Arimidex and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Aro...
• November 7, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I took it for 5 years and just stopped on October 31st. This drug is TERRIBLE. It destroys your bones, causes hip joint pain so bad that you lose your balance, causes hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, constipation, heart palpitations, spinal pain, loss of bone density which causes OSTEOPENIA which can lead to OSTEOPOROSIS and more. Its disgusting that this is basically the only one you can take other than tamoxifen. Your oncologist SHOULD tell you what the side effects are going to do so that you can somehow prepare for them. Mine prescribed GABAPENTIN for the hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. Arimidex has to be taken for only 5 years and no more. Hopefully the weakness in my hip joints will ease, the pain in my bones, the constipation, heart palpitations. You will never get back the bone loss. I'm taking high doses of OTC vitamin C & D."

• JoJ...
• April 4, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I lasted 5 weeks on Arimidex for my breast cancer. I stopped taking it because of the side effects. I’ve been off it 5 weeks while I research & decide what to do before discussing with my oncologist. I’m 58 years old & had no significant medical history. I have occasional neck pain, a physically active job, from which I am retired. This drug caused extreme joint & bone pain. Before surgery, I was flipping tires & doing box jumps at the gym. This drug made me feel too bad to go for a walk. Other side effects included all-over itching, dry hair, dry skin, dry eyes, insomnia, nightmares, nausea. The pharmacist told me the only side effect would be dizziness, which I did not have. I didn’t research further. I was so happy the radiation was done & thought taking a pill would be no big deal. I’d experienced hot flashes and night flashes for years, so those were not new. When I googled the drug, I found many women had the same side effects. The bone density issue is alarming."

• Tek...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 24, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Taking Arimidex for just short of four years. Horrible bone and joint pain. Pain meds leave me unable to function. Insomnia, shortness of breath, chest pains. Thousands of dollars on tests that show nothing. Treated like a nut case. Oncologist finally said stop taking it, but gave me nothing for pain. Trip to ER, prescribed oxycodone which works, but knocks me out and grog continues for two days after taking it! Oncologist says recurrence is 8% without Arimidex, 5% with it. I will not continue this torture for a mere 3%! This is no way to live."

• Uke...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Finished my 5 years of therapy on May 6th and was counting down the last 6 months leading up to that date! I would sweat so bad while on it, very intolerant of heat. Now that I am off it, I feel pretty warm sometimes but the sweat doesn't drip like it used to, thank goodness! I have been getting a little more sleep since stopping it (was only sleeping at the most, 4 hours at a time, while on the anastrozole). I am noticing much less hair loss in the shower, I don't get the odd, slight queasy feeling in the mornings anymore, and my general mood has improved - at least, I think so!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I am 60 and have been on Arimidex going on 4 years now for stage 2 invasive lobular breast cancer. Initially, I experienced trigger finger, but that went away after a few months. I have also experienced slight weight gain (5 lbs), insomnia, and hot flashes regularly. I exercise every day to keep my bones strong, and luckily I have no joint or bone pain. I just noticed recently thinning hair after 4 years on this. My doctor says they recommend another 5 years after next year, so it will be 10 years total. I think for me the worst side effect is the hot flashes, but it’s okay! I’m still here! :)"

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I’m finally off Arimidex. Every time I mentioned one of the many side effects I was experiencing, my oncologist said it's not from the drug. Read the flyer that comes with it. I’m hoping my joints and bones will stop hurting, that I won’t sweat through my insomnia, and that my hair will come back. What a miserable 5 years."

• Lea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I took it for 5 years and 2 months. I cannot say if the changes were from chemo or from Arimidex. Changes in taste and smell persist. Frontal headache, blurred vision, cough, calcium loss - osteopenia. Stiff joints, long bone pain, sciatica pain of right leg, fatigue, wicked insomnia, hot flushes & flashes. Neuropathy in hands and feet, especially balls of feet and very sensitive tips of toes. Very dry skin, aged face, hair is very thin and breaking easily. Never got back full eyebrows, very SAD! I loved my eyebrows."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 4 years. Side effects are insomnia, joint pain, painful sex or no interest in sex, forgetfulness, anxiety, and depression. One year to go and hopefully I will not have to take it. Maybe still on it because of a family history of breast cancer."

• Ind...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for six months. Insomnia is the worst part for me. Some hot flashes and moodiness. Weight gain of ten pounds due to fatigue and pauses in working out. Just recently I upped my walking to 80 minutes a day and cut out all sugar. This has helped me with the insomnia. Some joint discomfort, but not bad. Just trying to figure out what is the best way to help with side effects."

• oma...
• August 10, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Fine initially but within 2 weeks, severe ankle pain, insomnia, hot flashes and severe sweating. Thinning hair just after it all grew back beautifully. Difficult eye prescription, moody, tingling nerve pain in right thigh, tired and now have a hiatal hernia. Lack of interest in sex, which still has not returned. I just wonder what the long-term effects could be. This medication was one I loved to hate. But my cancer is gone and it has been 6 years that I am cancer-free."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

For Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 4 years and 1 month, prior to which I took Tamoxifen for 5 months. During the first year, I developed a frozen shoulder, which my oncologist said could be due to the Arimidex. I experienced extreme joint stiffness, which gradually subsided after 9-12 months. I had intense hot flashes, which are now lessening. Other side effects include insomnia, vision issues (detached retina - but am also very myopic), pronounced facial aging, dry skin (I am 57 years old), and thinning hair. Additionally, I also experienced depression and mood swings starting 3 months after starting Arimidex. I did not take medication for it, but I have noticed that it has gradually lessened over the last 1 1/2 years."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2012

For Breast Cancer "I started taking Arimidex about 4-5 months ago as a breast cancer patient. I'm supposed to take it for 5 years. The side effects I've experienced are insomnia, hot flashes, headaches, weight gain, joint pain, and severe loss of grip in both hands. My hands are stiff in the morning and evening, it's just crazy. Well, even throughout the day. I asked my oncologist about this, and he said it was arthritis, which I do not believe. The onset was too quick. It was about 6 weeks after I started taking the Arimidex then the hand stiffness showed up."

• sis...
• June 19, 2013

For Breast Cancer "Took tamoxifen for 9 months. Extreme bruising. Switched to Arimidex. After 4 weeks, extreme pain in hand. Next, severe headaches. Each month brought increased pain in thumbs, hand, feet, long leg bones. Joints hurt, wrists weaken every month. After 10 months, I became depressed and had insomnia. Finally, I had enough and stopped. Within 2 weeks, long bone pain went away. I still have some knee pain, trigger finger, and wrist weakness and it's been 3 months. Doctor is switching to Aromasin next month."

• Tri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2012

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for 4 years 4 months. I have had the hot flashes, vision issues, bone density weakening, joint pain and stiffness, depression, mood changes, insomnia, back and bone pain, thinning nails (of already thin nails), weakness in hands and now, my hair is breaking off and drying out. My doctor wants me to hold on until the end of the 5 years. Not sure I can."

• Gig...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 19, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for 4.5 years, coming up on my 5-year post-treatment check-up. Side effects for me have been: hot flashes, neuropathy, intense joint pain, insomnia, and 30% loss of bone density. I take 2 ibuprofen daily to manage pain and power through. New clinical data indicate staying on longer may reduce risk further. I was so looking forward to getting off this drug, not sure how I feel about that."

• Bea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been using Arimidex for approximately 6 months. I have had some side effects, mostly hot flashes and some insomnia. The hot flashes have improved, and for the insomnia, I just switched the time of day when I took the medication."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2010

For Breast Cancer "Severe hot flushes, sleep disturbance, bone and joint pain, lack of concentration. Was getting Zoladex injections for 9 months then had hysterectomy. Have been on Arimidex for 7 months. Hope I don't have to be on it for up to 5 years. I don't think I could stick out these side effects."

• CKa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for one year now. Side effects like everyone else are the bone and muscle pain, hot flashes, insomnia, and just now taking B-6 for the muscles, vitamin D, and calcium for the bones and a probiotic for the stomach/gastro issues. Bought a new bed, see a chiropractor once a month, etc. So many life changes just to be able to tolerate this med. As a person with high blood pressure to start with and on an HBP med, about 10 months in my BP started to climb. I was doing all the same things every day. Walking, green tea, beet juice, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and by the time I was 11 months in it was 179/109. Stopped the Arimidex for 2 weeks, and it's down to 135/81. I am NOT crazy...I really think it is increasing my blood pressure. Going to start the Arimidex again for a week and see what happens. Hoping for the best! Stay strong everyone, this too shall pass :)"

• Mst...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 9, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 1, grade 2 triple-negative breast cancer in October of 2018. I had a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. I started Arimidex in October 2019. The side effects have been many. I have had severe joint pain, insomnia, severe hot flashes, weight gain, memory loss, dry skin, some dizziness, dry eyes, and I’m sure many more I’ve gotten used to. In October, I will have taken it for 4 years. Though I have suffered through this, I feel that I can handle one more year (I hope). I was put on gabapentin for joint pain and hot flashes, but I feel it is no longer working and have slowly gone off this medication. My recurrence rate, I’m told, is 2%. I am going to revisit my symptoms again at my next oncology appointment. I am forever grateful to still be alive, and though the side effects are, some days, unbearable, I will remain on anastrozole as long as my physician recommends."

• PMC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2022

"I took Arimidex off-label as part of a hypogonadism treatment plan. Works great at what it does, incredibly potent at reducing serum estrogen levels, caused me moderate insomnia but no other side effects. Dosed orally with a liquid suspension."

• Sus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2014

For Breast Cancer "Recurrence of HER2 cancer. Hip and hand problems. Horrible insomnia and memory issues. But does help hold the cancer back."

• SKI...
• March 24, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Minimal problems. Been on for 1 year now. Joint stiffness in legs and weight gain. Had some trouble early in treatment with trouble sleeping. Gone now."

• Pin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2016

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "Sweating, stomach upsets, joint back, hip pain, and leg pain, weight gain, sleeping problems, headache."