Arimidex and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Kka...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2020

For Breast Cancer "Taken anastrozole for 4 years. Having debilitating joint pain, difficulty walking. Will definitely need to consider stopping this medication. Need quality of life. Don’t let the physicians make you feel like you're crazy!"

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for 6 months. I have been off it for almost a month. My hands ache, and I have trigger finger in both hands. I have joint pain in both my upper and lower extremities. I have had weight gain, and my blood pressure stays high. My doctor changed my prescription to tamoxifen. My side effects from the Arimidex are not going away. I can barely use my hands. My job is very physical and hands-on. I am 57. Too young to retire, and all my backup skills require my hands. This medication is what will kill me, not the cancer."

• 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."

• Ang...
• September 20, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I only took Arimidex for 1 month, after having a mastectomy. During that month I experienced severe joint pain, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath, and finally, a severe asthma attack which convinced me that I needed to stop this drug. Almost immediately, all side effects disappeared. Now, eight months after stopping Arimidex, and taking nothing else, I have quite severe Rheumatoid arthritis. I was previously fit and active. I am 70 years old. I would rather take my chances with the cancer returning than take this drug again."

• 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."

• Fre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 5, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for 5 years and only recently stopped. I had quite a few side effects, however, the joint pain and stiffness were the hardest. I heard about something called Ubiquinol, which is apparently something that is naturally produced in your body, but slows down quite a bit as you age. I've been taking it daily now for a few months and I have to say, the stiffness and joint pain have mostly subsided. I say mostly because I forget to take it some days. I'm trying to get better about taking it daily with a multivitamin. It's kind of expensive but it's way cheaper and better than any of the medicine alternatives I was offered by my doctors. I don't like taking medicine for every little thing. Plus there's a hundred side effects to worry about."

• mal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with breast cancer Stage 1, Grade 1. Lumpectomy and radiation, no chemo. I am 7 months into taking Arimidex and joint and muscle pain are horrible. I am a very active person, having run all my life and going hiking. I am sore from head to toe in both the muscles and joints. Also, I feel more fatigued than usual. I just told my oncologist that I am stopping the Arimidex for now. My oncologist said to stay off the Arimidex for a month. I will then call back and let them know my status. They may then put me on another AI."

• WV ...
• April 10, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 10 weeks. Although I had arthritis prior to taking Arimidex, my joint discomfort has increased substantially and now I find that my joints (especially my hands and hips) are swollen and always painful. My fingernails have thinned and continually split and tear off, often below the quick (ouch!). I'm also disheartened to notice that my eyebrows and eyelashes, which had just grown back after my last chemo session, have started to either break or fall out again. Bone and muscle pain are always with me now."

• WV ...
• April 10, 2014

For Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 10 weeks. Although I had arthritis prior to taking Arimidex, my joint discomfort has increased substantially and now I find that my joints (especially my hands and hips) are swollen and always painful. My fingernails have thinned and continually split and tear off, often below the quick (ouch!). I'm also disheartened to notice that my eyebrows and eyelashes, which had just grown back after my last chemo session, have started to either break or fall out again. Bone and muscle pain are always with me now."

• 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."

• Dan...
• March 31, 2011

For Breast Cancer "Within a month of taking Arimidex, I had so much joint pain. I mentioned it to my oncologist, and he said it was arthritis. I said, 'No way,' arthritis does not show up in one month. I stopped taking it after 1 1/2 years. I could not endure the pain."

• fre...
• June 16, 2009

For Breast Cancer "Initially, I tolerated the drug well. About 4 months into treatment, I had a lot of problems: dizziness, disorientation, joint and muscle pain, and stomach upset. Also, my hair started to thin, and nails cracked due to dryness. Within a week of stopping the drug, I was feeling better. One month out and I was very well."

• 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."

• ann...
• May 30, 2013

For Breast Cancer "Been taking Arimidex for nearly 6 years now. Side effects for me are joint & bone pain, weird feeling in my chest that wakes me up. Weight gain, hair thinning & occasional hot flushes. I take calcium tabs and alendronic acid for my bones. Apart from that I'm grateful to be alive."

• Rox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I started taking the medication in March 2013 after chemotherapy in the fall of 2012 and then radiation in January-February 2013. I am experiencing joint and muscle pain. But as a migraine sufferer, it's a walk in the park. Whatever works to cure this cancer, I'm up for everything and anything."

• vot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I took one pill. ONE. Within 12 hours, I began itching from head to toe. In 24 hours, I was in the emergency room with a terrible rash all over me. It was so bad, and it was raised so high you could almost measure it with a ruler! I didn't want to scratch first. I had to get two shots in my belly, was put on oral prednisone for two weeks (which then calls for a slow wean-off of the drug), a prescription topical medicine, and over-the-counter medicines. The rash hung around for almost three weeks. I'm allergic to sulfa and all NSAIDS, but my doctor wasn't sure what is in this drug to cause this reaction. He put me on tamoxifen next, which I took for 7 years but the cancer came back. I am now on letrozole with no problems except joint pain."

• jbo...
• September 8, 2010

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for 4 years. Side effects I have had are severe hot flashes, and ever-increasing joint pain. I am considering going off the medication entirely, even though it has not been the full five years yet, or switching to a different medicine."

• 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."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2012

For Endometrial Cancer "Endometrial stromal sarcoma: I've been on this medicine since the hysterectomy/pathology report in March, about five months. Too soon to tell if it is working, but so far, so good. The side effects are as stated by many already: increased joint pain and stiffness everywhere, especially in the hands and feet, increased weight, minor and occasional dizziness, increased feeling of tiredness. I'm going to request a bone density scan to monitor the risk of osteoporosis. It is all tolerable so far, but I hope it doesn't get worse, and I hope none of it is permanent."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2022

For Breast Cancer "Invasive ductal carcinoma, HER2+, stage 1. Surgery to remove the tumor in April 2021 and 9 weeks of radiation finished in June 2021. I just started this medication in April 2022 because I could not get estrogen down naturally with the help of integrative medicine. I’ve read so many negative posts about the medication, so I was trying everything to avoid it. Lots and lots of pressure from oncology. I decided to start on 1/2 a pill and adjust to the medication side effects. They are real: joint pain, mood swings, and hot flashes. I am going to have my estrogen tested again and see if it’s low enough to continue with the 1/2 dose. Not sure what the future holds with this medication, but after trying alternatives, I felt like there wasn’t much choice. Try it slow. My oncologist did say you can take 1/2 a pill or one every other day, women are doing doses differently, it just may extend the amount of time you take it."