Has anyone tried Arimidex? Worried about side effects starting soon

Many community members have shared experiences with anastrozole and other aromatase inhibitors, and you're absolutely right that side effects can vary greatly from person to person. Starting one medication at a time sounds like a thoughtful approach to help identify how each treatment affects you personally, and it's encouraging that your medical team is giving you a break after radiation before beginning the next phase of treatment.

Hi Judith They want you on both at the same time so you're kinda clueless to which drug is causing which side effect AND if you are feeling terrible on AI it's more of an uphill battle to get you to take ANOTHER drug that could make you more sick. I get it! Listen.. they wanted me on both during radiation and I said no way! If I had then right now radiology would be blaming the drugs for fatigue/side effects and oncology would be blaming radiation for it! That's typically what they do one blames the other and nobody knows! Lol Verzenio was approved around 2022 ish? Basically for everyone! I've seen stage 0 being put on it my point is both drugs are pretty much being prescribed to everyone!

I started anastrazole amd then kisqali a month later. By staggering the start, it was easy yo determine what side effects csme from which drug.

Exactly Susan! However they really try and push both at once! I refused to do it!

Studies show better results when both are taken together. My oncologist said the goal would be on the combo for at least 2 years but depending on how I tolerated the various side effects. I experienced arthralgia , fatigue, hair thinning, weight gain , constipation, brain fog,night sweats,hot flashes, Head aches and interrupted sleep. These gradually reduced in frequency and after 18 months I asked if I could try Letrozole and I took it for several months with no change so I tried exemestane for a month with little change so I took a 3 month break from hormone blockers to see if we could figure out which drug was the cause of my headaches which really intensified after a viral infection I had. I am 71 and I have learned that I am very sensitive to medications. I just wanted to feel “ normal “ again so weaned off some other medications for weight loss and anxiety and it has been a slow adjustment but I am at very good place today. Last week I started Arimidex again and so far I am not experiencing noticeable side effects. My oncologist also suggested we reduce my Kisqali in half to 200 mg and I really think it may have been the culprit of many of my complaints.Sooooo, my Invasive Lobular cancer is agressive and has a higher recurrance. I considered stopping but was told these are the best drugs to fight my cancer. Hang in there and keep asking to try other drugs .

I have been taking exemestane and had a masectomy of my left breast I have had a few side affects but my recent visit post op showed cancer had decreased 1 percent before I had my surgery I had started taking it 3 months before the surgery.