Arimidex Withdrawal Symptoms

Have been off Arimadex for nine months,(was on Arimadex for five years) Sometimes I feel great but its not long lasting. Have a lot of problems with my balance. feel as if I'm falling over or cant focus my eyes. Then I have the hot flushes and start to feel weepy again. Its like I'm taking on different roles in my life. It is weird!!!I just keep thinking I must be sickening for something. But then I dont have anything.I'm begining to think the after effects of Arimidex take longer for the body to adjust to. No good telling the doctor. They just think it's all in the mind. It would be good if they took the tablets for a length of time, then come off and see how they feel. I am always pleased to hear if anyone has a similar problem.thanks for reading this. Elizabeth

I do so agree with you Elizabeth, what we need is more honesty from doctors regarding this drug. I find a problem with my eyes and focussing, also with balance and painat night in my legs. Night sweats are the worst thing, however i've been off Arimidex for one year now and I'm optimistic things will get better! I'm 65 and have other problems anyway so have learnt to cope with aches and pains, but not sleeping at night is driving me mad! I wake every 10 mins or so with a feeling of alarm then comes the sweats! Wonder how it will be when I'm 80!

Leslie wrote:

I stopped taking Arimidex after 5 years in October 2011. I spoke with my oncologist who reassured me that my system was permanently changed regarding the amount of estrogen that my body would produce and there was no need to continue with the drug. Well, I have a comment to make. If my system was permanently changed, why do I have hot flashes at night? My feet are sore, I have leg cramps at night and just don't feel overall well. Perhaps that's because I am getting older (69). I follow the breast cancer studies on www.breastcancer.org regularly and the medical community doesn't know anything more than those results. I am looking at vitamin therapy - especially Vitamin D3, fish oil and 2 baby aspirin a day. Do your research carefully. Dr. Oz has an ultimate supplement checklist; Dr. Andrew Weil has a good site as well.
Barry Sears, PhD sells the best fish oil supplements with no additives etc. Inflammation is key here regarding cancer. A blood test that measures inflammation is AA/EPA ratio on Dr. Sears' website. Most regular doctors don't know about it. Good luck.

. This is the first time I have been on this site . I have been on Arimidex for two years. I have every complaint from every person. The one that caught my eye in yours complaints was your FEET. Two months ago I woke up and i could not hardly walk. I thought I had a heal spur, however it is in both of my feet. My left foot is worse. Would you please tell me more about your problem with your feet?

After severe joint pain in my hands, especially my right thumb, trigger fingers both hands, depression, weight gain, bad memory loss, terrible fatigue having taken arimidex for 7 months, Ive decided to stop taking it. Its almost 2 weeks ago and I can already feel more energy and hopeful - finally. My hands still hurt but its still early. I cant live like this - its not living, its just existing. Im going to consult with a homepathic doc to help guide me to healthy living. I had invasive ductal cancer, clean nodes, and radiation. I've also heard about a mushroom regime that I'm going to research more, plus I'm taking all my vitamins!!

Trijnie UK wrote:

I've just been for my appointment with my oncologist. I was hoping for the all clear (after 5 years) en thank goodness I did get that, which I am very happy about!!!
But I also thought I was going to hear that I could stop taking the arimidex (had tamoxifen first for 2 years), but found out that I still have to carry on with the arimidex for another 5 years? Does this happen a lot?

I have just come off it after 10 years. My tumors were very small and covered 3/4 of my breast which is a very rare presentation. I am nervous at not being protected but have to trust my Onocoligst. I had no real side affects while taking it after the first while and have not noticed any after stopping. Onocoligist said bones would hold calcium better, might lose weight and might sleep better. All three of which I would enjoy. Good luck to you with your ongoing struggle.

lin wrote:

was on arimidex for 5 years and have been off it for just over a week and feel awful. thought I had flu. really sore and dry throat and awful light headiness with noises in my head or ears a bit like waves. have to have tv on at night to try and drown it out.sleep, forget it. has anyone else had similar or am I being silly as the professionals would say

I have been off arimidex for two weeks after taking it for 5 years and have had the same symptoms as you. I also feel better in the afternoon. I thought it was flu at first but it went on too long for that. I spoke to Breast Cancer Care who told me it is a relatively new drug and therefore not much research as yet. She advised me to see my Doctor because she would be interested to know the symptoms. I have no idea how long it will go on for and I don't think there is a way of finding out. Not too long hopefully.
I didn't have any real symptoms during the 5 years to was surprised to get them after stopping.

Sally Sussex uk wrote:

I do so agree with you Elizabeth, what we need is more honesty from doctors regarding this drug. I find a problem with my eyes and focussing, also with balance and painat night in my legs. Night sweats are the worst thing, however i've been off Arimidex for one year now and I'm optimistic things will get better! I'm 65 and have other problems anyway so have learnt to cope with aches and pains, but not sleeping at night is driving me mad! I wake every 10 mins or so with a feeling of alarm then comes the sweats! Wonder how it will be when I'm 80!

Hi Sally just seen your comments.Regarding problems with focusing your eyes and balance, which I mentioned I had, Thought it was just me and age related (Im 74) which is the doctors answer to anyone over 60 yrs. Pleased to say it is a lot less now, if thats any consolation. I found it made me less confident going places. I think it will take time for our whole system to get back to some normality, what ever or when ever that will be. It will be a year this month, May, that I came off Arimidex. So hopefully it has to get better. So keep hanging in there. One consolation Sally is that I will reach 80 before you, so I'll let you know how I am!!!
Kind Regards Elizabeth I.O.W.

Me, too! All of the above, nausea, hair loss, weight gain, depression, yadda, yadda, yadda, while on Arimidex. Now a month off, nausea, dizziness, headaches, hot flashes, zero short term memory, skin rash, etc. Jeez ...
While researching bc I discovered a group called Breast Cancer Action (BCA.com ) that is focused on "preventing" cancer not just "treating" it. The ladies are adamant that the pharmaceutical companies have little if any interest in the health of women. The companies care only about their bottom line.
At some point, all of us need to shout a huge STOP and demand research and truth about this drug. I, too, am grateful to count myself in the survivor column but wish the information about withdrawal symptoms were as widely available as the side effects are. At the time, I wondered what would happen to me physically after having taken Arimidex for five years and then just stopping. But, since I had no information, I just disposed of the balance of my meds and did a little happy dance. I'm still dancing, not just a happily!
Thank you all for posting your stories. There is a real comfort in knowing I'm not alone or just a hypochondriac! Love to you all ...