Arimidex User Reviews & Ratings
Arimidex has an average rating of 5.7 out of 10 from a total of 77 reviews on Drugs.com. 38% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 29% reported a negative experience.
Condition | Avg. Rating | Reviews | Compare |
---|---|---|---|
Breast Cancer | 72 reviews for Breast Cancer | 80 medications | |
Breast Cancer, Metastatic | 5 reviews for Breast Cancer, Metastatic | 40 medications |
Reviews for Arimidex
- Pol...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- October 17, 2019
For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed stage 1b lumpectomy, 4 weeks of radiation, then Arimidex. Well, the side effects are too much for me. The bone pain was excruciating, it woke me up at night. Fatigue, headache, nausea, foggy brain. I do yoga and walk 3 days a week. I have decided to go a natural path. Do the research for yourself before you make your own decisions. I just want a good quality of life back! I wish you all well."
- 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."
Frequently asked questions
- How do I take Arimidex on a cycle and how much?
- What is Veridex used for?
- What happens when you stop taking Arimidex?
- How soon do the side effects of Arimidex start?
- 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! God Bless!"
- 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."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- 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."
More FAQ
- How long do side effects last after stopping Arimidex?
- Does anastrozole cause hair loss?
- How much does Arimidex increase survival?
- 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!"
- 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."
- 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."
- 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."
- 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."
- 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."
- McD...
- January 9, 2013
For Breast Cancer "Started taking Arimidex in June and have lost 45 lbs. Vomiting and diarrhea have left me homebound. I keep starting and stopping this pill. Oncologist thinks I'm crazy, but when I stop the pill, the vomiting and diarrhea stop. Just stopped taking it before Christmas and I'm feeling so much better. Have had two lumpectomies and a mastectomy. Don't want the cancer to return, but the side effects are too much for me."
- Ore...
- March 20, 2013
For Breast Cancer "I have had the hot flashes and the weight gain. Not much of the other side effects so far. Not willing to keep gaining the weight, talked to my oncologist but he says the weight gain is not from the Arimidex. I know better, I have always been very careful with my weight and going on this medication is the only time I have had the weight gain. I stopped it for 5 weeks and lost, went back on the Arimidex and the weight came back. I work out 5 to 7 days a week so I am very active."
- Kac...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- March 21, 2020
For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I've been taking Arimidex for 4 years for breast cancer mets. I was diagnosed with the mets to the bone in Jan/16. I'm to the point that I feel I just can't take this drug anymore, so I stopped today. I want to stop hurting so bad. I feel terrible in the morning when I try to get up. I can no longer manage steps, standing for any length of time, walking is history. I'm on major amounts of narcotics but don't get nearly as much relief as I'd like. I just can't do it anymore. My life has no quality, this drug is not worth the amount of pain it causes!! So long Arimidex!"
- 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."
- G-M...
- February 28, 2011
For Breast Cancer "I am starting my 4th year on Arimidex and have had wonderful results. I have had no side effects at all. I am now over 70 and am active and otherwise healthy. I am looking forward to many more years of continued good health."
- 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."
- sur...
- February 28, 2017
For Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for five years. Three years in, I began having serious issues in my hands: trigger finger in both hands. Two years after stopping the medication, I am still having serious issues with my hands. The side effects are cumulative, and I decided to discontinue taking it."
- Nij...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- June 3, 2016
For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for 2 months. Within the first two weeks, my osteoarthritis has deteriorated from tolerable to barely able to walk. I cannot stand for long periods. My knees get stiff each time I sit. I have received a series of Ortho Visco injections and am hoping for a miracle. I must keep working for insurance coverage. I have vision changes, chest and muscle pain, also. I have added Fosamax due to the risk of calcium loss since I was diagnosed with osteopenia at the same time as stage 1 breast cancer. I am experiencing more fatigue with Arimidex than after radiation. I am not sure if I can tough this out for five years!"
- Anonymous
- Taken for 10 years or more
- July 24, 2016
For Breast Cancer "I'm on year 12! Large weight gain. Horrid bone pain...especially bottom long bones in legs and right arm. Neuropathy. Weak hands as far as gripping. Getting up and moving after sitting awhile is not fun. Headaches. Walk the floors at night, because being up on my legs makes the pain a little better. I was stage 3c, ER+, scared to death to come off it. I'm 45 and want to stick around, but wish I didn't feel so crappy."
- 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."
More about Arimidex (anastrozole)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- Generic availability
- Support group
- Drug class: aromatase inhibitors
- En español
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!"