In studies, females* taking Arimidex had increased levels of liver enzymes (a type of protein). There are three aromatase inhibitors (referred to as AIsfrom here on out) that have been FDA approved: anastrozole(Arimidex),letrozole(Femara) andexemestane(Aromasin). But the biggest indicator to whether or not someone will maintain their weight loss, Dr. Grunvald said, is if they have a . However I'm am on Afinitor now and I have lost weight and now . Like Helpful Hug 1 Reaction Interested in more discussions like this? My scans are negative (yay) but I am Stage 4, so I am on chemo indefinitely. they have been helping me during this difficult period I am going through (probable relapse). I love to eat! So give it a try. Thank you for the positive words. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. Arimidex lowers estrogen levels by preventing the synthesis of estrogen from adrenal androgens (primarily androstenedione and testosterone). Cancer-related fatigue is extreme tiredness that doesnt go away with rest or sleep. I also have stenosis in my neck and severe stenosis in my lower spine. Before you start taking Arimidex, talk with your doctor about its side effects. But its not recommended that you breastfeed while taking Arimidex or for at least 2 weeks after stopping treatment. I also now have osteoporosis, so I take calcium, vitamin D, and Boniva. Before using anti-inflammatory pain relief, ask your doctor about the correct dose, how long you should use it for and any possible side effects, especially if you have a stomach ulcer or asthma. "Welcome to Connect, @christinej I'm tagging a few other members who have mentioned taking anastrozole for", "I too just finished taking Anastrazole after years and having incredible fatigue. At all. High estrogen levels can cause side effects such as gynecomastia (unusual breast gland enlargement . Where do the lines of osteoporosis danger and cancer recurrence intersect? See the Arimidex prescribing information for details. trixie1313 @trixie1313 Hi Trixie. The half life of Arimidex is 30 to 60 hours. They may recommend that you try a different medication. Has anyone stopped this drug and had any withdrawal symptoms? Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. I was dx with stage 2, multifocal DCIS, HER2+ and estrogen positive 6.5 cm mass, in February. Arimidex is used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause (stopped having periods). Females* who have not gone through menopause. Many side effects of Arimidex will improve within a couple of weeks of stopping arimidex; however, some may persist long term. Anastrozole is also used to treat advanced breast cancer that has grown or spread after tamoxifen treatment. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Arimidex. The side effects are nothing to sneeze at either and can, in fact, be quite unpleasant, impacting a womans quality of life. Stopping smoking and doing regular weight-bearing exercise can also help keep your bones strong. Any Suggestions? No one seems to know. Arimidex also reduced the risk of other cancers compared with placebo, such as endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and melanomas. In some rare cases, side effects can result in permanent damage, even after you stop treatment with Arimidex. I gained most of my weight back within 3 years. Source: Tweet (below) from recent #ASCO21 Conference. 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. Arimidex (anastrozole) Drugs.com AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. This does not change the effectiveness of the treatment. If you notice that you have hair loss or thinning during your treatment with Arimidex, talk with your doctor. It will be seven years in October! 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. in the past 7 1/2 months. And yes, I still have a fair number of pounds to lose, but I have made progress. We avoid using tertiary references. Liver toxicity, including liver inflammation and changes in liver function tests. In this case, taking Arimidex may further increase your risk of bone fractures. Is Taking a Break from Your Aromatase Inhibitor Med a Good Idea? 2. I havent written about the drugs we love to hate in a while and thought it was time I did. (2020). But some of the side effects caused by Arimidex may also be caused by drinking alcohol. Sometimes it can go away on its own, but it can take months to get better. 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. And I have not changed my diet and exercise habits. They also dont discuss the cardiovascular side effects. Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Arimidexs side effects. Femara can stay in your. What are the new treatment options for migraines? But its important to note that this side effect wasnt seen in studies of Arimidex. Neither MammaPrint or BCI were predictive/prognostic in B-42 study. Heartburn. Insurance coding changes will limit access to DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery this is NOT okay! Definitely having some type of withdrawal. Hot Flashes. Thank you! What's it like six months post DIEP flap surgery? Studies looked at side effects that occurred in females* for 5 years after starting Arimidex treatment. Read on to learn about other possible mild and serious side effects of the drug. Thanks @matteolambe @YoungStrongDFCI https://t.co/2qAYsaETYh pic.twitter.com/Vz0d3zHwg5. Headache. Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Arimidex can cause. This medication may be used by males to decrease their estrogen levels if theyre taking other drugs that increase estrogen. The wheel of life #bcsm How to manage side effects of endocrine therapy for #breastcancer based on published data Great work and effort of all authors. You might want to read my strategies: 13 Tips to Help Manage Side Effects from Aromatase Inhibitors. 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. If your levels become too high, they may recommend that you take another medication to lower your cholesterol. I've done personal training, nutritional counseling, meal prepping, cardio, HIIT workouts, and my blood work is all in the green. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. I hope I am like you and not gain weight like you did while taking Arimidex. Still learning. My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son. Some side effects are mild while others are more severe. I have experienced all of them but they were very mild and quickly faded away. The side effects are very severe in the short and long term, as others have noted. weight 62.1kgBody fat 38.5%BMI 24.9Waist 75cm (29 5/8)Neck 33cm (13 1/8) So since 7 July I have lost, 7.3kg. Your GP or specialist can refer you for counselling or may suggest you take an antidepressant drug. Arimidex is a prescription medication that's used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* who've gone through menopause (stopped having periods). I also am doing my part by eating very healthy/high plant-based diet. Many breast cancer tumors grow in response to estrogen. sandrajo @sandrajo I'm interested to read the responses to this, too. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. You won't know until you try it how it will affect you! No new side effects have been reported in clinical trials after stopping Arimidex. The same goes for low-carb if you're eating bacon every day, says . I should have had at least 10-20 more years without hot flashes, fatigue, and sexual disfunction. Arimidex (anastrozole) Drugs.com AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. I want to lose 12 more and I know it will happen - as long as I keep doing what I'm doing. You did fine! There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. In addition, Arimidex may affect your liver. If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants. Yes, it was approved by my doc. Unfortunately, I cant say Ive noticed better hair. Coping with the side effects of anastrozole More Items Apr 26, 2022 Can You Take A Break From Anastrozole? It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group. I'm tagging a few other members who have mentioned taking anastrozole for some time such as @wandering @susanao1 @itskeenerific @judymroz @cindylb @chamisaand @berit. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. In most cases, Arimidex is taken for five years, although some women may take it for a shorter period. 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). I am now, like Suzanne, consciously and conscientiously losing it. I would just to love to walk but my knee bothers be just walking. Glad benefit is durable. If the bleeding continues for more than a few days, tell your specialist. I share it because its something important to contemplate and remember. I have lost 5 3/8 from my waist and 3/4 from my neck. Has anyone experienced any of these symptoms after 2 months of taking? I'm one of the ones that will never stop taking AIs, with other therapies qs well. hugs from Brazil. At this time, Arimidex is only used in females. Although rare, its possible for Arimidex to cause cardiotoxicity or liver toxicity. Now I'm experiencing some weight gain. For more information about Arimidex, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article. Sorry to not be more definitive, but thats my honest answer to both parts of the question. When I finally got on here I did a lot of reading different post and learned alot about different people and the inspirition I got from everyone is unbelieveable. What happens when you stop taking Arimidex? Goodacre underwent surgery and radiation in 2012 after an ultrasound detected a tumor. 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. I have MBC, diagnosed in Nov 2021. I'm glad some of my posts are meaningful for you. Its noteworthy, too, that AIs are used to treat some types of metastatic breast cancer, usually, in combination with another drug. If you have any side effects, whether theyre listed here or not, talk to your GP or treatment team. I do feel better now that Im off exemestane. Aromasin contains the active drug exemestane. Like most drugs, Arimidex can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Side effects that should resolve quickly include: Chest discomfort Dizziness Dry eyes Headache Heartburn Hot flashes Nausea Pain Sex drive During your Arimidex treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects youre having. (2018). Arimidex (anastrozole) is a prescription drug thats used to treat breast cancer. I dont say this to diminish an early stagers experience. However, for some people they may cause distress and disrupt everyday life. Not for me. You can read the (confusing) details about two studies here and here. Stephanie L. Graff, MD, FACP summed up those results succinctly: Researchers presented results from several studies looking at genomic assays, tests that look at the genes of the tumor itself. Soooooooooooooo, is this all in my head? Donna. Okay, mostly off. 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. I too worried about Arimidex and I took it for 2 years before switching to Tamoxifen. Read above my replyto Suzanneand you will know my situation. Study continues. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY. My Oncologist actually is in agreement with my decision. I too worried about Arimidex and I took it for 2 years before switching to Tamoxifen. Great news! You may also want to eat more foods that are rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and cereals. Plus, there's the whole probably will die young too thing. Our friends with MBC dont have the option to just stop despite the nasty side effects of AIs. Generally it takes four to five half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from the body, so in the case of Arimidex this would be 150 to 300 hours, or six to 12 days. Keeping it real. I am going through a similar thing and am taking a three week break from Anastrozole as I had such severe knee and leg pain, wrists, hands, etc. This medication has not been studied for use in females who havent gone through menopause. But due to the way that Arimidex works, it may cause harm to a developing fetus. This choice has been the best thing I've ever done for me. You may also experience side effects caused by other treatments or individual circumstance, such as the menopause. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. What happens when you stop taking Arimidex? 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. I am actually running (on the treadmill and in spurts), and eating the most nutritious, delicious foods and feeling like a million bucks. I would appreciate all the responses I can get. Your pharmacist, GP or treatment team cantell you what products you can use on your skin to help. Learn more. Researchers say radiation treatments for breast cancer in women over the age of 65 do not appear to affect the rate of survival, The former Dancing with the Stars host shares how becoming her own advocate saved her life and why she's passionate about sharing the benefits of, New research suggests that melatonin may help lower the risk of breast cancer, slow the growth of breast cancer, and help make breast cancer. I'm getting handfuls of hair every day in the bathtub drain. My blood pressure was sort of creeping up and my pcp was frowning at me and threating more meds. You may find eating small frequent meals or snacks helps keep up your food intake. Last medically reviewed on November 18, 2021. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. 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