bad side affects trigger finger.pain and swelling in both wrist and hands, insomnia, fatigue. Published: September 21, 2007 ::

You do it because you are told it is good for you. All your joints ache, can't sleep, diarrhea, constipation, no memory, hot flashes, weight gain and not able to lose it. Can't get an insurance policy because you have to still take a medication as treatment, even though the medicine is supposedly preventing a recurrance. I quit and feel so much better. I'm living for quality not quantity now. Published: November 05, 2007 ::

First side effect,knee joint pain and weakness. Oncologist repeatedly insisted it was not related to Arimidex, so I went through knee injections (Synvisc)and lengthy Physical Therapy.Also had severe low back pain. Therapy in water finally helped ease both. When thumb joints got very painful I began getting cortisone injections. I stopped Arimidex at 3 1/2 yrs. Wish I had stopped sooner! I have just had my second thumb joint replacement this year. Both my breast surgeon and my hand surgeon believe that Arimidex may well have been responsible for my joint disintegration. What good is a "promise" that a drug will keep you safe from the reoccurance of cancer, if your quality of life is taken away? Published: December 13, 2007 ::

I have been on Arimidex for three years now and I am very grateful the cancer has not recurred. I want to thank everyone for their comments. I have gained a lot of weight and when I asked my oncologist if Arimidex caused weight gain,he said "Not really" From the comments it seems I am not the only one. My last blood tests showed my glucose was above normal and my cholesterol too which I think is from the weight gain. Also I have osteopenia which is a side effect of Arimidex. Now I am on Boniva for that. I am grateful for the drug but will be happy to finish the 5 year treatment and I hope I am not ruining my health in other areas. Published: November 03, 2007 ::

Very dry mouth, very sore joints especially hips and lower back, sweat all the time with little to no exertion. Over all bone pain, diffuculty sleeping. The only good thing thus far is that I am still cancer free, 3 years after 6 chemo treatments (TAC) & 40 round of radiation. Published: October 07, 2007 ::

Have been on Arimidex about half a year, and have it all – fatigue, joint aches and muscle weakness, swelling in hands (can barely get rings on and off), trigger finger, depression, hot flashes bad enough to disturb sleep, elevated triglycerides. I was in excellent health before this, and my breast cancer was most likely due to abnormal estrogen, i.e. taking the highest dose of hormone replacement for 8 years. Of course I discontinued the HRT. In my case, precautionary removal of the remaining small amount of natural estrogen in my system seems to me to be overkill. I’ve been told that the risk for me is pretty much reduced almost back to normal (10%) as a result of having gotten pristinely clean margins and the recommended course of radiation. Next step with oncologist – discuss getting off this, and avoid trying an alternate. The alternates seem to be just as bad. The quality of my life is important. Published: March 07, 2008 ::

Have been taking Arimidex for about 2 1/2 yrs. Joint pain and stiffness in AM has subsided somewhat after the first few months. I have tried to exercise, lift weights, hike, ski, Pilates regularly and would recommend it, because it helps with the stiffness and will help counteract the osteopenia side effect of the drug. Hot flashes, every 1-2 hours and often they wake me up at night. Yes, I have gained about 10 pounds and it does not want to go away! My main concern are the periods of depression and feelings of my self being gone. Published: January 20, 2008 ::

After about two months of taking Arimidex, I started experiencing severe joint pain and weakness in my hands and arms and three of my fingertips in my right hand have gone numb. I have been off of the Arimidex for three months and most of the symptoms have gone away, except for the numbness in my fingers. I ended up having a carpel tunnel decompression surgery last week. My hand surgeon told me that he sees a lot of people that have had similar hand and joint problems from taking Arimidex. I'm so glad I stopped! Published: December 13, 2007 ::