GP or pharmacist to see of you can change brands which may help? Best wishes M

[PenguinBiscuits]

I'm 7 weeks post op and the hot flushes and pains are getting worse. My first packet of tablets was the Accord brand and the second is Sandoz. How have you found each of these brands, anyone had Sandoz or do the side effects get worse the longer you on anastrozole? Thanks everyone. PenguinB

[soi]

So glad I came on to look for situations with  Anastrozole. I have been on Arimidex for 3 years now 

 I went to my  GP who gave me a prescription for me to buy  Anastrozle , I never really though much about it as it is the same Tablet I think it is Teva the chemist gave me .      I have been on it 2 weeks now.  God I dont know whats hit me.  I had joint pain with Arimidex but nothing like I am having with this one.  Every bone in my body is sore, especially at the back of my neck where I have developed Oestopina and this is causing bad headaches. I am  having digestive problems where everything i eat is coming back on me.

was really starting to panic until I realised all the extra symptoms started when I changed to the generic tablet.Hopefully I can get back on Arimidex soon.

[Guest user]

Hi everyone

reading the Anastrozole subject.  I started on them 3 months ago, the hot flushes were so debilitating and the night sweats just awful. I have been working with my G P and have found that Gabapentin 300mg has first of all lessened the hot flushes and night sweats and have only been taking them for 2 weeks.  The aching and weakness in joints bad, must get the Glucosome tabs.  Has anyone experienced losing balance and then finding yourself falling, falling then hitting ground?  have had two such falls - knowing I am falling but cannot save myself.   Interesting about the make  the ones I have is Synthon B V in the Netherlands.

[PenguinBiscuits]

I'm 3 weeks post op so I have only recently started anastrozole but its good to know about all your findings. I already suffer from Depression so I will need to keep an eye on things. I will keep a note of brand and any side effects. There is so much to think about and learn so it good to talk. Thanks everyone. PenguinB

[DaisyGirl]

Thanks Jane, I think I will give it a go and see if it helps 🙂

Daisy xx

[JaneyW]

I took sage when I went through my 'real' menopause, and it did help with the flushes and sweats. But you do need to be on it for a few weeks before you notice full results. I can't now remember how long, but I'd been warned of this, so stuck with it. I think if I'd not been told this I'd have given up, so I pass this advice to you.

Jane

[DaisyGirl]

Hi Everyone

I have been taking anastrozole for 7 months and I have had considerable problems on and off.  I too have been given a number of different brands and (sad person that I am) have kept the leaflets.  I will have a look and see what differences there are in the ingredients.

My worst side effects are the crushing depression (I now also take venlafaxine) and the nightmare sweating which pours down my face and hot flushes.  My BCN has suggested that I take a sage supplement and I was wondering if anyone is taking Sage and if it has helped?

The aches and pains are now under control, I take calcium and vit D3 tablets prescribed by Onc and Glucosamine. 

DaisyGirl xx

[birdy]

I have been taking Arimidex/ Anastrozole for the last 7 years.

I took Arimidex for 5 of those until I was prescribed the generic version when it came off patent. When I was on Arimidex I used to get a really debilitating headache about once a week, nothing would shift it and it made me feel really low, like locking myself away.

I saw my onc about 6 weeks after starting the generic tablets ( I never seem to get the same manufacturer twice!) when I realised that since starting them, the headaches had gone. I told him about this, thinking he would think I was nuts but no, he said I wasn't imagining it, and a lot depended on individual reactions to the fillers in the tablets. He also said that some people had the reverse and couldn't get on with the generic tablets at all.

So I think it's a case of monitoring reactions to different manufacturers and seeing which ones suit best.

[meggy]

Yes I've been on different makes and have wondered about this since there was a conversation about different brands of tamoxifen. I've been on Generics recently but am just coming to end of 4 week holiday. Not sure what the Onc will say on friday. I've have much more mental clarity in last few weeks so am dreading going back on stuff again - my aches have been a little less but still there, the night sweats fewer and sleep better but not fantastic.  This is interesting thread - thanks

cheers everyone

Maggy

[Jenifer]

Arimidex costs so much more because the company who manufactures them are the ones who discovered the drug so they have to recover the cost of their research.

P.S.  I had trouble with the Accord brand too - terrible mood swings. The chemist now always gives me the Teva brand which seems to agree with me better.

[Amber_D]

Hi,
Interesting to read your posts. I started taking Anaztarolestrozole 5 weeks ago and have achy legs and hot flushes but not sure if these are still from chemo as I suffered these before taking the tabs. Just looked at my box and it's Accord. I've had a few down times and hadn't really associated this with the medication just thought it was because my active treatment has now finished and I felt abandoned for a while. I did however discover that Arimidex costs about £68where Anaztarolestrozole costs £2, makes you wonder what the difference is, a question I'll be asking my Oncologist at next meeting.

[CherryH]

Thanks Funkilala for your post - that's interesting, isn't it?  I can't remember the names of the other brands  - I've never bothered to take much notice as I've been happily taking the pills and coping with hot flushes etc with a cheerful frame of mind. But this month's batch really has felt different, less  sweats but with a depressive mood.  This isn't normal for me and I didn't associate the two together for a while (I've no reason to feel down) but then I just wondered,  so it's interesting you feel the same - even down to less troublesome flushes.

I googled it yesterday and learned there are different generic brands composing of much the same  medication but slightly varying base ingredients and at different costs - bear in mind, as a non-medical person, I don't know what I'm saying!! But actually, we may have stumbled on something more relevant than we think....

I shall revert back to my local chemist/pharmacy that do not supply Accord, make a note and watch for side effects.

And perhaps we can keep each other posted?

love Cherry 

[Funkilala]

Hi CherryH

I started Anastrozole a few months ago and although I'm on a 4 week vacation from them at the moment (due to some other side effects) I have only ever used the Accord brand.  I do get aches  but have been very fortunate not to get hot flushes. I have been very down in the dumps and flat since taking them but put that more down to everything I have been through in the last year. What other brands did you use that didn't  make you feel low? I'm due to start taking them again in 4 weeks and would be interested to see if another brand didn't make me feel so miserable.

[CherryH]

Hi, I was diagnosed with BC a year ago, had a mastectomy and radiotherapy and have now been on anastrozole for 10 months.

I've had the usual aches and pains and sweats but nothing too debilitating. However, this month - for the first time, I've been plagued by depression. I have to renew and collect a repeat prescripton each month from my GP, and I usually collect the pills either from the surgery's pharmacy or my local chemist - they each supply slightly different brands but I guess it's the same basic tablet of 1mg anastrozole. However, this last batch I picked up from Boots Chemist in the city - and a different brand yet again (this one is Accord Healthcare).

And this month I've been blissfully free of too many hot flushes, but oh, so down in the dumps and flat. Has anyone else found slightly different side effects from one batch to another? I don't want to feel like this for too long.

I look forward to reading any replies - thanks,

love Cherry