Arimidex Pain Starting after 17+ months

I take 1 mg, I take mine with food in the morning. I am sorry your are going into this with so many health issues and certainly hope this doesn't make your conditions any worse. I really didn't notice a lot of change in the first six months, no hot flashes, nausea or joint pain, but lately it is almost unmanageable. Insomnia was the first thing that showed up, depression (though the pandemic may have done that) and now joint and muscle pain. I have stopped taking it for three weeks to see if my condition improves, it hasn't been a week yet. It's a catch 22, I had lymph node involvement with my cancer so am more concerned about not taking it. I am 76 and will have to look at quality of life rather than longevity if this continues. I had my surgery in December 2019, no radiation or chemo which they said was "preventative" since my PET scan was clear. I go in every three months for blood work, so far nothing is amiss but my severe joint and muscle pain. I have also tried a collagen protein powder with out any improvement in my pain. I live in Duluth, MN. I would say hope for the best, keep a positive attitude and then deal with whatever comes up. Best wishes.

I tried some stretchy braces for my knees which helped enough to get out and walk. To walk in nature as often as I can has helped with the depression. When I was feeling particularly low (pain and lack of sleep will do that) I would place my hand on my heart when I woke up and tell myself that I was a beautiful person and it is a great day to be alive. Even a fake smile helps to bring some joy to your heart. Hand in there my fellow warrior. We’ve got this!

I feel I have to reply to this as I was going through the same thing. II had chemo, radiation and a lumpectomy all from December of 2018 and rang the bell in December of 2019. I started the Anestrozole (1mg) at the beginning of December 2019. In February of 2020 I had a colonoscopy and was given a 7 day course of Cipro. Within four days of taking Cipro I developed severe pain in my muscles and joints. I was told that if it was the Cipro the pain would stop once I finished it. It did not. I spoke to the oncologist and he took me off the Anestrozole for two weeks. However, the pain persisted. To make a long story short, after seeing my regular GP, the radiologist and then a neurologist, it was discovered through blood work that I had PMR (polymyalgia Rheumatica). He sent me to a rheumatologist who put me on Prednisone and Voila! Pain gone. However it took months to discover this. No one knows how the symptoms start nor does there seem to be a "cure" for it. I have had no problems with the Anestrozole and have been taking it for over a year now. I am 78. Just to let you know that there might be other reasons for the pains rather than the Anestrozole. Good luck.

Thank you for posting this! I stopped in January because I could no longer walk or use my hands. I can now walk but still have limited use of my hands. I am going to talk to my doctor about this test.

@mjay Hi - I too started the Arimidex (anastrozole) in late October 2019 along with Verzenio. Absolutely no big deal - could not be more active with great numbers. Managed the GI and nauseous with a good diet of well balanced food. Hair loss/thinning started and I jumped on to the Biotin gummies of Hair, Sin and Nails. But in Feb/March this year weirdly started getting debilitating back pain, that went away then foot pain but that stopped, then knee, then belly. My numbers budged a bit. I felt like a “complainer” to myself and to my doc. I mean as we age who doesn’t get some aches & pain. However I didn’t want to accept this new “stage”. So my doc not pulling me off yet. He is using all my aches & pain as an excuse to do a complete (I mean complete) body work up. We are thinking something percolating in my case. So I don’t want to scare you or anyone else. But the docs always suspected my meds would stop working. But we weren’t sure how it would “announce” it. Also we have talked about how it could be med side effects but my team felt like this was a good as time as any to do a complete workout - eliminate what we can, etc. And importantly getting on top of anything early before it can settle. So everyone who starts to experience “new issues” after handling meds for a good amount of time can hope for medication side effects but doublecheck for the big “C”. No matter what is determined, you will be happy you did.

@mjay this exactly what I experienced with Arimidex. I took it for a year and a half with many painful and Yucky side effects. I had pain and stiffness in my shoulders, legs, ankles, feet, hands, thumbs and back, Insomnia, trigger thumb, fatigue. After trying a six week hiatus, it was still terrible, so twice I changed drugs. My Oncologist prescribed Exemestane. On that medication i experienced severe neck pain, sensitive skin, painful to the touch. I finally went to Tamoxifen. It has had fewer side effects for me. I know everyone has different responses to different meds. This was merely my experience.