We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Interested in more discussions like this? (Thank you, Dr. Attai, for sharing the links.). I started going to Curves a couple years ago and lasted for about 2 weeks and could not use the machines anymore because severe joint pain. If you have been given bisphosphonates (see below) as part of your treatment you will not need a scan. The pain has lessened this week. Some side effects may last even after you stop treatment, such as osteoporosis or high cholesterol. Females* who have not gone through menopause. Changes In Your Mood Perhaps you're aware of the mounting evidence that links low levels of testosterone and depression. Dizziness. I think it is important to do all we can to fight the cancer and Arimidex seems to be a powerful weapon. I had forgot my password and even had to change it. Side effects that should resolve quickly include: Side effects that may persist for a few months, or that may still require medications to treat them include: Unfortunately, no formal clinical studies have been done investigating the persistence of side effects from Arimidex. I appreciate your thoughts. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Other side effects, such as high cholesterol and osteoporosis (brittle bones) take much longer (months to years) to develop and may be hard to notice, but your doctor will monitor you for these. I also had managed to lose a few pounds. Note link to study within Tweet. Is it related to stopping? The list below includes factors to consider. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Arimidex is a tablet that is taken by mouth. Arimidex may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. As always, I do endorse learning all you can, speaking candidly with your care team about side effects (or lack there of), asking for help in managing any side effects that are bothering you and ultimately, making decisions about staying on or going off these drugs that feel right for YOU. 1 Lifestyle Changes That Will Help You Lose Weight After Your Operation. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Find out more aboutdiet and breast cancer treatment. In most cases, side effects that you experience from taking Arimidex will be mild. While on exemestane, I struggled to lose any weight. Live your life to the fullest - one day at a time. Some people find anastrozole produced by one manufacturer seems to suit them better than another. Arimidex may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. Side effects caused by anastrozole will be different for each person. You cant get it back. Source: Tweet below from recent #ASCO21 Conference. Coping with the side effects of anastrozole When are the effects of Arimidex finally gone? The IBIS-II Prevention trial enrolled 3,864 postmenopausal women at increased risk for developing breast cancer from 2003 to 2012. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Arimidex. In most cases, Arimidex is taken for five years, although some women may take it for a shorter period. Im starting year 6 on Aromasin-I tried every AI, this is my best tolerated-after results from Index test stated Only 5 more years girlfriend! Ouch, that hurt! How long do side effects last after stopping Arimidex? Help this goal by becoming gradually more active and you may lose some weight and you will definitely feel better. I wanted to share my experience as encouragement that it can be done, but for me to achieve results, it has definitely taken a lot of work. Sorry to not be more definitive, but thats my honest answer to both parts of the question. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. This is downright hard work (for me) but it can be done, Arimidex and all. Many people feel low or depressed. Skipping dinner can put your body into a state of starvation mode, meaning that instead of using calories to burn energy, it starts using your stored fat for energy instead. Symptoms to watch for include: Your doctor may monitor your liver function throughout Arimidex treatment to check for liver problems. Allergic reaction. If youre a man and taking an AI med, whats your experience been like? Support you can use. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? If Im surmising correctly, who benefits from these assays might be more nuanced. Finally, doctors are listening, validating and trying to come up with side effect management strategies. I have been having symptoms of a Crohn's flare, severe nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss of 18 lbs in last 6 weeks,steatorrhea, pain in mid chest and right upper quadrant. Nor have my lashes and brows, I might add. There are no known interactions between alcohol and Arimidex. I am not. You may develop a skin rash while taking anastrozole. This has helped with the pain. Keep reading and note the graphs within the Tweets below. Especially those newly diagnosed need to hear that indeed there are well documented side effects, and its not just you. It might take me 4 more months to lose those 12 lbs., but I feel wonderful and can do things I couldn't do before - like I can sit down in the middle of the floor and get up without needing leverage. Your doctor may monitor your bone mineral density or may recommend a different treatment option for you. Some people benefit from switching to a different hormone therapy. Nancy, you are so great for starting this blog and helping so many people. Once you finish your treatment your liver will usually go back to normal. This may also be due to vaginal dryness. If you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks on the full dose of your medication, your health care professional will probably advise you to stop taking it. 4. This does not change the effectiveness of the treatment. Christine, what symptoms are you experiencing? It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/arimidex. Examples of the long-term side effects of Arimidex include: Its possible to develop these side effects from taking Arimidex for a long time or at any time during treatment. Does taking Arimidex with other treatments for cancer increase the risk of side effects? Updated 6 May 2020 1 answer FAQ by Drugs.com. It really helps combat the fatigue and soreness. You won't know until you try it how it will affect you! This is when part of the blood clot breaks away and travels to the lung. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. If your bones are already beginning to show signs of thinning or if you already have osteoporosis, you may be given another drug to increase bone density and strength. It makes me a little mad and a little sad at the same time. Stage 4 patients were included and reported similar side effect experiences. I had 4 weeks of radiation. Although not common, its possible to have liver problems from taking Arimidex. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. I don't know what changed in my little brain, but something did and I've stuck to it and have lost28 lbs. I have gained 8 pounds. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. How soon do the side effects of Arimidex start? (2020). If you struggle to maintain a healthy weight, ask your GP or specialist about being referred to a dietician. Thanks for sharing. In most cases, Arimidex is taken for five years, although some women may take it for a shorter period. You may have headaches from taking Arimidex. I do feel better now that Im off exemestane. Before you start taking Arimidex, talk with your doctor about its side effects. Talk with your doctor if you are having difficulty managing your side effects from Arimidex. I had fatigue but that seems to have faded away too. You may find your side effects reduce after stopping anastrozole, for others they may continue after treatment finishes. When given before surgery to shrink a tumor, its called neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. Other side effects There are Oncologists out there who are a partner with you in your healthcare vs. telling you there is only one way to treat this. They may monitor you more often throughout your treatment, or they may recommend a different medication for you. They may be able to recommend ways to reduce the pain. Side effects after stopping anastrozole. More common side effects in people taking Arimidex for early breast cancer include: More common side effects in people taking Arimidex for advanced or metastatic breast cancer include: * To learn more about this side effect, see the Side effects explained section below. Similarly, seek medical attention right away if you develop symptoms of a liver condition, such as yellowing of the eyes or skin. By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. I know that doesn't work for everyone (the husband thing), but it does here. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. We'd love to keep in touch about news, events and how you can get involved. It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old). I decided to stop hormonal therapy. bone pain, risk of fracture; swelling in your arms, legs, or feet; sore throat, cough, shortness of breath; headache, back pain; depression, sleep problems (insomnia); high blood pressure; nausea . It does this by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which converts these androgens into estrogen. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. Also don't beat yourself up about things you "should" be doing. Welcome to Connect, @christinej Liver toxicity, including liver inflammation and changes in liver function tests. The side effects are nothing to sneeze at either and can, in fact, be quite unpleasant, impacting a womans quality of life. I also now have osteoporosis, so I take calcium, vitamin D, and Boniva. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments. I was osteopenic (pre-cursor to osteoporosis) prior to BC, and diagnosed with osteoporosis along with my IDC. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I only want to say thank you for this wonderful informative article. They may be able to recommend a medication or other ways to prevent more hair loss from occurring. Interested in more discussions like this? Where do the lines of osteoporosis danger and cancer recurrence intersect? Arimidex (anastrozole) is a prescription drug thats used to treat breast cancer. I gained weight on Tamoxifen but did not gain weight on Arimidex. In fact, I have been convinced on several occasions that there must be something wrong with me because I used to be able to lose weight at the drop of a hat andthis has been soooo slow given the amount of exercise and food I'm consuming. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. Eat fewer calories by cutting down on portions and/or decreasing the total amount of fat you eat to 30% or less of your total daily calories. But this use of Arimidex is illegal, and the drug may be tested for prior to sporting events or competitions. In the IBIS-II trial, too few deaths were reported in the Arimidex Vs Placebo . Hope everything is going well with you. I've been taking lexapro 20mg for three years. Select one or more newsletters to continue. This is because Arimidex lowers total body estrogen levels by about 70% within 24 hours of starting the drug, which effectively creates an artificial menopause. But that might be from chemo, as my hair hasnt been the same since then. My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son. Yes, I take 2000 units daily. How much does Arimidex increase survival? Common side effects of Arimidex that affect more than 5% of women and generally start soon after therapy begins include: Other side effects that generally take weeks or months to develop include: The most common reason for discontinuing Arimidex has been hot flashes, although the incidence of this is less than with tamoxifen. Little brain, but it does here them better than another since then you... Im off exemestane goal by becoming gradually more active and you will definitely feel better 've stuck it... 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