Arimidex - side effects?

[489nancy]

I am six weeks out from a right total mastectomy for disseminated DCIS and one very small invasive tumor. Nodes clear, no residual cancer. Oncologist wants me to take Arimidex to protect the other breast. Has anyone had the side effect - vaginal thinning and dryness on Arimidex? If so, did it revert back to baseline when you stopped taking the drug? I am feeling really good right now and don't know if I want to subject myself to nasty side effects when I don't even know if it would actually prevent cancer in the other breast.

[Annie57]

Hi Nancy;

I also had a total mastectomy on my left breast with a dx of DCIS.

I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 years now to prevent cancer in my right breast. I have read many articles and stats on preventative drugs and if you do read them you will see the drugs truly have a good success rate in preventing a second cancer in the other breast.

I have hot flashes and for the dryness I use a lubricant and can not say I have had any problem at all.

Take everything you are offered in the hope the cancer will not make a second apperance.

[susie5900]

Hi Gals,

I had been taking Arimidex for three weeks and then experienced relatively severe Supra Ventricular Tacchycardia (palpitations). It has a biological half life of 50 hours. I stopped taking it immediately and after 48 hours the palpitations stopped. I have gone back on Tomoxifen.

Susie

[Jezzie25]

I started taking Arimidex and in 2 days, I felt like I was on speed...My insides were shaking and I was so nervous that I wanted to scream. My oncologist told me to stop taking it. He said he had not heard of that side effect. I can now tell him I have heard it from someone else. My body is still exhausted from it. I am going to the beach Sat. and he said to call him when I get back and he'll start me on something else.

[StitchinDeb]

I've taken it for 1 1/2 years now and I've been fine.