Arimidex Withdrawal Symptoms

[Maggie]

I stopped taking Arimidex five days ago after being on it for five years. I couldn't wait to get off it as I felt so tired almost all the time and had so little energy. I have been having pretty severe hot flashes the last few days and then this afternoon I've started feeling mildly nauseated and light headed. I was at an evening class and for a moment I wondered if I were going to faint but it passed. And then getting into the car to go home I nearly lost my balance and did an awkward last second save! My husband suggested these might be withdrawal symptoms. I certainly appreciate reading the other posts. Has anyone felt more energy and lost weight after going off Arimidex?

[Maggie]

Paula wrote:

I was on tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years and then arimidex for the remaining 2 1/2 years. I have had liver issues from the tamoxifen (hepatitis for a year) and bone thinning and chipped teeth from the arimidex. I also had the chronic fatigue, the bone-tiredness, the mental fog, and the joint and nerve pain, not to mention weight-gain that was totally uncharacteristic in my past. I have been off all meds since Sept. 1, and I feel no different, yet. A study at UCLA <http://www.physorg.com/news79282045.html> ;
showed that "chemo brain" is real and lasting, so I do not know how many of my issues are due to chemotherapy and what will disappear now that I am off of arimidex.

I've been off of Arimidex for about two and a half weeks now and I feel just as tired as I did when I was on it. I am SO hoping that it will let up. I did have the feeling of faintness some nausea and that is gone. But I feel so tired and a little down emotionally. Anyone else feel this way and get over it?

[Maggie]

I've been off of Arimidex for about two and a half weeks now and I feel just as tired as I did when I was on it. I am SO hoping that it will let up. I did have the feeling of faintness and some nausea and that is gone. But I feel so tired and a little down emotionally. Anyone else feel this way and get over it?

[Kathy]

Just so people know not everybody has all these side effects - I was was on tamoxifen for 1 year then Arimidex for 4 years (after double mastectomy at age 57) and just stopped the latter about a week ago. I had some joint pain in the first months, but continued a rigorous exercise routine (walking and gym workouts) and it gradually became very minor. No weight gain at all. The symptom that has most bothered me is frequent urination (getting up 4-5 times/night), tho I don´t know for sure that it's due to the Arimidex. Have noted nothing special since stopping. I strongly urge women to exercise, it's not only good for our bodies, but also a great mood lifter.

[Lisa UK]

Having just finished taking Arimidex 3 weeks ago after 3 years I have a sore throat and am experiencing noises/ringing in my head and ears. Can you tell me if anyone after experiencing these if they have gone away. 3 YEARS

lin wrote:

was on arimidex for 5 years and have been off it for just over a week and feel awful. thought I had flu. really sore and dry throat and awful light headiness with noises in my head or ears a bit like waves. have to have tv on at night to try and drown it out.sleep, forget it. has anyone else had similar or am I being silly as the professionals would say

[vivien kinch-jameson]

Claire in FL wrote:

Hi I have posted a couple of places on the Arimidex blogs - long story short I have been off Arimidex for 2 months after 5 years on. My only side effect is a hideously messed up upper arm - it feels like I have a third degree burn on the lower arm area. At night it is worse and I am in such pain! I finally used my pressure sleeve when I sleep and that seems to have calmed it down. It could be signs of lymphodemia. I see my onc. next month for my check up...he wants me to stay on Arimidex indefinitely but I just cannot. I have not felt normal in so long, I just want to be normal again - meaning not like an 80 year old witch.

I was warned by my oncologist that I may get Carpel tennel Syndrome, which is as you describe and usually worse at night.

[vivien kinch-jameson UK]

I have been off arimidex for 3 months after 4.5 years. The aches and pains have gotten less. But I still feel tired and so miserable because my energy levels are not improving. Anyone else been off it for more than 3 months with little improvement to tiredness?

[Cherry]

I originally took Tamoxifen for 2 years but was moved on to Arimadex. After a total of 5 years my oncologist said he wanted me to take the Arimadex for a further 2 years, so that it meant I was on the Arimadex for a total of 5 years. Seems to get the best out of Arimadex you need to take it for 5 years regardless of how long I was on the Tamoxifen beforehand. I am due to stop taking it altogether in November and was told I don't have to gradually cease, just stop, but reading lots of comments describing ill effects. So a bit concerned.

[Save2ndBase]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your Arimdex withdrawals. I've stopped taking Arimidex after the Tamoxifen study and have also experienced side effects.
So far, it appears that the hot flashes are a bit more intense and the new post side effects include:
--nausea
--upset stomach/digestive issues
--aching joints and overall bone pain
--headaches
On a positive note, I'm dreaming again or at least able to recall my dreams.
Looking forward to hearing more from others.

Save2ndBase in San Francisco

[Liz]

How long did you take arimidex for before you stopped.

[Save2ndBase SF]

Liz, Tamoxifen 2 years and Arimidex 3 years.

[Julie]

Anyone have advice on how to get off Arimidex? Is it best to taper off slowly or just stop?

[Helena]

i have been on tamoxifen for 5 years and arimadex for two and have been off it for the last three weeks. i was fine for the first week, but now i feel terrible, moody, tearful, no sleep with palpations, and a touch of the jitters from time to time, i hope it wont last to much longer.

[Linda]

Helena wrote:

i have been on tamoxifen for 5 years and arimadex for two and have been off it for the last three weeks. i was fine for the first week, but now i feel terrible, moody, tearful, no sleep with palpations, and a touch of the jitters from time to time, i hope it wont last to much longer.

I was feeling the same way. So I started taking Isotonix® Advanced B-Complex it helped me a lot.

[Ellen]

I completed 5 years of arimedex the first of October. During those years I experienced very few side affects. However, since stopping, I have been extremely tired even after sleeping over 8 hours. I have taken a few naps during the afternoon (never before). When I wake up or get up from a sitting position, the back middle part of my hips are very stiff. I am 65, but this month I feel like 80. I have overall pain/stiffness in my shoulders, back and arms. So I decided to check on line to see if there were others having withdrawal symptoms before I called my oncologist. Has anyone's withdrawal symptoms' seized. How long did they last?

[Linda]

Ellen wrote:

I completed 5 years of arimedex the first of October. During those years I experienced very few side affects. However, since stopping, I have been extremely tired even after sleeping over 8 hours. I have taken a few naps during the afternoon (never before). When I wake up or get up from a sitting position, the back middle part of my hips are very stiff. I am 65, but this month I feel like 80. I have overall pain/stiffness in my shoulders, back and arms. So I decided to check on line to see if there were others having withdrawal symptoms before I called my oncologist. Has anyone's withdrawal symptoms' seized. How long did they last?

I started to feel the same way so I started taking Isotonix® Advanced B-Complex it has help.

[Linda Cardoso]

I think it's time to sue AstraZeneca. Last year I ran out of my Arimidex script and ended up waiting 7 days for my mail-in perscription. During the interim, I experienced severe pains in my head and had to be rushed to the hospital. After several test, I was sent back home in a cab at 11:30pm, while my husband stayed home with my little one. It's not enough to have to suffer through cancer and chemo and then have to go on these horrible drugs that alter your internal workings. And the company who creates the stuff have no idea what happens to the body when someone stops swallowing the stupid pill. I am literally afraid to stop taking this crap because I don't want to feel those piercing pains in my head again. When I spoke to my Oncologist, he merely stated: "You should not experience any problems from coming off the drug. It should not cause you headaches." Well perhaps that's because the Oncologists are getting kick backs for prescribing the drug to all their patients. HELLO - WE ARE NOT STUPID! I smell a conspiracy.

So now I'm due to come off the drug in March of 2010. I went to the pharmacy and purchased a pill cutter. I decided to wean myself off the drug instead of quitting cold turkey. I've started taking only 1/2 a pill, which I intend to do for a month. After that, I'm cutting it to a quarter and will take a quarter pill for a month. Then I'll go off completely. I've been taking 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks now and I'm developing a nerve pain in my leg and a muscle spasm in my left chest. I fell like an effing guinea pig and Astra doesn't give a flying poop because their CEO is taking vacations all over the world and golfing on the beach, while us women suffer the wrath of their product. NICE!

[mlfagan]

vitiam B helps alot if you are on Arimadex, no more joint pains and I now have lots of energy, will not take my meds with out the 500mcg of vit B, my best to all!!!

[Diane Clark]

I'm coming off Arimidex currently. The side effects I experienced while on the drug seemed minor in comparison to what I'm feeling from withdrawals. While taking arimidex I felt more tired than usual, dealt with hot flashes every half hour,(some more horrible than others), experienced anxiety during sleep time, and harnessed mood swings. Oh-lets not forget about the joint pain. So what did I do to alleviate all these byproducts? For the hot flashes, I set up a fan at my desk at work and at home, I'd tear off most of my clothing or run outside, depending on the season. For the anxiety, I practiced meditation and exercised regularly. For the joint pain I took Twin Labs Emulsified Norwegian Formula Cod Liver Oil - let me tell you, the stuff works. I've tried other cod liver oils, but this particular one works best for alleviating the joint pain. To be honest, after taking a tablespoon every morning for a week, the pain vanished completely. It comes in all flavors too. I used the orange flavor and put it right into my orange juice. You can barely taste it. There are many vitamins I take to help the entire body too: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Querticin, Tumeric, Maitake Mushroom Extract, a multi, powdered Vit. C (super c from Rainbow Light), calcium, vit. D (a must have), vit E, Vit B, Folic Acid, Zinc. Yes - I rattle every morning, but I feel good and that's what counts. The meditation is key. It will bring you to a better place. I guarantee it. Blessings to all in your journey. We are the better for it.

[Jackie---SF]

Linda Cardoso wrote:

I think it's time to sue AstraZeneca. Last year I ran out of my Arimidex script and ended up waiting 7 days for my mail-in perscription. During the interim, I experienced severe pains in my head and had to be rushed to the hospital. After several test, I was sent back home in a cab at 11:30pm, while my husband stayed home with my little one. It's not enough to have to suffer through cancer and chemo and then have to go on these horrible drugs that alter your internal workings. And the company who creates the stuff have no idea what happens to the body when someone stops swallowing the stupid pill. I am literally afraid to stop taking this crap because I don't want to feel those piercing pains in my head again. When I spoke to my Oncologist, he merely stated: "You should not experience any problems from coming off the drug. It should not cause you headaches." Well perhaps that's because the Oncologists are getting kick backs for prescribing the drug to all their patients. HELLO - WE ARE NOT STUPID! I smell a conspiracy.
So now I'm due to come off the drug in March of 2010. I went to the pharmacy and purchased a pill cutter. I decided to wean myself off the drug instead of quitting cold turkey. I've started taking only 1/2 a pill, which I intend to do for a month. After that, I'm cutting it to a quarter and will take a quarter pill for a month. Then I'll go off completely. I've been taking 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks now and I'm developing a nerve pain in my leg and a muscle spasm in my left chest. I fell like an effing guinea pig and Astra doesn't give a flying poop because their CEO is taking vacations all over the world and golfing on the beach, while us women suffer the wrath of their product. NICE!

Linda:
Your comments really hit me hard. I am due to go off Arimidex in March 2010, as well.
While, the major side effect from the drug has been weight gain, I am most concerned after reading your comments.
I am seriously considering doing the same thing---getting a pill cutter and reducing the amount of the meds.
It is hard to believe that a pill cutter would work as the pill is so small!