Since treatment I did exercise, just inconsistently - maybe 3 days a week one week, skip a week, 2 days a week,an occasional 4-day week, 30 minutes here and there, etc. Has anyone stopped this drug and had any withdrawal symptoms? Thank you and may you beat this cancer in the butt like we all want to do. Nancy, you are so great for starting this blog and helping so many people. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Arimidex, visit MedWatch. Personally, I've been on arimidex for 4 yrs and although my hair isn't really thinner from a hair loss point of view, it is very much finer than it was but is also drier than before. It does this by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which converts these androgens into estrogen. Anastrozole and side effects.hair loss/thinning and hair regrowth. I have heard alot of women gaining alot of weight. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I only want to say thank you for this wonderful informative article. I am so happy for you. Juliany, I'm sorry you are dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and I'm sorry to hear you are going through a probable relapse. Yes, Arimidex may cause some long-term side effects. I was having severe pain in my leg and knee, couldn't sleep,to the point where I had to take pain pills. I'm glad some of my posts are meaningful for you. This will usually be from a group of drugs called bisphosphonates. I've been taking lexapro 20mg for three years. Many side effects of Arimidex will improve within a couple of weeks of stopping Arimidex; however, some may persist long term. Specifically, its prescribed in some cases to treat the following: The active ingredient in Arimidex is anastrozole. I too just finished taking Anastrazole after years and having incredible fatigue. 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. Many side effects of Arimidex will improve within a couple of weeks of stopping arimidex; however, some may persist long term. Find out more aboutmenopausal symptomsandsex and intimacy. All three trials demonstrate that weight gain occurs primarily within the first 12 months of active treatment in a subset of patients. Source: Tweet below from recent #ASCO21 Conference. It will be seven years in October! Has Cancer Treatment Accelerated the Aging Process for You? Study continues. Glad benefit is durable. Endocrine therapy,also known ashormonal therapy,is treatment used for many early stage breast cancers that are estrogen and/or progesterone positive. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. Donna, Doris. If you have osteoporosis, you may already have weak bones or bones that are more likely to fracture. Considered myself an exerciser, but I really wasn't. There is no getting around this. If you have a liver condition, taking Arimidex may increase your risk of liver problems or worsening of your liver condition. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Maybe your doc could refer you to physical therapy for a while or a trainer at a gym could work with you on what you can do and how to do it right to increase strength and avoid pain and injury. The last time I took my blood pressure, it was 117/70. When I began the AI and complained about the side effects like joint pain, rage and suicidal ideation, the oncological nurse dismissed me with its not from the drug and youll get used to it over time. When discussing risk/benefit, this was the best choice for me. It most commonly occurs when changing from one hormone therapy to another. It took a year of asking my oncologist, and for me to focus enough to realize it wasnt being addressed, before he referred me to a specialist for osteoporosis. I allow myself to fall off the wagon if I feel like it on the eating, but I have changed my eating habits consistently and I maintain the exercise routine 5 days a week. If the pain is severe, it may be helpful to see a pain management specialist at a pain clinic. Withdrawal symptoms? @smspaz59 I have been taking Anastrozol for 3months now. When exactly I started feeling better is hard to pinpoint. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. Do not skip meals. Its a very common side effect of breast cancer treatment and may affect you physically and emotionally. The response to that survey was notable, with 2,353 women and 54 men responding. 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. Copyright 2000-2022 Cancer Survivors Network. Not to the extent it should be anyway. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. My Dr took me off it for two weeks and I restarted it in September. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Arimidex reduces the risk of breast cancer by 53% after 7 years follow up and 50% after 10.9 years follow up. How do I take Arimidex on a cycle and how much? But its not recommended that you breastfeed while taking Arimidex or for at least 2 weeks after stopping treatment. Many side effects of Arimidex will improve within a couple of weeks of stopping arimidex; however, some may persist long term. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. (Thank you, Dr. Attai, for sharing the links.). Anyone lose weight after stopping lexapro. When given before surgery to shrink a tumor, its called neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. Bone loss is serious. I have, hard time controlling my bladder, and memory is definitely been affected along with mild hot flashes. And some may be easily managed, too. (2020). thanks for your reply. How long does it take to to work through the withdrawal process? And yes, I still have a fair number of pounds to lose, but I have made progress. (& other questions you might be wondering about). This slows the growth of tumors that require estrogen to grow. Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1160558), Scotland (SC045584) and Isle of Man (1200). Calorie counting. I'm almost at the end". Arimidex can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. There are CDs, podcasts and phone apps that can guide you through these techniques. If you have a history of high cholesterol you may want to discuss this with your specialist or GP. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.). For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article. Who wouldn't? MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. It comes in a strength of 1 milligram (mg). If you think you have fatigue, tell your GP or treatment team. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/arimidex. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. Wait. November 2, 2011. Talk with your doctor if you are having difficulty managing your side effects from Arimidex. Since Nov. 1 I have been to the gym 5 days a week, missing only an occasional day here and there (maybe a total of 5). hugs from Brazil. 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. Where do the lines of osteoporosis danger and cancer recurrence intersect? Very confusing data though #bcsm pic.twitter.com/gS9wteKhd5. How soon do the side effects of Arimidex start? Basically, these drugs block tumor growth by lowering the bodys natural supply of estrogen. Complete your request online or contact us by phone. What happens when you stop taking Arimidex? For example, they may recommend taking an OTC pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help ease this side effect. Declining an AI does not necessarily mean the ca will come back. I also now have osteoporosis, so I take calcium, vitamin D, and Boniva. Examples include chest pain or shortness of breath. This slows the growth of tumors that require estrogen to grow. I made it to a little over nine years. Meanwhile, we wait for those clear answers. would have been gone in 3 months with little effort! Others find exercise improves their mood. I decided to stop hormonal therapy. Its a good idea to know the side effects that may occur with Arimidex so that you can monitor for them. Its noteworthy, too, that AIs are used to treat some types of metastatic breast cancer, usually, in combination with another drug. I hope I am like you and not gain weight like you did while taking Arimidex. Learn more. Those who lose weight slowly, by eating less and exercising more, tend to keep their lost weight off. What are the new treatment options for migraines? I'll cook what I want to eat and he's welcome to eat it, but he'd rather have what he likes, so he cooks for himself (and continues to gain weight). Sounds like you made the best decision for you. We definitely need better side effect management strategies. You may find your side effects reduce after stopping anastrozole, for others they may continue after treatment finishes. sandrajo @sandrajo I'm interested to read the responses to this, too. It has been particularly hard for me, because my husbandadamantly refuses to eat just about anything healthy, so there are chips, cookies and other goodies in the house. 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. What Types of Breast Cancer Have the Highest Recurrence Rates? Over the last three years I've gained 40 pounds. It is important to me to be able to exercise every day and feel well. In fact, despite the benefit, the side effects cause many of us to stop taking these drugs early or even to opt out of starting on one at all. Using a wrist splint can help. This post focuses primarily on aromatase inhibitors. When you do stop, it will likely take some time before you notice changes in how you feel. Headache. If he wants to eat fried foods on a regular basis, he's on his own. You cant get it back. It makes me a little mad and a little sad at the same time. advanced breast cancer that has worsened after taking, swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet, swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe, what dose of drug you were taking when you had the side effect, how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect, what your symptoms were from the side effect, what other medications you were also taking, any other information you feel is important. Thank you! Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is pressure on a nerve in your wrist. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. Im sharing a couple personal updates as well as a couple research-backed updates about these drugs, or more specifically, the management of side effects from said drugs. Donna. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? But its possible that Arimidex, when used with other treatments for cancer, may increase the side effects you have. I wish you all the best as you move forward and deal with what comes next. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am already overweight and cannot stand the thought of gaining more. I would love to walk but have a bad knee. We'd love to keep in touch about news, events and how you can get involved. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. I know I will probably have the Joint and body pain with this because everybody does. If you can become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Arimidex. No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. Khosrow-Khavar F, et al. I have lost 5 3/8 from my waist and 3/4 from my neck. 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