Thought I'd check in with some other folks. I've been on Arimidex for a year and I was feeling kind of blue today. Blocking the estrogen has more effects on a person than dry skin and osteoporosis. What about depression? What about the insomnia that is seen with this treatment. I'm not having disabling pain, just very annoying and constant. I feel I have physical energy but my emotional energy is low, little things can hit me hard. I exercise 5 days a week, watch what I eat, and have asked my oncologist for an antidepressant which I resisted for as long as I could and take extra calcium and Vit D which might be lessening the bone and muscle pain. However thinking of another 4 years with the emotional toil of Arimidex seems daunting.
I'm grateful for my health and feel totally well, so I'm taking this treatment out of fear of a recurrence rather than a deep conviction that it's necessary. It's hard to explain how I feel so I guess I feel lonely although my partner is 200% supportive and patient with me.
Perla
Hello Perla,
Welcome to our community. It's great that you've joined us.
I'm sorry to hear of your emotional troubles and feelings of depression. I thought you might be interested in this related information:
Taking Arimidex and Always Crying and Depressed
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/question/10105/34833
Is Crying All the Time a Side Effect of Arimidex?
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/question/74658/33614
No Mental Effects Seen With Arimidex
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/news-261777-66.html
I hope this is helpful to you. Feel free to connect with other community members anytime, and be sure to keep us posted on how you're doing.
Best regards,
Maria
Hello Maria,
thank you for the articles. The one about the research from Great Britain is meaningless when the complexity of the effects of a powerful drug mixed the the lack of estrogen in women who are estrogen dominant is not understood. In fact there was some other research which stated that 15% of women reported depression on Arimidex but it wasn't clear whether it was due to Arimidex or just having breast cancer. Some side effects are not understood and the impact on estrogen on emotions is probably dismissed.
I think the effects of anything are as individualized as each person's coping mechanisms.
In fact there is research that Arimidex causes a specific type of insomnia, and that can add to decreased ability to handle the daily stressors which has to be taken into consideration.
Anyway, I do feel that I'm in a community that understands issues that might not be clear to others (including my oncologist!!!).
take care
Perla