arimidex and depression

[JAIME]

HAS ANYONE NOTED BEING MORE DEPRESSED, AGGITATED AND "WEEPY" ON ARIMIDEX? IVE BEEN ON IT FOR ABOUT
ONE YEAR. THANKS FOR ANY INPUT.

[Dar]

Have not noticed depression. Aggitated, yes. Weight gain, drier than normal skin, bones ache etc. I have been on Arimidex for only 3 months. Some side effects have disappeared but others have not. Visited with my oncology nurse regarding the side effects a few times. She was suppposed to visit with my oncologists and get back to me but have not heard anything. Thinking about seeing another oncologists who will at least talk about the side effects with me and see if there are other alternatives.

[susan]

JAIME wrote:

HAS ANYONE NOTED BEING MORE DEPRESSED, AGGITATED AND "WEEPY" ON ARIMIDEX? IVE BEEN ON IT FOR ABOUT
ONE YEAR. THANKS FOR ANY INPUT.

yes, i have been
very "sad" like deeply sad and weepy. have gone off the
Arimidex for the past two weeks. tomorrow must make a
decision whether to back to tamoxifan or back to Arimidex.
any thoughts from anyone ?

[Julie]

Yes I have been very weepy, sensitive, and easily irritated. This is not me. It has to be arimidex. However, it is bearable if it means prevention of a future recurrence of cancer.

[Dee]

I am not on it yet but it has been suggested. After reading the side effects I am not sure I want to take this drug. Seems to me that the side effects or worse than what it might be if not taken. Will the cancer definately come back if I don't take it?

Losts of unanswered yestions on my end.

Any suggestions would help. I am not convinced this is good.

[Janet]

I've been on Arimidex for one week now. The nausea is what I noticed right away. Have some irritability, but attribute that to not feeling well. I have the joint aches and loss of energy. I had a bone density test done last week and I have a mild case of osteoporosis. I am to follow up with dr. in 3 months. Some of these medications designed to prevent disease, I question. Why does it all have to make you feel so bad?

[Cindy]

I was initially very weepy but now am very tired and sleeping 10 hours a day which is a huge change from the insomnia I have been experiencing. I have been on the drug for two weeks and already my libido has disappeared. I am wondering if it is worth taking this for only 11% reduction in recurrance. Why can't they develop drugs that do not make us into eunuchs?

[Donna]

I have been on Arimidex for 4 years. Yes I can be more emotional but I cant always blame the medication. Having cancer I think changes your emotions, and I feel safer taking Arimidex and having a few tearful days than having the worry of not taking them and the cancer returning.

[Karen]

Janet wrote:

I've been on Arimidex for one week now. The nausea is what I noticed right away. Have some irritability, but attribute that to not feeling well. I have the joint aches and loss of energy. I had a bone density test done last week and I have a mild case of osteoporosis. I am to follow up with dr. in 3 months. Some of these medications designed to prevent disease, I question. Why does it all have to make you feel so bad?

Hopefully by now you have found a solution to the nausea problem. If not, have you tried taking it with your largest meal of the day?? This works for me. Also by now perhaps your energy level has risen. I began Arimidex a few days after co,mpleting radiation & I was very tired from that. The Arimidex did not contribute further to the fatigue. Am very sorry that you have felt so bad, but wonder if witih the one week period you speak of it was long enough to give it a chance??? Please let us know how you are now! Best of luck..~karen~

[Janis]

I've been on Arimidex for two months after 3 years of Tamoxifin, from which I had no side effects. Now I have sudden onset of arthritis in my hands, joint pain everywhere, fatigue, mild anxiety. However, worse than any of that, is painful sex. So uncomfortable, that I most often avoid it, and never initiate it, because there is also no libido. Doctors don't have any answers for me. Have any of you experienced this? I'm too young to give up sex!

[Carol]

I've been taking Arimidex for 6 months. At first, I seemed to have minor joint problems, which concerned me because I am athletic and enjoy strenuous activities. I felt or imagined a little "fuzzy" around the edges in my thinking. I had some difficulty with night sweats. I found that over time I became used to the Arimidex and now feel just like I always did; on many days, it is almost as if the cancer happened to someone else and not to me. I think keeping active, keeping the weight down, having a high quality (but not high calorie) diet all help, as does giving yourself a little time to adjust and adapt physically (maybe emotionally, too) to the new regime. I'm proof that it gets better.

[mary]

Been on Arimidex for 8 months after 2 l/2 years of tamoxifen. I'm 72. Still having hot flashes on my face and head, but not too many times a day. A good bit of joint pain in my hands...I figured it was arthritis at my age until I read your remarks. Not really enough problems to complain if it keeps cancer away!

[KIRSTY]

susan wrote:

<quoted text>yes, i have been
very "sad" like deeply sad and weepy. have gone off the
Arimidex for the past two weeks. tomorrow must make a
decision whether to back to tamoxifan or back to Arimidex.
any thoughts from anyone ?

I have same dilemma - am on Arimidex but feel lousy - came off for a month and felt much better - am thinking of going back on Tamoxifen as I tolerated that well - also what worries me is
what are the long term side effects with Arimidex as it is such a new drug. Best wishes to you.
Kirsty

[KIRSTY]

I have same dilemma - am on Arimidex but feel lousy - came off for a month and felt much better - am thinking of going back on Tamoxifen as I tolerated that well - also what worries me is
what are the long term side effects with Arimidex as it is such a new drug. Best wishes to you.
Kirsty

[Marge]

Janis wrote:

I've been on Arimidex for two months after 3 years of Tamoxifin, from which I had no side effects. Now I have sudden onset of arthritis in my hands, joint pain everywhere, fatigue, mild anxiety. However, worse than any of that, is painful sex. So uncomfortable, that I most often avoid it, and never initiate it, because there is also no libido. Doctors don't have any answers for me. Have any of you experienced this? I'm too young to give up sex!

What other joint pains are you experiencing? Why did you get off Tamoxifin?

[Donna]

I think Carol sums it up nicely. We all hate taking it, but I think you need to give it some time and yourself sometime to adjust. I've been on it 3 months and although I resisted taking it and I didn't want to have the side effects, I seem to be OK. Yes, my knees hurt but they hurt before. Yes, when I finished radiation and got home and started walking up hills with 95 pound dog my elbow and knees hurt but it all settled down as I got back in shape. Yes, I have some night sweats but I think I had them before. No I don't have hot flashes but I didn't have them during menopause either. I am 73 and I am in good health [now that the cancer is gone]. I am getting more energy every day and I'm trying to increase the exercise every day. And YES I really wish I didn't to take it.

Carol said: I've been taking Arimidex for 6 months. At first, I seemed to have minor joint problems, which concerned me because I am athletic and enjoy strenuous activities. I felt or imagined a little "fuzzy" around the edges in my thinking. I had some difficulty with night sweats. I found that over time I became used to the Arimidex and now feel just like I always did; on many days, it is almost as if the cancer happened to someone else and not to me. I think keeping active, keeping the weight down, having a high quality (but not high calorie) diet all help, as does giving yourself a little time to adjust and adapt physically (maybe emotionally, too) to the new regime. I'm proof that it gets better.

[June]

I discovered a lump in my left brest and had a double mastectomy last July. I have been taking arimidex for about 8 months now and I am 74 years old and have the sore muscles and stiffness when I first get up after I have been sitting for awhile. I had no stiff or soreness before I took arimidex. I do water arobics and try to fast walk a couple times a week. I use to be able to garden for up to 4 hours at a time but now am lucky to do 1-2 hours. I don't like this feeling and wonder how long I have to take this drug. Do we ever hear the doctor say you don't have to take this any longer. Wouldn't that be the greatest news. I had a pet scan and they only found my cancer in my left brest, no glands were involved.and I think it would be worthwhile to have another petscan to see if I have any cancer anywhere. Is there anyone of you who have had this.My next question , is there anyone out there that has gotten beyond these side effects.

[Darlene]

June wrote:

I discovered a lump in my left brest and had a double mastectomy last July. I have been taking arimidex for about 8 months now and I am 74 years old and have the sore muscles and stiffness when I first get up after I have been sitting for awhile. I had no stiff or soreness before I took arimidex. I do water arobics and try to fast walk a couple times a week. I use to be able to garden for up to 4 hours at a time but now am lucky to do 1-2 hours. I don't like this feeling and wonder how long I have to take this drug. Do we ever hear the doctor say you don't have to take this any longer. Wouldn't that be the greatest news. I had a pet scan and they only found my cancer in my left brest, no glands were involved.and I think it would be worthwhile to have another petscan to see if I have any cancer anywhere. Is there anyone of you who have had this.My next question , is there anyone out there that has gotten beyond these side effects.

June
I have just finished my radiation treatment in Vancouver, WA. I have been prescribed Arimidex and told by
my Oncologist that I will need to continue for five years. I have hormone receptive, invasive breast cancer, I
opted for conservative surgery. My lympth node biopsies were negative. Are you aware of any support groups
in our area of the country where people in our situation can hold open discussions and share information
regarding cancer drugs that are being prescribed. I share your belief that a petscan would be beneficial. I
have friends who are cancer patients in other parts of the country whose Doctors order a scan every six months
to a year as part of a routine follow-up plan. Best Wishes to you!

[Susan]

Has anyone experienced feeling unusually cold while on Arimidex. I am always very cold even in warm weather. I live in Florida and have to wear a sweater all the time. Especially my hands and feet. Also, the joint pain is much worse on this drug than the tamoxifen.

[Becky Stockwell]

.
I have been dx with stage 1 breast cancer, and need some imput. I see many of you have hideous side effects with arimidex... I really need to know if I should take this drug. I have stage 4 ovarian cancer and have no ovaries(currently in remission) I had 18 chemos and the drug side effects sounds worse than chemo. I have more of a risk or recurrance with my stage of ovca than with the .9cm tumor grade 2,removed with lumpectomy
DCIS high grade with comedronecrosis in 20% of the tumor, no lymph involvement and clear margins.
No radiation because of my other disease. Any imput you may give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Becky