Arimidex and Stiffness: What Users Say

• car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 4, 2018

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 1 - no lymph nodes involved. Had Lumpectomy, Brachial Therapy Radiation, and 5 rounds of chemotherapy. I was ER-Positive, therefore, chemo was recommended because after Oncotype DX was done, it showed I had a 16% chance of cancer coming back. I have been on Arimidex for seven years. Initially, lots of stiffness, but I hired a personal trainer, I weight train, run, and do yoga. Praise GOD, I'm doing very well, and no stiffness!! Don't settle for what the drug is doing - work on yourself, and you may be surprised how much better you will feel if you incorporate some exercise into your routine!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Rho...
• December 15, 2022

For Breast Cancer "Arimidex gave me severe bone and joint pain, so much so that I could hardly walk. I stopped taking it weeks ago and now am on prednisone to stop arthritis (bone pain) from it. The prednisone is helping decrease pain and stiffness, but it is not completely gone yet. This pill is so strong, or at least for me, was not worth taking."

• Hot...
• March 20, 2015

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "Was taking it for 6 months. Side effects were bad: headaches, every bone joint ached and stiff. Moody, depressed, and memory was bad. Will be going on tamoxifen, hope it's not as bad."