1. < Breast Cancer

Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @bressie "Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin..." + (show)
@bressie

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

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Why don’t you try Tamoxifen - less side effects

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1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @bressie "Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin..." + (show)
@bressie

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

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bressie, i was on Arimidex for almost 2 years. I quit a week ago because I simply can't take the side effects. My doctor has prescribed Exemestane. I'm hoping I can tolerate it better than the other. Like you, I'm in my 70's (I just turned 75) and quality of life is important! I will continue taking the meds for the 5 years. i don't want a recurrence, so...fingers crossed!

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3 replies
bressie | @bressie | Oct 28, 2019

Yes ive been on arimidex for 3mo my hair has gotten thin but but started biotin and its coming back but its very fine. Its thd extrene exhaustion thats gettibg me down as wrlk as muscle weakness. I was extremely active before and at 70 all my dr. Say i dont act that old nor look that old. Well now i feel like 90 and i have 4.5 years to go. I had hrp1 grade 1 non aggressive all lymph node clean cancer was smaller than a cheerio no chemo no radiation. I wonder if this is realky necessary. All kinds of female issues i didnt have before. Maybe you will be among wonen who have no side affects

REPLY
3 replies
appaloosagal | @appaloosagal | Oct 21, 2019
In reply to @cfacarol "I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about..." + (show)
@cfacarol

I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about the those online discount coupons for prescription drugs? I’ve been taking Femara (letrozole) for 2 months and although the side effects are not intolerable, I don’t feel great. The anecdotal comments about Aromasin (exemestane) sound promising. I have Medicare with the AARP/UHC supplement so cost will be prohibitive unless those coupons are valid. There is 0 cost for the Femara.

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When I started Letrazole it was going to be over $1100 for 3 months! I used the GOODRX coupon and it was $57 for 3 months. Isn't that crazy?
I am now on Anastrozole and with the GOODRX coupon I get 3 months for $26 at Wal-Mart.
Look them up. Different pharmacies are different prices.

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elizm | @elizm | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @cfacarol "I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about..." + (show)
@cfacarol

I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about the those online discount coupons for prescription drugs? I’ve been taking Femara (letrozole) for 2 months and although the side effects are not intolerable, I don’t feel great. The anecdotal comments about Aromasin (exemestane) sound promising. I have Medicare with the AARP/UHC supplement so cost will be prohibitive unless those coupons are valid. There is 0 cost for the Femara.

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Several years back, there was no generic for something which I was prescribed. The cost, even with my very good drug plan, was outrageous. I decided to explore online coupons. I found one from the manufacturer of the pill which I could use at a retail pharmacy which was fine with me (it saved me a gzillion dollars). About the time it expired, a generic came out which my drug plan was happy to provide.

In the case of exemestane (Aromasin), you might want to start with Pfiser and see what it is willing to do. If it is a question of negotiation, be armed with other coupons and ask if they are willing to match them.

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baker1 | @baker1 | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @trixie1313 "sparklegram @baker1 I pay $5 for a 3-month supply with Kaiser insurance and their senior advantage." + (show)
@trixie1313

sparklegram @baker1
I pay $5 for a 3-month supply with Kaiser insurance and their senior advantage.

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I’m with KY retired teachers insurance through Anthem.

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lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @cfacarol "I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about..." + (show)
@cfacarol

I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about the those online discount coupons for prescription drugs? I’ve been taking Femara (letrozole) for 2 months and although the side effects are not intolerable, I don’t feel great. The anecdotal comments about Aromasin (exemestane) sound promising. I have Medicare with the AARP/UHC supplement so cost will be prohibitive unless those coupons are valid. There is 0 cost for the Femara.

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I’m also in your situation with costs. I’m also on Medicare with AARP drug supplement and recently was prescribed Exemestane. I feel much better with it than I did on other medications, but AARP pays little of the cost. My husband is still employed and I work part time. For now... we are able to stretch finances to afford it, but I’d much rather be putting that high drug co-pay into our retirement funds for the day when we only have Social Security for an income.

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cfacarol | @cfacarol | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @elizm "@cfacarol Although Exemestane (Aromasin) is an AI and functions like anastrozole and letrozole, it is chemically..." + (show)
@elizm

@cfacarol
Although Exemestane (Aromasin) is an AI and functions like anastrozole and letrozole, it is chemically different in that it is a steroid. It may be that difference which allows manufacturers to charge more? and insurance companies to try to steer patients away from it?

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I think you are correct about why exemestane is so expensive. Does anyone know anything about the those online discount coupons for prescription drugs? I’ve been taking Femara (letrozole) for 2 months and although the side effects are not intolerable, I don’t feel great. The anecdotal comments about Aromasin (exemestane) sound promising. I have Medicare with the AARP/UHC supplement so cost will be prohibitive unless those coupons are valid. There is 0 cost for the Femara.

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