Arimidex and Tamoxifen

Hello Ladies,
Here I am, a couple months after stopping my Arimidex....the same medication that I insisted the oncologist prescribe for me! It was not a good experience, with progressively worsening joint pain and muscle weakness to the point of being incontinent and unable to get up from a chair on my own.

Sooooo, now I have a bottle of Tamoxifen sitting on my shelf, waiting for me to get up the nerve to try it. I even cancelled a doctor appointment for this coming Monday to check how I was doing on it.....since the bottle has not even been opened yet. My sweet husband agreed with me that I could wait to start it until after the holidays so it wouldn't ruin our visit with our kids and grandchildren.

Long story short, how have others of you done on Tamoxifen?? Did any of you try Arimidex? Did you have problems? I know I need to do something, or not????

Thanks for listening, and for any comments you may have.
Jean in WA

Other than hot flashes and weight gain I breezed through 5 yrs of tamoxifen. I was worried about the possibility of blood clots since I had phelbitis years ago, but my onc. assured me the risk was very small. Like I said, I had managable side effects. Lauri

Hi Jean,
I finished my tamoxifen in May '05. I gained weight (although I won't blame ALL of it on Tamox, lol) I had hot flashes (still have a few) and there were times where my bones ached. At one point I stopped taking it for 3 mo to see if it would help and it did. I was going to remain off of it but my DH and DD wanted me to keep taking it till the 5 years were up, so I did. I am glad I continued it till the time was up, but I am glad I'm done now.
Good luck on your decision.
L&H, Gail

I was lucky with Tamoxife, no real side effects. I gained weight and noticed vaginal dryness, but that is all. No hot flashes or other side effects. It all varies greatly with each individual and also varies by age.  No two of us will have the same experience....

I would encourage you to try it and see what happens. If your side effects are bad or your quality of life changes, then consider stopping it.

Go for it!

Lori

Since the drug that's been prescribed for you is tamoxifen I don't want to say anything negative. I took it for a little more than a year and a half and then switched to Femara. I'm doing MUCH better with that one.

I have occasional leg cramps, but that's basically it. You mention children and grandchildren, so I'll assume you're post-menopausal. How about discussing Femara with your onc??? That'll give you more information about another possible option.

Hope this helps. More later....Luci

Hello Ladies,
Thank you all for your comments. I just set up my husband's and my medications for the week, and did not add the Tamoxifen. But, now that I have read all your very helpful comments, I think I will go back add the "pills". I know that the survival data is so much better for women who do hormone therapy for five years, but knowing it and following it are just two different things.

So, tomorrow I will take the first one, and I will keep you posted! I truly do thank you all for caring enough to write back. You are the BEST!

Take care, Jean in WA