I'm trying to find out if there's a generic for Arimidex for a 90 year old neighbor.
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Q: Is there a generic for Arimidex?
Answers (9)
8/ 7/08 4:44pm
Sharon, there' sno generic for Arimidex. And I question the wisdom of putting a 90-year-old on Arimidex, or any aromatase inhibitor, with the fact that its chief side effects are joint/bone pain, and loss of bone density - surely something a 90-year-old doesn't want or need to deal with. I wonder why she's not being prescribed with tamoxifen, a MUCH less expensive drug, and one with easier-to-take side effects? You might ask her if she was given that option. Thanks for looking out for her - you sound like a great neighbor. - PJH
8/ 5/10 8:20pm
why would someone take this medication for a 90 yr old or any age when tamoxifen is available. I have benn on tamoxifen for 6 mons and have had no problems I am 67 yrs old and had a total hysterectomy 25 yrs ago
8/ 5/10 9:10pm
Sue, aromatase inhibitors, of which Arimidex is an example, have been shown to be more effective at preventing recurrence than tamoxifen, for postmenopausal women. That said - I agree, I wouldn't subject a 90-year-old to Arimidex's possble side effects, when tamoxifen's side effects are, in general, much easier to take. Also, if your risk of recurrence is quite low, the difference between an AI and tamoxifen aren't THAT great; so I can understand your choice. Thanks for connecting here- PJH
5/20/09 6:43pm
there are loads of generic arimidex sources from Canadian pharmacies. These do require a valid USA prescription to be fax'ed or emailed (for USA customers.) Cost is about 1/4th of Arimidex. I have found no information positive or negative about efficacy compared to the brand name.
10/27/09 7:30am
Yes there is generic equivalent of Arimidex availbale online. You can get them at International Drug Mart. http://www.internationaldrugmart.com/arimidex.html
The generic name is Anastrozole
11/24/09 7:33pm
This should clarify the Arimidex quandry. It is not yet sold generically as the first patent, at the earliest date, expires June, 2010. From a website:
"No -- anastrozole is the active ingredient in Arimidex, but is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of any drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different from a generic version of a medicine. In order for there to be a generic version of a medicine, the original medicine must have gone off-patent and another company besides the original manufacturer must make the product."
That is why when you look into the web site provided in an earlier post, the cost is still sky high. You wouldn't pay that much for a generic medication.
3/27/10 2:59pm
Generic Arimidex - YES - the company I buy from is in Canada. The pills come from outside U.S. - not always from Canada. You can Fax them the doctor's signed prescription. I alternate them with the non-Generic pills from AstraZeneca. Look on Web for Anastrozole (the drug's actual name) and find many places providing generic. I use Big Mountain Drugs. If your neighbor (household of 2 - household of 1 would be less) earns less than $40,000 annually, she can apply to AstraZeneca for their financial aid program. They will require a letter from SS / Medicare that she is not eligible for aid from them. That application can be filled out on the Web - AstraZeneca will give you the Web link. The response will come by mail and can be Faxed to Astra Zeneca. Good Luck! Incidentally, I've been taking for 3 years - NO side effects.
3/27/10 6:14pm
Re patent - Yes, I also read the U.S. patent expires June 2010 - also read the out-of-U.S. patent expired last Fall (2009). I don't remember their exact terminology. My Oncologist must have known generics were coming, as on October 2009 prescription, for the first time she added the words "Substitutes Allowed". Arimidex is defined as the "Brand Name" for the drug anastrozole. So I guess this is all up to the interpretation of the reader. I am billed approximately $50 per month for "generic Arimidex (anastrozole)" from Canadian pharmacy instead of AstraZeneca Brand Arimidex $300-$400 in U.S., although do qualify for AstraZeneca's financial aid program too, for which I thank AstraZeneca.
7/ 3/10 10:44am
I found the following on the Internet: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/naphf_india-s-natco-pharma-launches-breast-cancer-drug-in-u-s--1019253.html. It's actually in the investing press, but evidently this company, Natco Pharma, has gotten FDA approval and is going to be selling a generic version in the US. Note that this news was dated 7/2/2010, yesterday, so it may be awhile (I have no idea how long that would be) for you to be able to buy it at your local pharmacy.
7/ 3/10 10:54am
Oh, I guess I should also let you know of the following Internet article: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/Natco-Pharma-faces-criminal-action/articleshow/5137815.cms. Natco faced criminal charges in India regarding a a substandard drug they were marketing. However, according to the article, they are cooperating with the government and agreed to recall it. Perhaps the FDA already knew about this and decided that they are ok now. I don't really know much about generic drug quality and regulation. I am currently taking a generic prescription drug (unrelated to breast or any other cancer) and just assume that it is "safe." Gee, I guess it wouldn't hurt to do an internet search...
7/ 3/10 2:49pm
Yes, as of last week, there are a number of FDA-approved generics for Arimidex that will cut the cost just about in half. Here's the details:
"June 30 - Generic versions of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole have been approved in the United States, now that the branded product, Arimidex (AstraZeneca), has come off patent.
"The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 11 generic versions of anastrozole on June 28 from the following companies: Accord Healthcare Inc, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Natco Pharma Ltd, Roxane Laboratories Inc, Sandoz Inc, Stason Pharmaceuticals Inc, Synthon Pharmaceuticals Inc, TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA, Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals LLC, Watson Laboratories Inc, and Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc."
Ask your neighbor's oncologist if he can write a prescription for one of these, OK? Good luck - PJH
8/14/10 10:52pm
Yes, there is a generic for Arimidex and I have been taking it for three weeks. I have been taking the brand name Arimidex for almost 5 years and have been waiting for the generic because it has been so costly....but.....it does not work the same at all. Ever since my pharmacy, Future Scripts, switched me to the generic, my hot flashes have returned, my cramps in my legs are worse and I feel very unable to focus and have had a lot of anxiety. I called my oncologist's office this week and asked them to please switch me back to the brand name. I don't care if it costs more I cannot handle the side effects. My problem is that I will be going off the Arimidex in January and I hear the side effects from stopping are really horrible too.
8/15/10 6:30am
Margaret, since there are about six different generics, you might try a different one (if $$ is an issue). Also, I went off Arimidex in June (after 5 years) and noticed no side effects at all - in fact, I feel a lot better. Hopefully you'll have the same experience! PJH
9/16/10 5:20am
Yes there is generic for Arimidex . You can find the details on the generic for arimidex at International Drug Mart. http://www.internationaldrugmart.com/arimidex.html
9/16/10 7:11am
Thanks for sharing this information. In fact, there are now half a dozen Arimidex generics, all about half the price... PJH
10/15/10 4:17pm
I am 68 years old and have been on Arimidex for about 3 years, the last 6 months have had a lot of joint pain, mostly in my ankles, knees and hips. Not a constant pain, just when I sit for a long period of time, when I get up I feel like I'm 90 . I've been in the Medicare prescription "Gap" for a couple months now, last month I got pills, they worked out to be over $33.00 day. So this morning I got on the phone to do price comparasions and my first call was Costco, they told me they have a generic...Anastrozole, so I called my doctor and he approved it and was calling in a prescription for me....60 days $ 26.99. So, about .45 cents a day. So hopefully this will help some of you out there like me
10/15/10 8:29pm
Thanks for sharing this information about a good source for generic Arimidex. Be sure you are letting your doctor know about the joint pain. It could be Arimidex related, but you need to have your doctor check you out to be sure.
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why would someone take this medication for a 90 yr old or any age when tamoxifen is available. I have benn on tamoxifen for 6 mons and have had no problems I am 67 yrs old and had a total hysterectomy 25 yrs ago